Minnesota weekly times., 1857-04-11
Correspondence Of the Times.
Constitutional Convention. sq
ANoxA, March 80, 1857.

'.- ANoKA, March 5U, 1891.
To the Editor of the Times: o aofi 1@
Are our people aware that but little more than
two months time remains before we shall be
called upon to choose delegates to the Convention
that is to frame Constitution for cur future
State, a work of the very greatest Importance,
for the greatness of our future depends upon it !?
Is the Republicaa party up and doing in this mat
ter Is the Committee appointed some time
since, at work perfcctng the thorough organizes
ton of the party? The Republicans can, ought
and must have reliable and working majority
of that Convention. But to accomplish this,
,oork has got to be done, and, to be sectual, or
ganization must be had in every county and vot-
ing precinct in the Territory. Mass meetings
should be held in every county and large town,
and good speakers provided. The people must
be aroused, for there is danger at hand. Our
people are too much engrossed in money-making
to think much of anything else. The Democrats
or their leaders are taking advantage OF this and
have laid plan to not only get control of the
Convention, but of the future State and its off,
ces. The recent magnificent Railroad Grant by
Congress, which was so strangely carried through
by Southern votes, is the bait offered to US, and
there is danger of its being taken. People are
going crazy about Railroads yet in tho future,
while present matters of the highest Importance
are never thought of.
AS an evidence of this insanity, look at the do
ings of the meeting held recently in your city,
when the invitation to be extended to "Presdent
Douglass and ssaudacious Toombs'' met with
ssmost cordial and hearty APPROVAL" when it is
known to every one that both these men stood
ioned Senator beaten to bloody insensibility on
the floor of the Senate, and the next day went in
to the Senate and justified and honored the cow
ardly act And these men, all reeking with the
blood of the honored and noble Sumner, are to
be invited among US to receive our homage, and
for what? What have they done? Why, they
have aided in getting a measure through Con-
gress which it is expected will make our future
State surely and firmly Democratic and Slavo-
cratic. Douglas wants his intimate and plant
friend Shields to occupy seat near him in the
Senate, to aid him in his plans for Slavery ex-
tension and the next Presidency, and the General
is presumed to have no objection to the arrange
ment. Our Delegate, also, has an ambition. it
is said, for promotion in that direction. But we
don't want any such men in the Senate from
Minnesota, for she must be free State. No
slave-hunts on our soil! No sympathy with slave
holders sss..., srl4
These Railroad Grants, we'll managed, will
prove of great value to our State. Gen. Shields
and Mr.. Rice being residents of the Territory,
have done no more than their duty in aiding their
passage. Toombs, Douglas and others, as public
servants are expected to support and aid in pass
ing any and all measures calculated for the pub
lie good. Ii they aided in the passage of our
Grant with honest motives, then they have simply
done their duty. But if they aided it as part of
a deep-laid scheme to make Minnesota Pro-
Slavery, Slave-huuting State, they deserve exc
Grafton instead of laudation, contempt instead Of
honor. Toombs once boasted that he would one
day call the roll Of his slaves at the foot of Bun
ker Hill. Perhaps he would like to perform the
same agreeable duty on some of our broad free
Prairies t..... -.,.
But trust the people will see the danger in
time to avert it, and while we may properly re-
joice at any addition to our material prosperity,
we should not forget other and higher Duties
We want Constitution that will place US in the
highest rank among the advocates of human
rights and human brotherhood. Let US then be
up and doing, for we have no time to lose.
JARED BENSON.