The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-10-24
The WimnebagO Frauds in Blue Earth
County.

County.
The Mankato Independent, which is not q
party paper, thus gives its testimony to the
frauds committed by the Democratic party,
through the L. S. Indian agent on the Win
nebago Reservation, in Blue Earth County.
II is trusted That this matter will not be al
lowed to sleep until thorough investiga-
ton is had. Such rascality ought not to be
tolerated.
RICE LAKE PRECINCT 90 DEMOCRATIC
MAJORITY $50 say the returns from that
precinct. This would indicate an unprece-
dentel increase ofpopulation since last June,
when the total vote was %! And when we
reflect that this precinct is located on the
Winnebago Reservation, where the land is
not open to settlement, the marvel increases.
But how think you, reader, the thing was
done? The easiest thing in the world, when
you consider that his eX excellency, w. A.
German (of fourteen-horses- shot from under
memory J is candidate for the Z. S. SEN
ate,-provided his party succeed ia electing
majority Of the two branches of the State
Legislature,-an has been up this way ''lix-
ing the ropes"
1t is a notorious fact that some IS Indians,
glorying in paint and dirt-breech-cl 9TH,
blankets, leggings and all-were marched up
to the polls, and ''put through" according to
the most approved German standard.
Messrs. A. w. Bratt and Il. l.. Aver, of
this place, who were at the polls in that pre-
| cinct, during the day, are our authority for
the statement. They inform us that these
Indians, came to the polls were furnished
with tickets by General Fletcher. the Agent,
which they straightway deposited, AN inter-
prefer calling ont the name Of each Indian os
he deposited his cote.
This is certainly an outrage upon the cleo
tive franchise which should not be tolerated
There is not shadow of authority for any
such procedure. The provisions in the
Constitution and the Territorial laws, under
which it is rather feebly claimed that they
had the right to vote are as follows:
The Constitution says that every free
white male inhabitant over the age of 81
years, who shall have resided within the linn
lite Of the Territory for ten days. shall have
the right to vote the State Ticket.
The statute Territorial provision is as fol-
lows
Alter prescribing the qualifications of free
white voters, it is provided.
THAT nothing in this chapter shall be so
construed, as to prohibit all persons of mired
arhite and Indian blood, acho hare adopted the
habits and customs of civilization from voting"
Now, we admit that it might be rather
difficult TO prove that these Indians had not
slight admixture of Caucasian blood in
their veins and it might be equally difficult
to prove that they had. They were to all
appearances, full blood Indiaus-dressed, so
far as they dressed at all, in Indian costume.
They carried with them to the polls their
bows and arrows, and war clubs--they were
bedaubcd with paint and were unable to
speak their own names, Interpreters being On
hand for that purpose.
Now, by what possible construction Of the
statute provision quoted above can the votes
of these sarages be admitted? Does prop
er construction Of that provision include such
bare legged vagabonds as We daily see on
our streets2
No ore possessed of three grains of COM
mon sense but will unhesitatingly answer in
the negative.
The whole procedure was fraud and as
such should not be regarded in the slightest
degree.
We do not speak thus, upon party grounds,
by any means. We would unhesitatingly de-
nounce such rascality in any party. We feel
it to be duty we owe to an outraged COM
munity to characterize in fitting terms all
such outrages upon the purity of the ballot
box.
Tie election, we understand, will be con-
tested, when the whole matter will receive
thorough investigation.