The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-02-09
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1856.


against Taylor, which was decided in th
House of Representatives on Wednesday
Mr.. Bradley (who if there be an honest an
conscientious man in the House, he is one
signed the report of the majority of tn
committee, favoring Mr.. Kingsbury's RICH
to the seat. This report waived the ques
ton of legality in the establishment of tn
precincts in the counties of Superior am
Doty, and contended that where the people
in good faith, proceed to vote at polls whicl
they suppose to be opened in accordanc
with law, the votes should not be rejected
This doctrine has been established in con
tests in the Minnesota House of Represen
tatives and may, with safety, we think, b
still adhered to when the fact is known an(
proved in evidence, that those voting ART
bona fide residents of and voters in such in
formal precincts. But we are not prepared
to extend this liberal grant of the elective
fir nchise, SO that it may become a cloak fol
fraud and preconcerted villainy, such as was
planned here in st. Paul by H. M. Rice aftei
his nomination last July, and carried Out
under the direction of his most confidential
friends residing at Superior, Wisconsin.
Now that the whole matter is over, it may
be thought ungenerous and ill-timed in us to
continue our denunciations of the acts Of
these men. But we choose to think differ
emily; and we intend that the voting in Min
nesota by the Wisconsin invaders, and the
bold attempt of the leaders of the dominant
faction to foist their votes upon the Legisla-
ture, thereby depriving the citizens of Wash
ingtoh and Chisago counties of their rights,
shall stand as monument of infamy ever
the remains of that faction long after it is
known only as political organization of the
past. And here we wish it understood, that
we bear no i'll feeling toward Messrs. Nc
Cracker and Kingsbury, the contestants
who came here to claim The seats of Ludden
and Taylor. They have conducted themselves
throughout in the most gentlemanly manner,
and have received the respect of those who
most despise the fraud and trickery of the
great chief and his confidential tools, which
has placed these two men in false position
before the people of Minnesota.
The same facts were developed in the case
of Taylor in the House that were shown in
the case of Ludden in the Council Perhaps
they were more strongly brought out in
the House. Judge Cooper, Mr. Taylor's
counsel, in an argument of such immense
power and force that it carried conviction to
the breast of every auditor, plainly demon
strated that the laws of the Territory had
been most outrageously violated, and that to
admit Mr.. Kingsbury to the seat would be
act not only of injustice to the sitting
member and his constituents, but One that
would be offering high premium for DELHI
crate fraud upon the ballot boxes of our
Territory. The Judge submitted the origi-
nal papers, purporting to be the election re-
turns from the precincts in Superior and
Doty, all drawn up in the same handwriting
and all signed in the same handwriting The
Judge handled this point of evidence with
the severity which the perpetrators of the
fraud richly deserved.
During the afternoon session, Mr.. Bradley
spoke in defence of his report, and was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Galbraith on the opposite side.
The latter gentleman's speech was most
eloquent argument for preserving the purity
of the ballot box showing that upon that
one thing depended the pcrpetuity of our
republican institutions. Trample this first
great principle to the ground, and let law
makers be the first to become law breakers,
by endorsing so great fraud upon the sa-
credness of the elective franchise as the one
proved here, and our boosted liberties would be
placed upon the tempestuous sea of Anarchy
without chart or compass. Mr.. Galbraith's
speech on this occasion is considered the best
he has yet made during the session, and had
decided effect upon the House.
There having been no political predjudices
to arouse in deciding this question-Messrs.
Taylor and Kingsbury both belonging to the
same party-the vote of the House may be
considered - rejecting the conscientious
views and feelings of the members. And the
large majority which appears on the side Of
right and truth, must be set down as Sc
we're but well meritcd rebuke of the pfojec-
tors and managers of the fraud. All of Mr..
Rice's confidential political friends here at
St. Paul have labored vigorously and inces-
sanity, from the commencement of the ses-
sion, to have the Legislature endorse the SUI
perior fraud and in having so signally fail
ed, must no doubt feel that such principle
as political honesty and integrity yet lives,
although they may not possess spark of it.
This rebuke is staggering blow to them.
The Minnesotian having been the first pa
per in the Territory to call public attention
to this Superior election rascality, we Of
course feel perhaps m5re pleased than many
others in contemplating its most signal ex'
posure and reputation in an official manner
But the half has not yet been told, or yet
proved, that could be, were any one disposed
to undergo the trouble and expence.
* During the year ending June 30
1854, Great Britain and Ireland bought Of
US property to the value Of $l45, OOO,O 900
besides what was taken of us by the British
Colonies and dependencies. In the same
twelvemonth Russia did not buy of us to the
value of half million. France and her col