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

J. Wilson, resident OF Minneapolis was then a.,
LYING Trip to sheyenne (three hundred miles from
eecuon precinctl and had never been near Pembina
ms NE Joseph Versere was half-breed living ON d
East sdehe only Of the ticket eligible to electio
MI baldwin "a democfat hinselfA was present, b.
perceivng that game of high handed fraud was bell
played refused to participate and threatened to 9pos
every man who became an accomplice In the crime
msl.Hsne fsIce vent on and Mi. Baldwin ascertain,
AZ ngnt from the Judges of Election and that the,
had been only eleven votes cast all told land thu
I'VE lol OF these came ON Pembina city, on the We
sac. THIS would leave six snonpure voters to ele
ooar delegates, but now German and his tools-Becke
sherourne, flandrau, Slbey, Brown Co.-insolentl
cam SIX precisely one delegate to ever
The two extra men whom thev have fraudueu.,v .,,,
moned TO the rescue of colIapsng Democracy are Ja
Mcf.trids ., who is Custom House officer at Pembn,
ana VINO was Clerk at the bogus election the ridiculor
Of Rolettes. Althese six are now sitting in the Demo
Grauc convention" to frame a Constitution for IN
free feople q Mnunsots To the truth Of the abov
Therethe particulars OF this stupendous fraud vhc
me Gormanrebe!s hope would be hidden in the shado
o. us own unexpored obscurty, are before the world
On these six tAe whole farce Of the Revolutions,
leaning for afspology, Is without these, they would
even adni4ipa the other half dozen, of their boeu
a MsmDers 70 y simon puren helpless minority
iore the People, and, without comment, we leave a
honest mento deduce their own inferences..
This was published in this city on the 27t]
OF July, and It has not yet been contradictel
IN any material point. It seems then. tha
two Of the Pembina delegation, without an,
election whatever, come in and claim seat:
and are admitted. Thus we see, with wha
remarkable facility they can induce men t,
take seats in that body, to justify the proceed
ings OF minority, scraping up delegates and
hitting them out with certificates withou
foundation Of right, to enact the farce of pre-
tending to be the Constitutional Convention
of Minnesota. -"
Let us look at it in the light of candor ant
ana fairness, and at their complaints in thu
case. They pretend to be grieved, that Ger
tain men have certificates and seats in thi,
convention, which they think they ought no,
to have; and what do they do? Withou,
ever coming here and presenting a courteous
claim, and contesting fairly the
seats OF these persons--wlthout daring "a
meet them and make the the issue, which has
been invited by the St. Anthony members
they endeayor to noise it abroad and prove
70 the world, that great injustice has been
done to them. And they think to be heard
by the people in all this, Notwithstanding the
illegal votes they obtained Notwithstanding
their outrageous frauds, that made even them.
selves to blush, by which thousand illegal
votes were cast here in this city and passing
over the Bassett case, wherein they elected
that gentleman from the Legislature some
TWO years ago, ar d the case wherein Judge
Vaughan was treated in like manner; and
without thinking of the case of Mr.. Howell.
who was also elected from the Council, on
the ground OF mere clerical error, and with
reference to which they have ever confessed
that it was the wickedest thing they ever did.
We say to them: T. .r-a..Is 80. ....t
we hope, gentlemen, you will repent of
your sins; but We also hlpe you will bear
these things In mind when you profess such
a holy horror of tricks and so strict an oh
'ervance of law, and when You consider the
case OF the St. Anthony certificates which
were issued in strict conformity with the law
even as you understood it, up to the hour of
slection These men who are so shocked at
the proceedings in the ST. Anthony case them
selves attempted fraud in that very case
They attempted a trick to secure a certain
amount OF votes and the election of certain
delegate. But when the tricksters are caught
n their own trap, we hear them whining
bout it. .1l.l
The St Anthony Express, the democratic
'rgan of the place, in an editorial article.
written prior to the election, holds the follow
ng language: i''.
