MINNESOTA TERRITORIAL ARCHIVES:

The United States Congress passed an enabling act on February 26, 1857, that permitted the voters of Minnesota Territory to decide if they wanted to become a state. Among other provisions, this act called for a constitutional convention to draft a constitution that would be the foundation for state government. At an election on June 1, 1857, Minnesota voters elected delegates to this constitutional convention. Between July 13 and August 29, this convention met in St. Paul to fulfill its obligations.

Intense rivalry between the convention's Democratic and Republican factions prevented the entire body of delegates from convening in one place and drafting a single constitution. Eventually, a conference committee of five members from each faction met to propose language that was designed to be acceptable to both bodies. On August 28, 1857, after bitter debate, both factions approved the conference committee's proposed language. However, the members of each faction refused to sign a single document that contained the signatures of the other faction's members. On August 29, 1857, fifty-three Republican members signed one document of 39 pages and fifty-one Democratic members signed one document of 37 pages.

Although the two documents were intended to be identical and to have the same meaning, the copyists, who worked feverishly through the night of August 28, 1857, to prepare the two documents for signature, created numerous differences. A detailed comparison of the two versions shows over 300 punctuation, grammatical, and wording differences. No substantive differences in meaning or interpretation are present.

Governor Alexander Ramsey's proclamation dated December 28, 1860, which ratifies the first three amendments to the state constitution, appears as part of the Republican version of the constitution.

Return to top

The Democratic version is 24 pages long, often written on both sides; while the Republican version is 39 pages long and written on one side only. Although the two versions contain numerous spelling and punctuation differences, they are substantially the same in content. There has never been an official combination of the two versions into one document.

The Republican version also contains a proclamation by Minnesota Governor Alexander Ramsey ratifying the first three amendments to the constitution (December 28, 1860).

Return to top

Access Restrictions:

Access to and use of Reserve materials requires the permission State Archives staff.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota. Constitution. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Alternate Form Available:

Photonegatives of the two constitutions are housed in the photonegative storage in the Minnesota Historical Society (Republican version, negative nos. 49017-49060; Democratic version, negative nos. 49061-49097).

Accession Information:

Accession number: 210

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 990017132350104294

Return to top

Location

Internet

Full color.

Digital Version

Black and white.

Digital Version

Transcript.

Digital Version

Return to top

Location

Internet

Full color.

Digital Version

Black and white.

Digital Version

Transcript.

Digital Version

Return to top

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Statehood (American politics)

Persons:

Ramsey, Alexander, 1815-1903.

Organizations:

Democratic Party (Minn.)

Minnesota. Governor (1860-1863 : Ramsey).

Minnesota. -- Constitution (1857)

Republican Party (Minn.)

Places:

Minnesota -- Politics and government -- 1849-1858.

Document Types:

Constitutions -- Minnesota.

Territorial records -- Minnesota.

Return to top