The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-03-08

degree W VIC tfuc aLu we well might lufl
back the charge upon the supporters of the
Administration, who are now unfolding the
President in his attempt to drive free men
out OF Kansas, in order that that Territory
may fall under the blighting influence Of
Slavery and Slave labor.
We want Kansas for Free men and Free
labor-the Democracy so called, want it for
negro drivers and negro slaves, and are about
to. enforce their wants by war OF eXter-
mination against the Free White man. We
would not interfere with Slavery where 1T
exists in Missouri or any other State; but
we woulI prevent its spread into any Ierfl-
| tory belonging to the United States in CON-
mon. or which may hereafter belong thereto.
This we understand to be the great funda-
mental principle upon which the Republican
| party isfounded; and upon which it will
| this wear enter the Presidential contest in
the States.
We have heard much of "Squatter Sow
ereignty." Believing that the power to
make all needful regulations for the govern
ment of the Territories-to regulate Slavery
therein as well as to regulate the primary
disposal of the soil RESTS where the
Constitution places it, with Congress, we
shall not stop here to discuss this new doc
trine. But we must declare that we regard
that species of popular sovereignty in the
Territories which IS enforced against ma
ijority of the people thereof by the aid of
armed troops and rufianly mob from
neighboring State, to be anything but
Popular Sovereignty that we could en-
dorse, or which SHOULD be endorsed by the
people of any Territory or State.
In passing from the great national question
which now agitates the mind of the country
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from
our northern boundary to the Gulf of Mexico,
it may not be improper to allude to some of
| the acts we have witnessed in our own Lc-
| gislaturc during this session. 1t is known
| to most Of you, of course, that the Republi-
cans are in minority in both branches. The
session was commenced by overt acts of
power on the part of the dominant Demo-
cratic fac ion, such as proved to us that
political corruption is as deeply seated in
the hearts Of the leaders of that party here
as in the hearts of cur present National
rulers. 1t was necessary to have a clear
"working majority" in the House of Repre-
sentatives. This could not be accomplished
except through the expulsion of one Of the
Republican members. The faction did not
! hesitate to do this a man of their party who
had been a candidate in the District repre-
sented by the victimiZed member, but was
defeated by three to one, was brought for
ward and sworn into officc-aaaking Thirty
mine members for the time, when. the law only
calls for thirty-eight, and then the legally
elected member was Ousted by party vote.
We do not hesitate to declare our belief
that with the power in their hands, the fac
ton. would have continued this summary
process to make up a greater majority for
themselves, had it been necessary in order
to carry out their great priaciple-the con-
troll of the spoils Of public printing, &c.
And in the Council, likewise, deed of
infamy was perpetrated by the majority, of
equal magnitude. Warren j. Howell proved
beyond controversy, that he was the legally
elected Councillor for the County of Fill
more but yet he was refused his seat and
even an impartial hearing before the Com
mittec appointed to investigate the rights of
the parties was not allowed him.
Much the largest portion Of the session
has been passed in useless special legislation,
while measures Of great public utility, and
which We're demanded by the people, have
been neglected. Tie expenses have been
largely increased, much beyond sum which
the General Government has been in the
habit of allowing and the deficit must even
The above is but brief synopsis Of the
political evils, National and Territorial, which
the Great Republican Party is called upon
to redress. We therefore urgently call upon
those of our political faith in every County
of the Territory to begin at once and perfect
an early and thorough organization of the
party. We were only defeated last fall
through want OF proper organization still
our strength was shown to be in TO mean
proportion to that of Or advcrsaries, and
the result was not at all discouraging. In
the Counties composing the newly settled
portion of the Territory west of the Missis-
sippi, the Republican candidate for Delegate
had majority of votes over the successful
candidate. There can he no more doubt thata
very large majority of the voters of Mime
sofa this day are with us in rinciplc-hcart
| and sOul-than that the next day of election
will come round in the course of time. We
! therefore appeal to you to organize, and
bring together at the polls next October all
the combined elements of opposition to the
extension of African Slavery. Send no man
here to the Legislature who is not sound
upon this guestion-none who will truckle
to the Great Slave Oligarchy, whose infiu-
ence is powerfully felt, even here at the re-
mote Capital of Minnesota. Let not trifing
local dissentions divide you when you come
to vote for Repre- sentatives to your next
| Legislature but select the best men of your
party in every locality, and then see that
they are elected. Your enemy is a willy one,
ever on the alert to cheat you out of your
votes, as was done in many districts last
year. Pro-SiaVery men surround us in this
Legislature from some Of the strongest Re-
publican Districts Of the Territory. Let not
this be the case hereafter. @ ~
We conclude by suggesting the following
resolutions as Territorial Platform:
Rese,ced, lst. That the repeal of the act of
Congress of 1920, commonly called the "AIis-
souri, Compromise" by which act Slavery
was prohibited in the Territory of Minnesota
lying west of the Mississippi River, and
which repeal threw open all that portion of
our Territory to be settled and occupied as
Slave Territory,w son t..e part Of the Govern
ment an act of tlagrsl.t ;njustice-a violation
OF outstanding compromise between the
people OF the different States Reputation
OF the principles of the Ordinance of 1887,
and an attempt on the part of the Govern
ment, to aid in the extension of Slavery over
Territory, which had previously been conse-
Grated to frceuom.
I'd. That the attempt to extend human
Slavery under whatever pretext or form.
should be met and resisted by all lawful
and constitutional means.
Sd. That the recent attempt which has
been made by a large number. of, the people
of the State of Missouri, to force Slavery up
on the people of Kansas even against their