The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-03-12
THE MINI ESOTIAN
STUNT Baul, saiaraau, Rartb II, 1858.
). The way of the Tran.gre.sor is Hard,

AAC " oy VI INC AEdusSrcSSOE
A most striking illustration in veriication
of this text, is before us in the present fallen
condition Of the editor and publisher of the
Minnesota Democrat To the cnterprising and
honest man, no matter what trade or profession
he came here to follow, Minnesota has been a
field of almost sure reward-a new home where
in he could scarcely fail to better the condition
in life he left behind. Men had but to do right,
deal justly with their fellows; and while work
ing for the support of themselves and families,
do citizens duty to forward the true interests
of Minnesota and their success was certain.
On the other hand, there has been keen sense
of discrimination abroad among our people, to
search out the wrong-doer and punish him ac-
cording to his deserts. The case we are about
to briefly consider, teaches a lesson well worthy
of close reflection.
D. A. Robertson landed here in the month of
November, 1850, prepared to commence the
publication of the Minnesota Democrat. He
came with flair reputation as partizan editor.
In Ohio, he had stood as a prominent individual
in his party, and had enjoyed the confidence of
some Of its leading men. He found his party
here in distracted state, scattered as sheep
without shepherd 1t had become severed
into factions, with the rank and file, as we'll as
the chiefs, of each division so embittered against
one another, that to reconcile existing difficult
ties within themselves was out Of the question.
Robertson's advent was hailed as the dawnng
of more auspicious era. He was taken by the
hand by leading men, who, in the Congressional
contest just past, had borne prominent parts on
all sides. All who were here in 1850, will bear
us out in what we say. Thxe was Rice, the
originator and powerful leader of the Mitchell
side of the contest; there was Norris and Hol-
combe steel-clad and iron-nerved warriors I'M
der the Sibley banner, who had charged full up
at the heels of the last retreating squadron of
the Mitchell and Rice cavalry, and Joined loud
est in the huzzas of victory; and there was
Olmsted, himself the head Of no mean frag-
ment of the Democracy, either in point of num-
bers or talent, which had at the outset sought
to elevate its chief to the Delegacy over both
the other contestants All these buried their
reeking hatchets, smoked the pipe of fraternal
reunion in the tent of the great Ohio chief,
and resolved, henceforward, under his standard,
to make common cause against the common
enemy.
But the propensity to do wrong predomina-
ted, and he chose the way Of the transgressor.
Not content to control the destines of his own
party, which had large majority in the Legis-
Iature then about to convene, he must needs
also tamper with the Wings, in order to decoy
ham, into nc for of
pecuniary gain He became the real purchaser
and owner of the Chronicle and Register, the
only reputed Wing organ then published in the
Territory, and carried on its publication to the
day of its death. 1t is true his name did not
stand as its editor and publisher. This would,
Of course, have exposed the trick at once. But
the fact is notorious, that he advanced the
money to purchase the concern, with the con-
dition that he must dictate the course it should
pursue-virtually, that he should own and con-
troll it, He did SO own and control it; and
when it died its rotten carcass went to him. But
the facts of this transaction are so we'll known
that they need no repetition here.
This was his first transgression in Minnesota
The more discerning of his party, even at that
early day, saw that he was a man entirely I'M
worthy of their confidence, and that to follow
his lead, would be to immediate themselves and
their party upon the altar of his overweening
selfshness. Enough of them deserted him to de-
feat his first effort to secure the patronage O:
the Legislature.
He next swore vengeance against the settlers
upon the west side Of the river, because it was
principally owing to their representatives that
he had not succeeded in securing the public
printing, which would have enabled him to con.
tinue his Wing aswell as his Democratic paper
He resolved they should be DISTINGUISHED He
induced that portion of the Democratic men,
bers who still adhered to him, to run away from
their duty, thereby hoping to break up quo
rum in the Legislature, and prevent the pas
sage Of an apportionment act, which secured to
all parts of the Territory representation upon
the basis Of the national census Just taken.
But patriotism and right again prevailed and
he was again defeated. The law passed. An
appeal was made to the people, which resulted
in the overthrow Of Robertson, and the defeat
of every candidate, for whatever office he ran,
who was of those reckless partizan Legislators
shat had deserted their duty at his bidding. An
appeal was then made to Congress to annul
the apportionment act, which of course resulted
adversely to the appellants. The acts of the
majority were sustained and the people of the
west side of the river were secured in their
rights.
Another backing off of a whole broadside
OF the Democracy took place after this Men
who in the heat of excitement, while the con-
test in relation to the rights of the west side of
the river was raging had adhered to him with
tenacity commensurate with their zeal, after
the storm subsidized awoke to a calm conscious
ness Of their position. They had been blindly
led by the transgressor into attempting great
political wrong-into doing that which, had
they succeeded, would have violated the great
fundamental principle of American freedom
the principle that all men are created equal,
are entitled to equal rights, and an equal voice