Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-05-26

memorial to Congress was adopted
demanding that the matter Of boun
daries be left to the constitutional
convention and plans we're made for
calling 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. bill to- &C.
complish this passed both houses, and
failed to become 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
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 it
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 mum
Der of contests, which in turn de
pended on the control of the prelimin-
airy organization Unable to agree on
this, each group effected it's own or,
ganization, secured a quorum by ad
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 a 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 division
would not harmonize with the rail
road land grant and it was defeated.
AS the two groups nearec the end of
their labors, the futilitv 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 af-
ter the passage of the act to admit
Kansas with plo-slavery constitu
ton. In the end, however, only three
senator's voted against the Minnesota
bill When the measure came UP in
the House, 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-
fled 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
the next seven months is a difficult
matter to determine. The legislature
assembled on December but the
state officers were not authorized by
the constitution to take up their du-
ties until after the omission of the
state by Congress. The Democrats
had won the election and the legisla-
ture proceeded to choose two Demo.
Gratis, Henry NJ Rice and General
James Shields, as United States SEN
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 1 was submitted. This was
adopted by the people at a special
election but by May it was appar-
ent 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 a 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 H. Sibley, and
the other state officers were sworn
in on May oath, and Minnesota was
then full-fedged state in the Ameri
can Union.