The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-08-15

nave come there as members of the Oonstit
tlonal Convention Two or three DAYS aft
their temporary organization, some Of the
hand in certain certificates. These certificat,
are kept, from the time they are handed
up to the 23d of July, before they are r
ported upon. bod adg - asrs l5.r'.a.,n
Then all kinds Of cases were reported u,
on in q mass-the cases of those who he
certificates, as well as those who had non
Y OF those who were present, and of certal
who were absent, but whose certificates we,
mysteriously present. They report upo
them all promiscuously. Then promiscuoul
lyvote themselves in. They just vote then
selves in en- Hnasse! Why, sir, if the whol
town OF st. Paul had come in and asked I
have been admitted, and if they had been az
United by that common vote, it would hav
been as much in legal, parliamentary form a
is their organization to-day.
But these gentlemen are SO much oppose,
to tricks ! Let US see how much they ar
opposed to tricks. In the first place, the
contemplated, they consulted together, ant
planned an organization in this hall. at mid
night ending Sunday, the 18th of July. Thi
was thing proposal by those gentlemen, VIII
pretend to be 80 very honest, and 90 much
averse to trickery. We have the fact from
authority which they themselves dare no
deny, that they contemplated such an organi
cation and the members of this body wert
right when they concluded that such wa.
their intention When the proposition wa!
made to the members of this party, to sign {
paper pledging themselves to meet at Il
o'clock on Monday, and organize like men
they met this proposition with sneer, and
took French leave of those who offered it
Every sign end circumstance on their part
showed that there was something behind the
curtain, and every circumstance since has
shown that they had determined to come In
and organize at II at midnight It was con.
cluded on all hands, that no hour being linen.
tened in the Enabling Act, the Convention
had a right to organsze at any hour of the
days" and in the action that we took, we
merely said to them, "We will not take ad.
vantage of your absence, but we will see that
you shall not take advantage of ours" The
members of this Convention had to depend
upon themselves to prevent and protect
themselves from the trick which the same
party enacted once before in Ohio by an or
ganization at IL o'clock at night, when the
present Governor of this Territory was tn
leader of the Democratic party of that State.
Well, sir, when they saw that there was
vigilance and determination here, they came
up with all apparent fairness, and proposed
to sign paper to organize at noon. But
this also, was by way of trick, for they got
lew names from us; and then getting to-
gether again into consultation, they retained
it, and sent back an evasive resolution speci.
tying no hour whatever. This only aroused
still further the vigilance of the Republican
members.
These men also who are 80 shocked at the
idea of breaking the Sabbath, had a caucus
meeting on Sunday night. That caucus con-
tlnued in session till near midnight, consult
ing on schemes for the organization of this
body. The next morning they profess to
have come to a resolution in the matter. and
send US copy Of that resolution in which
they concurred in the proposition of the Re
publicans to organize at II o'clock, M. The
clock of this Hall was turned back some ten
minutes or more, BY their direction. The
clock being turned back, they rushed in here
in body, tumultuously, IL minutes before
the time, and by trick. endeavored to ad-
Journ this body and get away. Now have
just one passage to read from the speech OF
Ex-Governor German, on this point, where
he is setting forth the honesty and fairness
and good intention of the Democracy in com.
ing into this Hall on that day-their very
honest intentions lie says:
Having proceeded to this point the intention exures
seq IN our caucus was inasmuch of our MEM
Ders had not come in knowing that in consequence Of
the alarm, which had been sounded throughou the Ter
rtory, calling the Republican Delegates to be here
tney we're here armed capa pie and that having silent
upon their arms they were Expecting great deve
opement If, on calling the ROLL It resulted, as we ex-
tended, &c.
Here, Mr.. President, is precious admis-
sion by the Ex-Governor, that they expected
they were in minority. They knew this, in
their councils. They knew it very we'll, ana
admitted and reported the fact to diffe ent
members Of this body, that they were legally
IN minority, before coming into this Hall !: |
and still these gentlemen, so honest. 90 much |
aVerse to tr ckery, come in here ard attempt |
70 seize upon the organization, and, by |
trick, endeavored to coerce this Convention |
and compel the majority to receive there die |
lat'on. But, they, got frightened and run |
away instantly, and felt themselves, no doubt |
n an unenviable position. ~ |
1t is, indeed, quite amusing to notice the
Ex-Governor, in four or five passages of this
speech, when he expatiates on their determi-
nation, that they would pursue course of |
airness that they would not, under any
proceed to violence. 1t re-
minds me Of the efforts of drunken man t.
walk strait, the effort but exposing the more
he weakness he would conceal. So it is with
he FIX Governor, and his story ,I i
Talk about honesty and fairness Make
is believe IN the honesty and fairness of these
men, knowing themselves in minority, and
coming in here, and attempting to adjourn
bis body, with less than 40 members for
With all told, they had but A whilst the
republicans proceeded to organize with
IS. fJ
= But, suppose they had the number to
make quorum, if that adjournment fails
hem, they are gone and if that is the only 1
AIR on which they hang, it seems to me their, !
onditlOnis rather precauciOus and hereup-
N the Ex-Governor very adrortly says, swell
rive can give them some parliamentary tao
les but we cannot put brains into their
eads.' e.S San .aa Ii
Here is an example of the honesty of mem
efusing to submit TO the rule of the majority f,
nd exulting IN their own shame in their fee
lie tactics and contemplate tricks.
But what was their motive for wishing to
djourn? The Ex-Governor tells US they
'ere going to do this, and do that. Thew i.
Iere going to have the roll-called, and ali
aving certificates should present them. and {
he thing vas to be gone through in parlia,
lentary order. Why did they not do ito Al
ther gentleman tells us, they yant.d the
to adjourn BIZ. for one .isv am ,
tner, lot tnree Gays /; and another, till their
'em"ers could get in /: and then judging
'om their actions they wanted us toa djoufn /,
,r abont two weeks-and actions speak lou l.
er than words, oe.a
A glance at the speech of one more gen.
eman in that body, and then am done !;
I'd that is, the speech of the President,oft
leir Convention. The President of that
ody is we'll known in the Territory. and he
IS maintained character for integrity and
'nor that has sseen quite equal to that Of
y Gentleman there. But the speech,
lust say, falls far short Of what might be
expected from such q source. He accuses us,
8 commence with, Of gross incasility. +
cad from his speech the following 81, af I
Sir, Il strikes us, that never has delberssive body
vnced great want of civity-I might sag Of conn
ION decency-tovsrds portion, and large portion
the Capitol, taking their own sccount Of fhet pro.
eedipgs. ia sa7 ~ ss.-s....- -. u ~
This is pretty broad assertion, that the
Members Of this body are not merely uncivi,
tut actually indecent But letus see u what
,oaport q Tie cndcavora n, mint ont some