The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-12-26

this morning on the factious course pursued
by the Republicans in Convention, yesterday.
The Joint Convention not having finished
their -labors on Saturday met yesterday, Tor
the purpose of electins Surveyor Generals
for the Second, Third and Fourth Districts.
The majority in the Convention not being
ready to 60 into an election lit is said they
were dissatisfied with their nominee) endeav-
ored to adjourn till the 9TH of January; but
this was steadily opposed by the Republican
! minority, who manifested every disposition to
make the majority go into an election wheth-
er they were willing or no, and b. this tao
tious course to disturb the harmony of the
Democratic party. But they were for q time
disappointed in their expectations. Under
the magnificent gcneralship of Messrs. VAN
ErrEN and Dow, being, it is supposed, struck
with panic, the mGjoray precipitately he'd
from the Hall during call of the ayes aud
noes, like flock of sheep jumping over
log. Nothing could exceed the disorder and
confusion with which they left; and until
they were safely hid away in the Library
room below, aad the door locked, did they
appear to recover from their fright. And
then no inducements could persuade them to
return to the Hall where they would come
in contact with that factious minority; no,
they would not even leave the Library ROOM
One would think that after having thus
routed their enemy the minority would have
been satisfied.
Not so the Republican minority. They
insisted on staying there, although there was
not quorum present for three or four hours
compelling the Speaker of the House and
President pro tenn of Council, very much
against their will, without any dinner, to re-
main with them.
In their haste to get out, one of the ma
jority, an elderly gentleman was left behind;
and although he attempted to follow he was
not able to make his escape. The old gen.
tleman seemed to be in worse hands than
when under the surveillance of the Jacques
family. The Chief Clerk Of the House, see
ing his danger, came to the rescue and tried
to get him beyond the portals of the Hall.
Twas no use-the eyes of the factious were
upon him, and the c. c. gave up in despair;
Not so with the old gentleman's friends
The Secretary of the Senate and Assistant
Clerk CT the House next tried to assist him,
and for time with some show Of success
Under their guidance, he was conducted be-
yond the bar of the House but here his
egress was stopped by the minority, and the
old gentleman sat down on the bench outside
of the bar of the House in utter despair
But we are happy to state that what the
Chief Clerk and his Assistant and the Secre
tary of the Senate could not accomplish was
finally effected by the Chaplain. Being mov-
ed no doubt with sympathy for his utterly
forlorn condition, by some hocus pocus, he
contrived to spirit him out. Whether he
magnetised the door keeper or whether he
privately bribed him, we could not learn. and
we presume the journal of the Convention
will not show but that he rescued him in
some manner is beyond dispute and for this
devotion to helpless old man and the cause
of the Democratic party the Chaplain should
ever be held in grateful remembrance. 1t is
true he violated rule Of the Honse, which
would in most parliamentary bodies, cause
him to be expelled; but this only the more
shows his devotion to the Democratic party.
There were many other hair breadth es
capes and many specimens Of intrepid heroism,
which we should like to relate, had we time
and room and other unfortunate predica-
ments One of the members from Dakota
made his escape without his hat, and when
he came back after it, he was seized and de-
tanned.
But everything must have an end, and so
did the proceedings of the factious minority.-
The Sergaant-at- Arms had been out for more
than two hours and had examined every place
where he thought the majority was not to be
found with the most hattering success. But
the minority received some accesslons from
some struggling members of the majority
who had not been there during the panic and
who knew not the danger they were getting
into When they got in there they were
compelled to stay till quorum was thus
made up. Then they suspended proceedings
under the call and voted for Surveyor Gener-
| al-and thus the minority triumphed
Such proceedings should not be tolera-
ted, and we hope the Pioneer will handle that
minority who scared away the majority with
out mittens. They richly deserve it. Per-
haps the Chaplain will WELD his pen on the
occasion; if he does, those gentlemen will
wish they had never been born.