The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-12-24

an elaborate table, containing the official
canvass Of votes cast for State officers and
Members OF Congress, at the election held
in Minnesota in October. The canvassing
Board consisted of Governor MsDARY and
j. L. Bnowy, (Democrats,) and Thomas j.
GALBRAIrH, (Repubican.) The labors Of
the Board were completed on Thursday
evening, and the certificate signed, annexed
to the table The official result shows ma.
majority for Mr.. SIBLEy Of $40 over RAM
sgy, and also an unexpected state Of the
Congressional vote, Mr.. GEORGE l.. BrcKER
being lowest on the list instead OF highest,
as anticipated.
Upon the meeting of the Board, and a
cursory examination Of the returns, the
members became satisfied that unless rule
was adopted, fixing the basis upon which
the election Of State officers, should be de-
termined, their labors would prove endless.
We quote from the minutes OF the Board,
now open for the inspection OF the public,
a, the Secretary's Office, the following pro
ceedings, which transpired on the thirteenth
of December
Mr.. Brown said il was necessary that the
Board should adopt some rule by which the
canvass should be made, and the result de-
clared, and thereupon offered the following
resolution;
Rssoired, That the votes returned from the
several counties by the proper canvassing OH.
GERS. together with returns from precincts, the
establishment of which the board have been
legally informed. shall form the basis upon
which the election Of state officers shall be de
clared by the Board of Canvassers.
Mr.. GALBRAIrm offered The following as n
substitute, or amendment to Mr.. BKows's reso.
luton
Resoirtd, That the duly cAnvassed returns
from the several counties be adopted a. the
basis Vi calculation by the Boardo Canvassers.
This substitute was adopted Mr.. GaLBR,Irn
and the chairman, Gov. MKDAKy) voting for II,
and Mr.. Brown against.
The adoption of Mr.. GALBKAIrms subst-
tutc for Mr.. BgowS's more liberal PROPOSE
ton, confined the Board, in their canvassng
strictly to returns made by the various Re.
gistcrs of Deeds II will be observed that
the proposition that the votes should be- 20
canvassed, was made by a Republican. 1t
was supported by Gov. M.pARY, we believe,
on the ground that, if the members of the
Board attempted to canvass by Precincts,
or in other words, TO 90 behind the canvass
made by the various County Registers they
would be unable to complete their labors in
six months.
In making up the result, in the manner
indicated by Mr.. GALBRAIrH's resolution,
four distinct classes Of returns were rejected,
comprising, in the aggregate, 1865 votes;
Of which $50 purportcd to be cast for Mr..
SrBrEy, and 2,l2s for Gov. RAMSEY.
The first class comprised returns which
the Board considered to exhibit votes legal
ly cast, but which were rejected owing to
their coming in conflict with the resolution
proposed by Mr.. GALBRAITn, and adopted
by the Board. This class consisted Of pre-.
cincts in organized counties, not canvass'd
or returned 10y Register Of Deeds, bnt which
the Registers IN their returns name as vcgu.
larry established precincts. TO illustrate
this clas-, We will refer TO III, First Ward
OF 81. Paul. the returns Of which were for
warded to the Secretary, but not TO the Re
gister Of Ramsey county, and not being re
turned by the latter officer TO the canyassers
were consequently, a. deposited with the Sc
cre.ary, rejected by the Board OF this
class Of votes, IN the counties Of Winona,
Wabashav, Ramsey, Olnsted, Scott anil
Stearns,
The whole number cast vas. 2,i0s
II. II. -ibey received. ..,..... 1850
Alex. Ramsey .....l,E
Sbley's majority ............, III
The econd class consisted Of precincts in
organized counties, not recognized az exist
ing by the County Registers. in the returns
made by them. These precincts wer re-
turned by the precinct officers, and were an
thenticated by their afidavts; Of this class,
in the counties Of Mover, Dodge, Steele.
and Ramey,
The whole mum Der cast was..... 81
II. II. -iblsy received ............ ~
Alex. Ramsey ............2u
Ramsey's majority ........... tT
II was eon,ended by ope Of the attorneys
before the Board, that provision in the
Session Laws Of lsjs, page 10, debarrai
the Board from csDvassing the above votes.
even il the msnner in which they were re-
turned did not shut them out The PROV.
.ion referred to puni.bes, as misdemeanor,
the caavas-ing, by Rsgistrs Of Deeds, Of
votes polled IN any bu, regularly established
precinc,A The fac, that the existence u