The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-27

memorial to Congress was adopted
demanding that the latter of boun-
daries be left to the constitutional
convention and plans were made for
calling a convention without waiting
for congressional action. When news
arrived of the terms of the bills that
Rice had introduced and of the prob
ability of their passage, the majority,
apparently in desperation, determined
to bring about the immediate remov.
al Of the capital of the territory from
st. Paul to st. Peter A bill to ac-
complish this passed both houses, and
failed to become a law only because
Joe Rolette, councilman from Penn
bina and chairman of the committee
on enrolled bills, disappeared with
the bill and the st. Paul members
held up proceedings In the council by
a call of the house until the session
expired.
Rivalry In Politics
Cutting across the sectional rivalry
was the rivalry between the old Demo
cratic party and the ew and rapidly
growing Republican party, and each
party was especially anxious to con-
troll the convention in order that 1t
might arrange the districts and con.
troll the apportionment for the first
state election The result was so
close that control Of the convention
depended on the decision of a num-
Der of contests, which in turn de-
pended on the control of the prelimin-
airy organization. Unable to agree on
this, each group effected its own or.
ganization, secured a quorum by adj
hitting the claimants of its party in
the contested cases, and claimed to
be the real constitutional convention.
The framing Of the constitution
was not difficult matter, as there
were many presidents to draw upon
in the constitutions Of the older
states. An attempt was made in both
wings to propose to Congress an east
and west instead of the north and
south division, but such a division
would not harmonic with the rail-
road land grant and 1t was defeated.
AS the two groups neare6 the end Of
their labors. the futility of submitting
two separate constitutions to the peo-
sue at this time. Southern senators
had no desire to hasten the admission
Of another northern state, and they
held up the Minnesota bill until at.
ter the passage of the act to admit
Kansas with pro-slavery constitu-
tion. In the end, however, only three
senators voted against the Minnesota
bill. When the measure came up in
the House, a group of Republicans at
tackled it on the ground of the ir-
regularity of the proceedings by
which the constitution had been
adopted. Apparently they wanted to
make Minnesota start over again,
with the hope that Republican instead
of Democratic senators and congress
men would be sent to Washington.
The Democrats in the House saw
through this maneuver, however,
rallied to the support Of the bill, and
it became law on May II, 1858.
Constitution Is Ratified
On October II, 1857, the people rati.
fed the constitution by an almost un-
animous vote and at the same time
elected state officers and members of
the state legislature. Whether Min
nesota was or was not state during
IuC hCAtz OCfCu uiOuLuO 10
matter to determine. The legislature
assembled on December 2 but the
state officers were not authorized by
the constitution to take up their du-
ties until after the admission of the
state by Congress The Democrats
had won the election and the legisla.
ture proceeded to choose two Demo-
Gratis, Henry M. Rice and General
James Shields, as United States sem
ators. Laws passed by the state leg.
islature were signed by the governor
or acting-governor of Minnesota Terri
tory, and finally in March an amend
ment to the constitution authorizing
the state officers to take their places
on May l was submitted This was
adopted by the people at special
election but by May 1 it was appar.
emit that Congress would soon take
action and the officers-elect did not
take advantage Of the amendment.
The delay in Congress was due to
the acute situation of the slavery is.
lands in Minnesota, Of timber from
these lands, and at later date, of the
mineral deposits therein, should go to
the permanent trust funds for speci.
fic purposes, the primary purpose be-
ing education.
The news of the admission of Min.
nesota having reached the state, the
governor-elect, Henry II. Sibley, and
the other state officers were sworn
in on May oath.
Duluth is the Sacond