The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-09-26
Thoughts for the People. Anarchy, or
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Thoughts for the People. Anarchy, or
| Laws
We speak not now as partizen, but as
citizen, who is to share the common destiny
Of our State and country. And We appeal to
those of all parties who are to bear the same
lot. If good laws we'll administered secure
our rights and our happiness, we and our
children are to enjoy the common, inestima-
BILE good. But if lawlessness, outrage and
corruption are to prevail, it will be no mti-
CATION of the shame and rum that we permit
ted it in order to secure party triumph
Stop and think.
A question is to be met at the ballot-box
in this Territory on the 18th Of October,
which is rarely found in American elections,
and the influence of the peoples decision is
not to cease in this generation. Lying at the
very initiation of our State existence, it will
promote our civil welfare or faint our youth
full blood, afford precedent to lawlessness
and tend to our general corruption and ruin.
Fundamental principles are in issue for our
selves and our children.
What is this question? You all know
that on the assembling Of our late Conven
ten minority Of the delegates finding they
could not rule the body by force of numbers,
forsook it fed from the hall, set up hostile
and faclious opposition, resisting all honora-
BILE efforts Of the remaining portion to induce
them to return and proceed according to
law and fair dealing, whatever the effect
upon party interests. Knowing we'll that
Their mad course might defeat our admission
as State indefinitely, distract our public af-
fairs inextricably, retard our public works and
iniure our material prospects 30 or so per
ceut., besides all the disastrous moral conse.
quences with members in their body elected
by single rote and that known to be illegal,
still they persisted-for two or three weeks
spending the public money without even at
tempting any business, perfdiousy violating
their own pledges till external pressure COM
PEELED majority to accede to co-opertivc
policy.
And the party to which these desperate
men belong, have new assumed their respon-
siblity, in State Convention declared their
action " firm and patriotic" nominated one
of the most INSCRIPTIONS and stubborn
for Governor, and another for Treasurer
thus compelling ece7y man voting with the
party, and if possible the Territory, to endorse
their wickedness.
And even after a Committee of the two
parties had agreed on single form of Con.
stitution, and pledged to each other recos-
milton of the claims Of all, of both parties, to
their pay as members, after all was thus
adjusted, one deed of shame-of meanness
which TO human imagination had ever con-
ceived, remained to blast the memory of tie
party with all honorable men THE "DEM-
OCRAIIC" BODY VOTED TO VIOLATE
THE SETTLEMENT AND DEPRIVE
THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF
THEIR PAY!
AMI all this the People of this Territory
ere now called on to endorse by their ballots.
If that is lone, the subverSion of law, Of Or
der, of justice, Of democratic government
will have come. The alarming examples in
III direction in California in wisconsin, in
Pennsylvania, in Kansas, will be repeated
and endorsed by Minnesota, and what must
be the appalling prospects of our country
We appeal to candid men to pause and re-
fleet. There is not State government in
the Union that could proceed a single year
on the principles acted on and defended by
the so.called Democratic party here. Revo-
luton and anarchy would speedily roll their
dark waves of blood over the land The ma
jority or a monarchy must rule. Our only
choice is between fair ballot box and full
cartridge box And if the People will not
insist on the former, they must prepare for
| the latter. To attempt to defeat the legiti-
mate action of maiorities in civil bodies is
as truly revolutionary, and far more pernicious
in example when attempted by fraud, as
by armed violence. Let this early attempt
at anarchy be but winked at by the People,
and they will soon see its repetition. A party
in the minority need only resort to it to over
rule the majority, or what is far more certain,
bring on civil war; and those who will not
discOuntenance it now will have invited it
then.
But let it be sternly rebuked now, at the
threshold. by voting down every nun and
every party that uphold it, and it will never
be resorted to again the peace aud good or
der of our new State will be promoted, and
barn Ter to political corruption be thrown up
which desperation itself will not dare to
| pass.