The Evansville Daily Journal

Minnesota Constitutional Convention.

The anarchical spirit of party and faction that has demoralized many of the Legislatures of the country, has extended itself to the more grave, wise and august assemblages, elected by the people for the important and sacred purposes of framing the fundamental laws of the State. The Minnesota Constitutional Convention is divided into two contending factions, with separate organizations, each proscribing the other as usurpers. The difficulty originated in the first attempt at organization. The Democrats, on the first assembling of the body, claimed, that the Secretary of the Territory—though there was nothing in the law, usage, or duties of his office to warrant the pretence—should call the assemblage to order and preside during the preliminary steps of its organization. The Republicans claimed that it was the right and duty of the convention to select its own temporary officers to preside during the preliminary proceedings for a permanent organization. The Republicans having a large majority, adopted their own mode of proceeding. The minority Democrats immediately seceded and refused to participate in the proceedings. The Republicans persisted in their course, and having a majority of the whole number of Delegates elected to the Convention, continued their proceedings and claimed, of right, to be the convention. The Democrats retired to another room, where they hold regular daily sessions, claiming on their part to be the true legal body. The Democrats having but 32 members, who adhere to them, while their opponents number 59, have not pretended to proceed to business, but content themselves with making daily protests against the action of their rivals who are entering upon the regular duties of framing a Constitution to be submitted to the people. The contest has continued for two weeks, with no prospects of a compromise. Both bodies—it is said—will frame a fundamental law, and submit their work to the people. The end of the matter is not yet manifest.