The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-02-09
The Ludden and NIcCracken Case.

| ~ VAAA w AShOAAoCASu, tudt lulmCuldtCly
upon learning the result of the vote at the
October election in the Counties situated on
the Minnesota coast of Lake Superior, we de-
nounced the whole proceeding in that quarter
as fraud upon the ballot box, such as the
border rufians" " of Missouri perhaps never
dreamed of in their depredations upon Kan
sas. The pretended legal voting in these
counties, we were satisfied, was originally
planned, and intended by the planners, as a
reser0e vote to secure the election of Fl. NJ.
Rice in case that any unfavorable contingent
cy might happen in other parts of the Ter
ritory. ~s
This first impression of every candid man
of all parties, upon learning the facts of the
case three months ago, has been fully con-
firmed by the testimony taken in the Ludden
and McCracken case, and by the arguments
upon both sides had in the Council on Thurs
day. 1t has proved an ugly matter to handle
on the part of the Rice Wisconsin side; and
the verdict of the Council is a most merited
rebuke of the high-handed temerity of the
fraud-mongers. Mr.. Ludden has but three
political friends upon the floor of the Coun-
Gil, and yet we find portion of the major
ity-which we have. found it our duty to
censure for their action in the case of Mr.
Howell-so fully convinced of the Superior
fraud, that their conscicnces would not
allow them to carry out the corrupt design
so finely planned before the election, and
planned, as we solemnly believe, by H. NJ
Rice himself.
| We give as full an abstract of the debate
of Thursday as our columns will allow. Mr..
McCracken was first heard by his outside
counsel, Col. Irwin for an idea Of whose
very pertinent remarks to the question he att
tempted to argue, we refer the reader to our
report He may have made some capital
among the loaferage of the town by abusing,
in loafer slang, one of the oldest and purest-
hearted citizens of Minnesota that lives
but he certainly secured no votes for his
Wisconsin client among Councillors. The
same may be said of Mr.. Flandreau's "argu-
ment," delivered on the same side in the
afternoon. He succeeded in creating the
impression in the minds of most men who
heard him, that he was acting as an attorney
in the case and not as judge. We do not,
of course, presume that such was his actual
position; but he labored hard and long to
convince the Council and his auditors outside
that he was actually retained in the case.
This gentleman, as "a member of the Com
mittee on Contested Seats, in the case of
Howell, would not receive the testimony of
four men because fifth-cognizant of the
same facts-had not testified at all he ig-
nored the action of Gov. Gorman's Carver
County Commissioners in the case of Han
son; but in the case of Ludden he endorses
the acts of Commissioners similarly consti-
tuted in the Counties of Doty and Superior,
ercept, that the Carver Commissioners were
bona fidc citizens of Minnesota, while ma
jority Of those appointed on the North Shore
were not! If there be any further proof
needed to show cause why Mr.. Flandreau
olOulU uoC NC CIOWliSu mug CeSuoSSOA
over the realms of Ricedom, we should like
to see it produced When this interesting
ceremony comes off, we shall suggest the
name of his friend, the President of the
Council, as Prime Minister.
The arguments of Messrs, Setter and
Ludden in this case were unanswerable; and
to the action of Mr. Setzer-a disinterested
member as to who should hold the seat, but
one of the strongest political opponents of
Mr.. Ludden in the Territory-the legal
voters of the First Council District are
greatly indebted for this happy decision in
favor of their rights. Mr.. Hanson, also,
would not allow himself to be stultified by
holding seat which he attained by ruling
out the Governors authority to appoint
Commissioners in Carver County, and ad-
mitting that authority in the Counties Of
Doty and Superior. He arose from a sick
bed, and made his way to the Capitol to vote
against Flandreau's report-which he did
with hearty good will.
|, The Councillor from Nicollet is certainly
Gin bad row of stumps :" and we doubt
: very much whether he win ever get out Of
i it.. =. =