The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-02-07
Facts and Fancies.
M Il II n 4 Y
February lst, 1852.

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and the officers of the Territory, enjoyed
one of those social entertainments at the
Central House, on Thursday evening,
which in all communities have so refining
and agreeable an effect upon daily inter-
course among men; but which the citi-
zens Of Minnesota know how to enjoy
and appreciate to agreater degree than any
other people among whom we ever re-
sided. The iberality of Captain Wilkin
is proverbial, so is the reputation Of the
hosts of the Central; therefore it is unne-
cessary to remark here, that the appe-
tites and tastes of all present were abund-
antly and attentively cared for. After
the substantials were discussed to the
satisfaction Of all present, many excellent
and appropriate sentiments were offered
by gentlemen present, and properly res
pended to by the Secretary, Gov. Ram
sey, Chief Justice Fuller, General Boal,
Speaker Ludden, Councillor Mcleod,
and others. We regret that the late Pc
riod in the week at which the entertain
ment came off, prevents our collecting the
sentiments for publication, and giving a
more full account Of what occurred on
the occasion. But we can only say, it
was ahappy and joyous time, highly cred
liable to, as we'll as characteristic of the
liberal hearted and popular officer, who
thus entertained his fellow-servants of the
people Of Minnesota. The company sep
arated at eleven o'clock, all feeling, no
doubt, that they had passed one of the
most agreeable evenings of Their lives
| A few hours occupied in this social and
rational manner, does much to soften the
bitter asperities between man and man,
which your small-beer politicians are
eternally firing up by their strictly parti-
san conclaves.
1t will be seen by our legislative alb
stract, that the petition of Mr.. Wells,
contesting the seat held by Mr.. Richards
in the House, was postponed on Wednes-
day by vote of ten to seven. Mr.. Wells
contested On the ground that the lower
precinct of Wabashaw county was ille-
gally established-it having been estab-
lished by the commissioners of Washing
ton county, contrary to provision Of chap
ter 5, R. S., which declares that only the
precincts established on the west side of
the Mississippi by the Governor in his pro-
clamation of July7, l849, shall.be legal
precincts. 1t was shown on the part of
MIR. Richards, that said chapter of the
Revised Statutes was not in force at the
time the disputed precinct was established
by the commissioners of Washington
county and it was also commended, that
under alaw Of the Territory of Wisconsin,
then in force, the commissioners of Or
ganized counties had power to establish
precincts in unorganized counties attach
ed to them for judicial purposes. Some
latitude of construction was doubtless ia
ken by the members who voted in the
majority, as was the case last year, when
the Dakota members were admitted, not
withstanding no legal notice had been
given of the election at which they were
elected. The claims of Mr.. Wells were
ably argued by Mr.. Wilkinson, as attor-
ney, and those of Mr.. Richards by Mr..
Van Etten.
Will the Democrat be good enough to
inform us at what time treaty was con-
sumated, by which any portion of the
county Of Wabashaw became ceded to
the United States? We think our neigh
Dor is little ahead of history in as
serting that any portion Of the county
in which Mr.. Richards constituents
reside is coded territory. No person
who resides in that county possesses an
individual title to single foot of the soil,
nor will the United States, until the
treaties of last summer are ratified. It
is natural that the Democrat, who is eter-
naily dreaming of spoils and of starvation
without them, should attribute to us a.
base motive in speaking of certain vote
given by MIR. Richards. The fact is, we
had almost forgotten at the time how that
gentleman voted upon the printing, so
little did we notice or care about it. We
only thought it strange that he should
vote to place document upon the rec