Jewels in the Crown: Minnesota Law

Bill to Establish ... Washington, D.C., 1848

In time for election day, the Center is a repository for early Minnesota law before and after statehood. Minnesota was given territorial status in 1849, after a bill introduced by Lincoln’s adversary, Stephen A. Douglas (shown at left, with its original green cover).  Minnesota’s Constitutional Convention assembled less than ten years later, though Republicans and Democrats held separate conventions and refused to sign the same document, resulting in two, slightly different versions. The Debates and Proceedings shown in our current exhibit is a Republican account, while the printer of the Journal of the Constitutional Convention, also in the exhibit, is from the “Democrat office.”

Acts, Joint Resolutions and Memorials … of the Territory of Minnesota.  St. Paul, 1850.

A Bill to Establish the Territory of Minesota. Washington, D.C., 1848.

Rules for the Government of the Council of Minnesota Territory … St. Paul, 1849.

Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the Territory of Minnesota … St. Paul, 1857.

Debates and Proceedings of the Constitutional Convention … St. Paul, 1858.

   - Ryan Greenwood, Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections