Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-01-12
Litter raoM nm. vAUenr.


We give place to-day to the following man
~ letter from Hon. Alanson B. Vaughn, who
has been deprived Of his seat by an overt act Of
q majority Of the members Of the House. The
honest tone Of the letter indicates the character
Of the man, and if the people of tho Eighth
Council District do not repudiate the impotence
Of Mr.. Colville in claiming his seat, and re.
buke the members of the House for trampling
upon their rights, then they deserve the wrong
heaped upon them. But we believe they will
do tive believe Mr.. Colville will be placed
where he ought to be, in his political grave
clothes, and Mr.. Vaughn sent back to repre-.
sent the wishes Of a majority Of the People
Read the letter:
ST.. PAUL, January 9Th, 1856.
Ma. EDIroR-Dear Sir-I feel that in Justice
to my constituents and myself, ! am in duty
bound to lay the matter of the Legislative
action in my case before the people Of this Ter.
ritory, that they may then judge of the equity
Of the case, aud form right conclusion of the
true merits of the same, which are, as far as am
able to judge,as follows: At an election, held in
the town Of Austin, in the county of Mower, sit
uated upon Sec. 3, Town l02) north of Range
(l8) west the valley of tho Red Cedar (so called)
on the 9th day of October last, was duly
elected member of the House of Representa-
tives of this Territory, BY majority of SO votes,
having all the votes polled at said election, and as
there was provisions in the Laws of this Ter
ritory whereby the returns Of said election could
be made, the Judges Of said election gave me
certificate of election, duly atsested by the clerks
of the same. Atthe opening of the present SEES
sion of the Legislature, presented said ccrti6-
cate to the Chief Clerk and claimed my seat as
the only person duly elected to said Office from
said County Of Mower. Said certificate was laid
over from the FIRST day of the session until the
third day of the same, at which time there was a
resolution presented and adopted by amajority of
the House, that should take the oath of Office
and occupy my seat, which was accordingly dene
and then after some other business, the House
adjourned until Monday the 7th inst, at O'Clock
P. NJ, at which time Mr.. Coville, from the
town of Frankfort, appeared with certificate of
election to the same Office, purporting to come
from the county of Houston in said Territory
NA'' NO'AAS was AusAoouCCu uuu oWOEu Ill Uy Tue
President pro tenn, Mr.. Hull. 1t then appeared
by the minutes of the House that there were two
members in their seats from said County of Now
er, which was contrary to Law. resolution
was thereupoD presented and adopted, that should
vacate my seat in the House. but before the same
was carried, there was an amendment offered to
said resolution, to have Committee appointed
with power to investigate the claims of Mr.. Col
vile and myself, which amendment ,oas vofed
doscn, giving me no chance for investigation of
the matter whatcver, therefore was unceremoni-
ously deprived of my just rights, and turned out
of my seat. These are the facts in the case.
would state, that during the discussion of the
matter, the resolution whereby was admitted to
my seat, was called for, but could not be found,
and the same did not appear on the journal read
by the Clerk of the House. would also state
that had conversation with Mr.. Colville on the
subject of the election held at Frankfort, at which
he claims to have been elected, and made the
enquiry of him of the number of votes polled j 1
that section of the County at said election. lie
told me there were about twenty votes. Under
all the circumstances, have no hesitancy in sayi ~
that think that Fam unjustly deprived OF my
seat, and entertain no doubt but the people of
Mower County will come to the same conclusion.
Your obedient servant.
MANSON B. VAUGHN