The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-01-17

The readers OF the Mfnaesoffda and fhme'
will remember that, Immediately after the DC.
tober election, and from that time to the sit
ting Of the Legislature, and since, during the
examination Of the cases before the commit.
tees, those journals have attempted to influence
the action Of Councillors, by presenting er
pare statements Of the facts and issues therein
involved. We have taken little notice Of this
manifestly improper conduct, and then only to
administer . rebuke to one Of the journals thus
attempting to forestall legislative action. We
expressed no opinion as to the merits involved
in either contest. because we were not fully
acquainted with the facts because, IL we had
possessed ssch knowledge, the decision thereof
did not rest either by law or by custom, with
US, or with any other than the legally eonsti-
tuted authority and because We had full con-
Gdence that the Council embraced sufficient To-
tellissnce to discover truth. and sufficient
integrity TO administer justice.
The cases Of HOWELL rs. TrLLOrsox, Orr
NAN rs. Lowry, and BAssErr rs. HANSON, have
been heard aud determined. We believe no
wellgroundcd complaint has, or can be, made
respecting the appointment Of committees, the
treatment Of contestants BY those committees
or BY tho committee Of the whole Council
The largest latitude has been allowed contest
ants In the production Of testimony, and in the
argument Of their claims. But in two OF their
cass-OrrxAx rs. Lowry. and BAssxrr rs.
HANSON reports Of the committees, in
each Of which the Republican side was repre-
scented, were unanimous against the contestants;
and the decision OF the Council endorsed that
ofthe committees with almost equal unsnimity.
In the remaining case Of HOW'LL rs. TnLor-
SON. the report ofthe majority ofthe committee
was sustained by more than a party vote in
the Council.
These facts furnish their own commentary on
the injustice Of the course taken by the Repub-
lean journals. Denunciation by wholesale was
launched not only against Democrats who held
certificates, but charges Of corruption were made
against every Official whose duty it was to can
vass the votes and certify the result Of election.
These charges affected the reputation Of num-
hers Of respectable gentlemen in different SEQ
tioas Of the Territory and, had they been true,
would have shown the existence Of conspiracy,
entered into throughout the length and breadth
Of Minnesota, for the purpose Of DISTINGUISHING
the people. The amplest opportunity has been
given both parties interested and the opposition.
to substantiase these charges by proof. They
have, however, not only failed to show any such
corruption and conspiracy but they:have dem
onstrated by their own evidence, the rights Of
the sitting members to retain their seats. So
lar as the latter were concerned, they might
with perfect safety have LEFT the cases TO the
decision OF the Council on their merits without
argument
We had intended to rcfhte in detail the sian
ders which have been hcaped On tho~c Demo
Gratis Whose snts have been contested. But Il
would be work Of supererogatiou. The evil
depce brought against them by the opposition
the reports Of committees. and the action Of the
Council, furnish All the vindication they need.
The records amply sustain them.