The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-08-15


south with extreme jealousy, requiring
immediately a new drain upon the treas
ury exhausted by the Mexican war, and
resting wholly upon the address and "a
droitness. Of stranger IN Washington,
who had n even the privilege OF piac-
ing his foot upon the floor Of Congress.
He presented himself as the representa-
tive OF the territory of Wisconsin,; but
it was urged that Wisconsin was then a
state and could have no Delegate and
no election for Delegate. This and all
other objections, he met and overcame.
He was admitted into the hall of Rep
resentatlves, a young man, inexperienc-
ed from the remote west, surrounded
by old political gladiators, of ~ HON a
majority must be conciiiated or conquer
ed before he could accomplish all that
remained 10 be done, viz: the organi-
zation-of new territory under new
name. Sleepless, vigllant, Jealous to
degree that excited as well the mirth as
the sympathy of the politicians there;
he had but one object at heart, and that
was, the organization of the territory.
A member Of Congress who can WELD
the vote Of state may offer equivalents
for the support he asks; he may bargain
the influence which he yields in ex-
change for that which another yields:
but Mr.. Siblcy had no vote and no infu-
ence OF that sort, for political capital.
His zeal; his address; his importu-
r. nj mt .l
were his only weapons of political war
fare. He succeeded in having the sub
iect brought before a committee in the
shape Of bill, organizing, with all its
boundaries, in all its details, territory
to DE called Minnesota; with a liberal
appropriation of money, and double the
number Of school sections ever before
set apart to any territory. He went be-
fore tina, Committee and made an argu-
ment, and an appeal in behalf ofthis mea-
sure, which. for logical force, for pow
eriul, lucid and persuasive eloquehce,
never mas surpassed in the whole histo-
~ Of legislation. 1t struck Congress
with force truly electrical; and II
spoke Minnesota into eristence.
Having achieved the organization of
Minnesota "by dint of zeal and stubbo rn
pertnacity to the last moment Of the
session." {as Gen. James Wilson Of y
II has said hundred times, he left
Washington for home. He was greet
cd with that cordiaity at the landing in
St. Paul, which he so we'll merited. Last
summer he was a candidate for the Of
tice of Delegate of Minnesota in Con-
gress II was the first office for which
he asked or received the suffrages Of
Minnesota; for at the first time, he went
at the risk of deiraying his own eXpen-
ses, claiming to be the Delegate Of Wis
consin, and had never occupied a place
in Congress in any other capacity. He
was elected with but one dissenting vote
in the whole territory. He has not yet
been one year in the office; and in that
time has accomplished more for Mime
sofa territory, and has attained "a much
larger amount of appropriations than
any other Delegate erer before attained
for any territory that has been organized.
Talk about rotating such man out of
an office which he has SO faithfully filled
for the space of less than year! Meas
urcd by the benefits he has secured to
Minnesota, his term of service is al
ready long by the lapse of
time, he has not been IN the office as
long as it would take some ofthose who
aspire t. succeed him, to learn the way
up and down Pennsylvania Avenue. -
Measured by the standard OF work ac-
complished for his constituents, we do
II t envy his successor the comparison
that must and will be made between that
successor and Mr.. Sibley. Why, the
failure of our delegate to carry through
a single one otthe appropriations secur-
d this year. would have been Il matter
of great concern to us all; and vet there
are voters who will hazard these vital
interests in the hands Of novice or a
conceited boaster, or of any empty
headed BOBBY, who is stuffed up with
the idea that he is fit for congressman
| Men are not SO stultified in the affairs OF
private interest. They choose their doc
TOR or their lawyer with reference to his
known ability, skill, and experience
/ You would not hire Il teamster to drive
your horses, unless you knew him to be
sober and expert. Are you more ready
then, t" pick up pert pretender or ar
inexperienced aspirant, and to clothe
him with the full management ofall you'
important interests in Congress Be
sensible; be reasonable; we would pu
this question home to your candor, a.
men who will act consCientiously anC
honestly at the polls: do you think you
have right to experiment in making
COngressnen--to hazard our interest:
at Washington by placing them il
hands less secure then they now repos,
in: Does any one question Mr. Sibley':
ability, fairness, or fidelity? No one
Has he failed in accomplishing all tina
we asked OF him? In no particular
Does any one doubt his influence "A
Washington; No one; no one II
deny it, Is not only a malignant unrnth
but foolish fiction, contradlcted bv n
bundant other proof, besides the lbs,