The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-09-12
Democracy I'm DaguerrcOtype.

The most beautiful specimen of Democracy
in small way, that we have seen this many
day, appears in the Pioneer over the sigma
ture of "G. w. ARMSTRONG, Territorial
Treasurer" He openly and unblushingly
avows, that it was as Democrat that he re-
fused to approve the pay certificates of the
Republican members of the Convention. His
words arc: Holding, in common with the
Democratic Party of the Territory, the Con-
vention over which Mr.. SBLEY presided, to
be the regular and legal Convention, I could
not do otherwise than admit the validity of
the certificates issued by him, and as a con-
sequence could not recognize those signed by
Mr.. BALCOMBE and Mr.. BABcocK."
Poor fellow not daring to act the man.
he " could not do otherwise" than act the
Democrat.
He then goes on with the most unsophisti-
Gated candor to say: 81 was not aware that
there was any understanding between Demo-
Gratis and Republicans in regard to the pay
ment of Mr.. BALCONIES certificates, and am
informed by members of the Convention that
there was none"! Here we have salient
point of Democracy. Pay the Democrats
but not the Republicans! What in the
world had one party more than the other to
do with the payment of certificates? But
the Treasurer gives a clue to this when he
says: "there was no understanding in regard
to Mr. BALCONIES certificates The Demo-
Gratis were to be paid as matter of course
the Republicans only in the event the
Democrats agreed to it-because the Office
holder 1.-THE Treasurer) was a Democrat
Continuing in the same style of unaffected
simplicity, this model Treasurer Speaking of
the understanding respecting pay goes on to
say
But even if there had been, my conduct would not
have been different acted under direction of law
and could not have regarded the instructions either
convention had they confcted with the provisions of
the Statute"
Now, can it be possible that this treasu-
rer really thinks he acted Independently in
the matter2 If he does, it speaks volumes
upon the ruinous tendency of Democracy
upon the human mind. What is there in
the provisions of the Statute" about Mr..
SIBLEY or Mr.. BALcoMBE, Republican or a
Democratic Convention Every man in st.
Paul, except the Treasurer himself knows
that he got his cue from the Democratic
meeting of the west end, and from some of
the members of that peculiar gathering of
individuals.
In speaking of his answer to the gentle
man who presented BALcoMBE certificate
to him, he does great injustice to his cquan-
unity of temper. Mr.. Mills remarks in an
swer to his refusal to recognize the certificate
was in substance as follows: 81 did not sup
pose you would but presented it, to be as
sured that you would act as mean as l have
been told you would. We care nothing for
your name, it would add nothing to the cred
it of our certificates. The money of the
Territory is-mostly-in the hands of honest
men-Republican Sheriffs and County Treas
urers. They will pay us, and in payment
of their dues to the Territorial or State
Treasurer, pay our certificates as far as they
so, and hope to man as honest as them
selves-to the Treasurer of the State and
not the Treasurer of party"
But the subject is hardly worth the ink,
and we conclude by saying allen TO the
Territorial Treasurer. He may have done
the community some service while in its in
cohate state, butwhen it becomes sovereign
State, his arm will not be so strong.