st being the universally received construction in all
he purposes Of this canvass that each Drecct IL en
yea to double the number of delegates in the Coage
ION achsch ~ has both ofrepresentatices and council
ors an the Legislature, St. Anthony should make her
omnations and elections accordingly else she might
all Of having her due representation Certainly sncb
!oud be the case il she should only choose ~epresea
zoe while the precincts choose councillor DEL
gates In addition and also secured seats for them At
he same time, 1t should he borne in mind that the Com
ention, like any other legislative body win decide the
um1er as wei Judge Of the qualifications of its own
lempers; and that when assembled il may take upon
self to construe the Enabling Act to suit its own no ion
rice or convenience without the remotest reference
what the people have thought done in the premi-
es Ihe C0nceftion as regards ats rules of action
sts organization, aCU be entirely SyresDonsibLe:
nd 1t should hold that only We
ould be admitted to seats the councillor delegates viii
e compelled to retire A thousand certificates of e.
,ction, signed by thousand inspectors Of election
ould not avail them Would 1t not then be the mart of
sdom to prepare for or guard against whatever may
appenf Would 1t not be the part OF wi DOM and pre.
ent misunderstanding and embarrassment to designate
distinguish In some simple, plain manner the two
asses OF Delegates eitht Representative or Coun-
or on the tickets themselves? After such precau.
on, 1t would be known who must retire, should the
convention Is not at all improbable put construc-
on upon the Enabling Act different from the popular
onstru ton. And thus much time and conte ton and
lany heart-burnings might be saved.
In this article it is urged upon the people
{ that precinct, to make distinction in their
ominations-tO name some as Councillor,
nd some as Representative delegates; that
here might be no question, when they came
efure the Convention, who should be enti-
led to seats. They 80 understood the law |
p to the time of the election. They so in.
srpreted in their organ before the election,
nd it was SO understood afterwards; for
Ven the Express acknowledged that the Reg.
ter of Deeds for Hennepin County might |
ave acted honestly. M =
Now, l saw, Mr.. President, after so much |
OILS about the matter, it is extremely ridicu- /
'us that men should give one Interpretation
the law up to the time of the election, and |
leil, when they get caught in trap set for
hers by one of their own men, who imme |
ately afterwards run away, and left it for
hers, as the Express minated, to "haul his
vn chestnuts out of the fire,"-should at
npt to prejudice the whole Republican par
on account Of his and their own trick-I
y, 81 1t ia not only extremely ridiculous,
/
But the organ says this Convention would
their own interpreters of the law, and
outi have the right to decide upon the
lalificstions Of its own members. Then
ny did they hesitate? Why d d they come
to that door in body, md in less than As
conds d. part from this Hall, and refuse to
me in and let the question be passed upon
this Convention, as the only interpreters
the law, and n the only mode and manner
which it could be done2 5a9a GusI-
They have said, that we were even anxious
get rid of these St Anthony Deleeates:-
ow, n all conscience, If that be true. Mr.
resident, it shows as great degree of fair
ss on the part OF the members composing
rs Convention, as they themselve could ask
ny need they fear then, to come in and
esent their case before this BODY Ave
!, they know too well there was frand in
at election. They know too we'll, that the
y ana the interpretation are against them. 7
,ey know, sir, that they can make = much /
tier case, when they 20 and sit down To-
tl'sr in the other end of The Capitol. and
we their say all to themselves.
Now let US look at the manner IN which
ey get admission into that body. Aoco-s ;
3 70 the universal rule Of par'' ~
Vcee0ings IN such osaes a. p :.samentary
icates Of electjn-s - =, those having GER
ina fh's' III fair on their face, have,
*, the right to come in and take
.eir seats. Then the contesting parties
,me in as they think proper, and present
leir cases This Is the regular mode Of pro-
-eding. But the organization of the mi
ority CONVENTION was all irregular. q 4
Such an organization was never seen be-
re Besides those having certificates, some