The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-09-05


The otherpoint was to the districting ofthe
State for congressman. The position which |
took here, insisted upon strenuously. But
never heard any person take exceptions to
the language | used in urging my views. /
was in earnest, notwithstanding more |
and when anyone will say was insulting, they
wilfuIly falsify. 1t is well kno an that our
State reaches from the British Possessions
on the north, to the Iowa line. 1t is we'll
known that the northern part of the State
has interests diverse from the southern part.
1t is also we'll known that, in these two di-
visions of the State we are divided in feeling
as well as interest; and that, therefore, each
portion of the State would prefer to choose
its own Congressman ; and that the people
of these divisions of the State would be most
likely to be pleased with such an apportion-
ment. l insisted upon this course, very
earnestly, as my colleagues know But 1
was voted down in the Committee and then
1 gave it up, and had nothing further to say.
These two are the only points upon which
insisted, that our Committee did not 60
with me as far as went. If censure fall up
on any other measure adopted, it must rest
with them as we'll as with me. Every man
on our part acted openly and ingeniously
upon every question. dare any Democrat
to open the record of that Committee, and
showthat we have not, from first to last, each
one of us acted the open and manly part
Our Committee, sir, have done their duty.
We insisted that they should lay down eve
ry feeling and prejudice as members of par
ty and act for the common good and no one
can show anything from our proceedings like
departure from that rule on our part
The Committee had found out, before the
day this encounter took place, that we could
not agree upon one Constitution, and they
were working with view to the submission
of two Constitutions on the same day, in such
a manner that the electoral officers might not
come into conflict There was proposition
made by member of the Democratic side,
and insisted on by Ex-Gov. German, that
there should be three different ballots and
no more. So that by one you might vote for
the Republican Constitution, by the second
YOU might vote for the Democratic Constitu-
ton, and by the third you might vote against
both Constitutions These were the only
three ballots or classes of ballots to be allow
ed by the proposition. 1t was further stated
in the same resolution, that every vote cast
for the Democratic Constitution should be
considered and counted as cast against the
Republican Constitution, and that every vote
cast for the Republican Constitution should
be considered and counted as cast aga INST the
Democratic Constitution. This imposition
was objected to- believe by myself-at
| any rate by some member of our Committee,
that that mode of counting the votes was one
which would, almost to a certainty result in
the defeat of both Constitutions, from the
fact, that the number of votes cast against
both Constitutions, together with the number
Of votes cast for any one, would to a moral
certainty be far greater than the number OF
votes cast in favor Of either Constitution
thereby making almost certain that both
would be rejected. This objection was too
appar> Mt to be resisted. 1t was too appar-
ent to be supported by even Gov. German,
thou.h doubt not he approved Of it tacitly,
for he does many things which do not pass
for his in the public journals-and in keeping
with his course for it has been most evident
throughout, that his sole object was to break
up the conference without agreeing on one
| Constitution, and set us out before the world
with two Consti utiOns in this stormy man
ner. Ex-Gov. German knows that when the
means of excitement fail him, he dies, politi
caily. He knows that every honest, thinking
man, of each party despises him as he does
| the devil; and that his only strength consists
in keeping up public turmoil, and keep
ing away from the people any special knowl-
edge of hislndividual merit.
1t was then proposed by Ex-Gov. Cor
man that every vote cast in favor of either
Constitution should be considered as o vote
cast in favor of a-State government; and
this was seconded by one of their Commit
tee. When this was insisted upon, re-
marked that thought that was worse still;
for by it, it seemed, we were to come into the
Union with State government organized
under Constitution which had received the
approval of but a minority of the voters of the
State. It was an inconsistent, self contra
dictory proposition, and we could have no
right to authorize any such thing. The gen.
eral government would take no notice of a
Constitution that had received only the
votes of minority. But the Ex-Governor
ever pretending to be Thoroughly versed in
Parliamentary usages, called for the previous
question in the Committee.
Judge Sherburne coming into the room
few minutes afterward, stated to him, that
my position was this ID: That every voter
should he permitted to vote, singly, for or
against the Republican Constition, and for
or against the Democratic ConstitOn and
that by no possible construction should any
vote be considered and taken to mean what
the voter never intended it should mean.
| made a. few other remarks which | do not
now recOllect. We then adjourned till after
dinner.
AS to the lie alleged by the Ex-Governor
to have been given to himself in the forenoon
Il would certainly remember the fact had
made such remark, and l here unhesita-
| tingly say there was no such thing said i'm
puted or thought by me. Nothing of the
kind. do not believe his own friends will
support his allegation. / feel assured that
every man of our Committee (though have
not spoken to ore of them on the subject
| will bear me out in this statement so far as
they know and it must have been said in
their presence if at all. But such statements
may be expected from man who has been
considered and branded by his own party
leaders in this city, as q liar-a man whom,
if the statements of his own party be true,
infamy itself could not but fatter.
But to the point. When our committee
met again in the afternoon, the Ex-Governor
fell back on his dignity, and declared that
his party had done everything that they
could do, that they had originated every
thing and we had merely torn down. Now
he considered their personal dignity requi-
red, that they should make no more PROPOSE
tons. Mr.. Kingsbury had made PROPOSE
ton that morning, and he appealed to him,
but MIR. Kingsbury said he would re-offer his
proposition. He made the same appeal to
others of his side, that any further pro-
position must come from our side. At this
time, one or two of the Committee asked me
to propose plan. l remarked, that l had
proposed a plan in the morning which, L
thought the only true and correct one.
Judge Sherburne remarked to me, using
this language 81 think, Mr.. Wilson, you
are drawing too refined distinction, and
yonr proposition, if carried out, would be RI
diculous;" and went on to state his objec-
tions in a very candid manner, taking occa-
sion also to compliment my opinions, and say
he meant no disrespect in saying my propo-
sition was ridiculous. l remarked then in
reply: "If you really think so, 1 have so
much confidence in your judgment and can
dor, 1 shall doubt my position" and went on
to explain. stated plainly and frankly
what l thought / saw would be the result to
follow the course proposed. was not going
to disguise it; it would deprive the Repub-
icans Of large vote. The Democratic Con-
stitution says that a certain subject should
not be submitted to the people with this
Constitution for their annrouol on ro;oot;o,.