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


the Democratic party, and to show, as Cir
cumstances may require, the object Of the
Democratic party to be just what it is
charged-to defeat the will of the people,
to defeat the Constitution formed by this
Convention, and to prevent Minnesota from
coming into the Union as State. Those
resolutions are as follows:
Whereds There is official evidence, from the report
of the Committee Credentials, that there is MAORI
ty of the legally members of the Constitutional
Convention who claim and entitled to seats in this
Whereas The members ascertained to be legally elec-
ted from the official documents before this Convention
represent then sixteen hundred majority of the
popular vote of the Territory; and,
Whereas, There is now body of men who have Ia
ken possession of of the halls of this Capitol and
call themselves the Constitutional Convention without
any legal authority right, although of those
with that assembage be entitled to seats
in this Convention, but who have not seen proper as
yet present their credentials to attend the meet
ngs of this body since the regular adjournment of the
Convention, on Monday, the 18th inst; therefore,
Res0lced, That the assemblage of persons occu-
pving the Representatives Hall of this Capitol styling
themselves the Unconstitutional COnvention' is without
the authority of law Parliamentary usage, and revo-
luonary usage and revolutionary in its character, and
therefore, should be recognized by the electors
this Territory. by the officers of the General or
Territorial Government.
Instead Of appealing to the people for the
rectitude of heir acts, thew now make an
appeal to the Pr sident OF the United States,
and the heads of the departments.
Resolred, That copy of the above preamble and
resol on, together Nth copy of the report of the
Committee Credentials be forwarded to the President
of the United States each of the heads of the depart
of the General Government each of the members
Senate and House of Representatives of the Uni
ted States, and to the Governor, Secretary Marshal
Librarian Auditor and Treasurer of the Territory OF
Minnesota.
| Now l remark that these resolutions were
offered in the other end of the Capitol, bv a
government officer-by man who has re-
Gently been appointed Judge of the Su-
preme Court of the Territory of Minnesota
and the fact of its beng offered by him and
advocated by him, in my judgment indicates
what course the administration are ready to
pursue, what cOurs. they will pursue, and
what decision they will make, so far as that
han is concerned. in reference to mat ers OF
the most vital imr Ortance to the people Of
this Territory. In the remarks which he
made in advocacy of those resolutions, let us
examine the rule of decision which he laid
down. by which matters of the most vital
Importance are to be adjudcated upon. lie
has asserted and laid it down as the rule in
regard to the St Anthony delegates, that the
fact that the Governor of this Territory-a
government officer, one who has no sympa
thies with nor relation to the people of this
Territory-by an arbitrary official act re-
moved the Register of Deeds for giving cert
fcates of election to members of this COnsti.
tutional Convention, decides the right to
seats in this Convention of those upon whom
he has adiudicated, without having those
parties before him at all-taking the respon.
sibility and assuming the position that bodies
of this character have no right to Judge Of
the qualifications and rights to seats, of its
members,-an assump ion in violat on OF ev
cry principle of right, violation Of every leg
isla:ive rule that can be found upon record
anywhere, either in mOnarchial governments
or any other. Now let us see if / am correct
in charging upon that officer the decision
have stated. He says referring to these St
Anthony dc!egates-
How does it happen that these men assume to COM
in and deliberate in the Councils of the Constitution
Convention Of Minnesota? They have net been sent her
by the only principal authorized to dispute them-h'
people. They have been discarded at home, and WIN
then do they to sit there? thas been through
the rickery and chicanery of certain officials. 1t viii
be said thai they have prima tfacie the right t.
take that position because orsooth they have receive,
credentials from the officer whose duty it is to certify
to the members having the greatest number of votes
answer, sir by presenting these facts In the first pac
it palpably, manifestly that the yer,
members OF The opposition would delight IN the Opror
tuntyby contest to reliee themselves of the odiun
the nosion they occupy and have placed their part
il, by expelng those members from that house.
And then he alleges that there is an an
swer which is unanswerable to the clain
that those delegates had right to take seats
in this Constitutional Convention. He says
And, sir there exists perfect answer to the prime
tcte character OF right claimed for these credentials
hch lea, apology for the disreputable position
! themselves admit
ting them to a seat among Them 1t is this The PEG
of that District outraged when if was made pub
lie that their wi hes expressed through the ballot box
had be attempted to b defeated by official of hei
creatiOn that they insisted such man should b.
removed from Office Charges preferred agains
him for misconduct in office, before the proper tribunal
this received a fair and impartial hearing III
made his defence there by his attorney and it ina
aiJuged against him that he had been guilty of Oici
misconduct; that he had violated the duties
officer and had attempted to subvert the will of tn
people This judgment, say, removes from these pa
pers styling themselves credentials upon their face,
authority which they might otherwise carry with them
Such is the rule of decision laid down by
the recent appointee to the Supreme Cour
of Minnesota. Under that decision all tina
would have been necessary for them to do il
ORDER to enttle them to seats in this COnven
ton, would have been to Come into thi body
upon the day of its organization, with TIT
Judgment which the Governor pronounce,
against the Register, Ames, removing hin
from Office, produce it, and tits Convention
would have been bound to deprive the sittin!
members from their seats although they hac
never had trial, and their claims never pass
ed upon by the proper tribunal.
But do not wish to dwell upon that point
but proceed to call the attention of the Con
vention to another very important feaur
which appears in the speech which he mad
upon that occasion. He takes the groun'
that i. is the intention Of the Republicans t.
pass Constitution right over the heads o
the people. Then, sir, l take it for granted
from tie position which he assumes here, tina
he is opposed to Republican Constitution
Tie does not say that he is opposed to TIN
Republicans making a Constitution, but h
says that the Republicans wished to carr
tbs matter, and to form Republican Con
stitution against the will of the people,
What people? But do not wish to mis-
represent his position, and | VII read wha
he says:
Mr. President lei he ask why all this has been done
these men have found coming here, that in order
make out their majority, it was necessary to do hes
things They have been instructed from abroad ina
Minnesota must have Republican Constitution, and
obedience the will of their masters they have hndn
it impossible do regularly, and having been rebuke
through the ballot box they nave created the maeT
and machinery to carry it over the people.
What trying scene, to see this body az
semb!ed here, and endeavoring to frame
, Republican Constitution, and to carry it ris
over the heads of the people
My object, however, so far as that Cover
ment officer is concerned, was not MATERIAL
to take issue with him upon any particula
point. bnt quote him TO show what his rul
, of decision is to be. Ex-Governor Gormar
and the party to which he belongs, hav
5 placed this man the Ex-Governor upo
r the stand in order to testify to the worl
e that the Democratic members who belong {
h. the Constitutional Convention were IN tn
right at the time they left this Hall, and q
). the time they came back, and went ava
y again. Now am sorry that I may have I
Il alIude to some things which | would gladl
avoid. There are two or three ways
Is which you may destroy the evidence of wi
h ness. One is by shown. that he contradict
If himself He he's laid down the rule L
- which our acts as Constitutional ConveI
= ton are to be judged, and he has stated tn:
e we are to be judged by our acts. Now
st wish 10 apply the same rule to him and b
% party which he wishes 10 apply to US. No
10 if upon the application Of that rule, h
d works, and the works of the party wit
-hich he acts. gives the lie to their proft
% conclude that when they make
r son. W '"es state what is palpahly III
statement, H. ~'se. in the pext place,
trne. Now, prop, a member of tb;