The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-03-08
Remarks Of Mr.. Van Worries, of saltwater,
on q Question Of Privilege.

this morning, containing communicate
signed F. R. Delano, requesting the pubhcs
tion of the letter the same gentleman al
tempted on yesterday to smuggle into thi
body, and to have placed on the journal Q
this House. That paper has responsible
name at its head, and says he publishes tn
letter by request, and the "letter speak
for itself" This is~Aaa Endorsement rathe
equivecal-it gives me no ground to grumbl
with the Editor. But hold in my hand
sir, another paper, printed in this city
ycleped the Pioneer and Democrat, pape
without head or tail, soul or body-a pape
stript of every semblance of responsibility
without known editor, publisher, or any
other responsible thing. A paper so stu
ated, becomes almost of necessity vehicle
of vituperation, falsehood and slander.
will not say that such has been the fornse,
course or character of that paper, for dc
not believe it to be the fact, but 1 do say
that stript of every vestige of fraternity al
it now is, it can easily be made to fill in the
moral world the place of the buzzard in the
natural world-to fatten upon the scum anG
prutrescence that floats on the surface O.
society.
This paper also contains the letter of F. R
Delano, with the following comment by
somebody: ...f ..-
"THE SALTWATER MEMBERs.-We pub
lish, by request, the following letter from
the property holders of Saltwater, to Their
Representatives in. the Legislature. We are
credibly informed that the signature of euesy
business man and property holder in Saltwater
with one single exception, was appended to
the letter, and it was accompanied by in
structions signed by a majority of the voters
in that precinct, at the last election-and
yet these Representatives persist in follow
ing their own wills instead of the will Of
their constituents. Of such is the party Of
German"
We are credibly informed that the sigma
ture of every business man and property
holder in Saltwater, with one single excep-
ton and those words underscored to give
them peculiar emphasis. Now, will say,
that this credible informer, be he whom he
may, has stated wilful, premeditated and
malicious falsehood, and the penman of that
editorial intended it for a tinlsehood, aaanoiat-
ed and mna'aeaIed. No gentleman on this
floor, or in this City, who has ever been in
the City of Saltwater, and looks at the
names appended to that letter, but knows
the statement to be false.
Mr. Speaker, the signers to that letter,
with cone single exception" rank among
my personal friends. l am neither afraid
nor ashamed to meet them. No stone has
been left unturned-Heaver and earth have
been invoked-myself and colleague have
been driven to the wall. We have been
threatened with the fulminations of the
Press and the terrors of the ballot-box; but
I thank God that he has impaired to us the
spirit and the ability to defend ourselves
here or elsewhere.
will detain this House but a few min
utes longer. have piece of history which
would gladly Withhold from this House, and
from the world, but self-defence forbids.
From the commencement of this session
down to last Thursday evening, every word
or sentiment in the shape of opinion, request
or instruction, has been to defeat the bill if
possible, unless the amendments of last
winter were accepted and after the bill had
gone to the Council, the word and only word
was, Vote against the extension of time
unless the Setter amendments were adopt
ed." This was the expression of every in
dividual from that City with whom we have
had any correspondence, written or verbal
Mr.. w. H. Mower, one of the gentlemen
deputed by the signers of the pretended
letter" no longer ago than last Thursday
evening, told my colleague that he and oul
Saltwater friends wished the Extension Bill
defeated, and that our constituents would
sustain us-that he, Mower, was in posses
sion of facts that could not be controverted
that the Company never intended to go tC
Saltwater, and by all means to sustain the
veto. On the following morning the same
gentleman called on us, and just as strenu
ously urged the opposite course. What
stronger influence was brought to bear OF
their minds leave for others to Judge.
They returned to Saltwater and by rep
reservations and insinuations that impeachet
our honor and integrity, as we now learn by
gentlemen from that city, and sig,sers to th
petition, they obtained the large petition
presented few moments since.
This is not all. Within the last twenty
minutes, Mr.. Delano called me from my
seat into the lobby, and there had the au
dacity to ask me to present to the Hous'
this letter. l expressed my indignation il
strong terms, and positively refused to d.
so. He then inquired if was willing to pre-
sent the petition, and ask that it should g
on the Journals. promptly agreed to d'
so; and he in return said if l would do so
he would make no effort to get the letter be
fore the House. ayailed myself of the frs
opportunity to obtain the floor and present
ed the petition-cxplained the import in full
without word of comment, and asked tina
it be printed, which was granted Sir,
had hardly dropped into my seat before tn
gentleman from Ramsey presented this iden
tical letter. Now, you have sample of tn
base treachery and detestable meanness re
sorted to-, in order to place myself and col
league in false position before this Hous
and our constituents.
On yesterday, when this matter was tn
subject of discussion, one of the gentleme
deputed to manage this business here, sa,
and felt the unenviable position in which b
was placed, and withdrew from the embass
and retired unable to withstand the gaz
of indignation expressed from every counte
nance on this floor. The other, less susceI
} tible to the sentiments of honor or shame
has had the audicity to procure the publics
ton of that letter;-an act which l am hal
pv to learn, is condemned by the gentlema
who is the Agent of this Company, an
must be condemned by every one who hs
the least inkling of what is due from on
gentleman to another. ~ 4
}, @ During the month of January thel
4 IL