The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-06-12

tHc Governor, as III dutv oo"i"' III '
message, called the attention of that body
to the duty devolving upon them oil giving
to The people fair and equal apportion-
ment, based upon ;he returns Of the Mar
shall of the Territory.
Party politics did not divide that Leg
isla.ive Assembly; but it SO happened
that all the Wings and minority OF the
Democrats were in favor of a democratic
and equal apportionment, as recommended
by the Governor, while a majority of the
Democrats were in favor of disfranchis-
ing the people upon the Indian lands.
This opposition to justice and right had
not its origin in amy high or cnnobling
feeling of principle. 1t grow out Of
a narrow, cut-throat, factious opposition
TO Mr.. Sib!ey, which ranked in the hearts
of his personal enemies, some of whom
he had deservedly Frustrated politically !;
and others had not come out so we'll in
trade as they might have done, had he
suffered them to 60 on swindling and
gouging him and his associates, from year
to year, rs they had commenced. All the
base influences, all the helii>h devices
that could be thought of, were this scs-
sion brought to bear against Mr.. Siblcy
and his Democratic friends in the LegiS-
laturc. The Democrat was the organist
of the tactious conspirators, and ground
music to suit them.
The original draft of the Appor'ion-
ment Bill was drawn by Wing, and
drawn much as it how stands. The al
tera,ions from the original do not affect
the principle particle. We do not al
ludc TO this to delract one iota of credit
Justly due the honorable gentleman
who introduced the bill in the Council,
and by his influence and eloquent appeals
in behalf of the Ind an country, succeed
ed in carrying the measure triumphantly
through, nor to claim the apportionment
as strictly a VIII: g measure, but simply TO
vindicate the truth Of history. We say,
then. the present apportionment law was
drawn up by Wing, Wing not a menu
Der of the legislative assembly, nor a
:: Sibley man. either. but one who had
ardently supported Mitchell. The bill,
then, was not concocted by Mr.. Siblcy's
friends; but as they had generally been
found on the side of right and justice, the
inference was that they would Of course
support it, against the war which had been
declared in advance against it by the cor
rupt hirelings of faction-especially US
this war was based upon personal hatred
of Mr.. Sibley. The hopes of free and
universal suffrage were not disappointed.
Mcleod and Forbes in the Council, and
Ames, and Randall, and Wells, and Far
! ribault, and Trask, in the House, and all
the Wings in both branches Gall honor to
them y carried the measure triumphantly
through, after undergoing bullyings threats
Of personal violence, clubs Aourishcd
over their heads in their places, and other
Iindignities; that only disgraced and event
ualIy damned the perpetrators themselves.
The conspiracy went SO far as to hazard
the attempt on the part of the minority, at
the instigation of d. A. Robertson, to
break up the legislature in row. Eff
gy burning was also attempted; but the
bill went through, thanks to frmness and
determination to do right on the part of
the majority.
With these facts before us, it can then
scarcely be wondered at, that our ever
true and faithful Delegate, aside from his
known honesty of purpose and careful
watching over the rights and welfare OF
his whole constituency, should feel an
interest in sustaining this measure of APP
portionment. when the hounds of faction.
who have ever had their tangs at his
throat, should pursue it into the halls of
Congress. He knew and felt what his
fast friends at home had gone through to
sustain it. 1t had became in part, almost,
is bone Of his bone, and flesh Of his flesh"
viewing the question of preserving it in
the light of personal ambition. We were
then fully prepared to hear from time to
time, as we did, that Mr.. Sitlcy was
busy before the committees whenever
this subject was talked Of, as he ever is
when matters of the least interest to
Minnesota occupy the attention of men,
bcrs. And it is said, on good authority,
that only short time since, he appeared
before the Senate committee en- Terrific
ries, and in brief and powerful argu-