The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-07-25

b refusedto allow TIE Democi atc members Il Ell
d Seats in Convention. The question was asked
e me, whether tf.at statement was true
AS it is impossible for ne to answer him
t in such manner that all nv constituents may
o know my views desire TO give here my nm.
t derstandng of the whole transaction from be-
4 cining to end. And wish il distinctly un.
derstcod by every member Of the Conven-
f ton, that whatever remarks | make. shall
make them upon my own responsibility and
E ii tbev do no. meet the concurrence Of other
J.. gentlemen. | ask thar they may be entirely
absolv"d from responsibility.
: propose to speak, lii the first place, OF
the arrangement which was made between
{ the Republicans and the Democrats as to the
: tire OF the organization of this Convention,
! and the time when the Republicans came
= into this building, and in what manner, and
: for what purpose.
5 sec0nd-I propose to speak OF the rights Of
the Secretary of the Terrtry of Minnesota,
as such, when he undertakes to organize a
t Constitutional Convention underour Enabling
Act, and OF his rights as a member of this
Convention.
Ihirf-l propose to speak of the prece-
dents which have come within my knowledge
IN regard to the right of such an officer to
call body of this kind to order; and the
rights of members holding certificates Of
eie ctlon which are fair upon their face, to
EaI tlclpate in the temporary organization of
such Convention.
/ FIRST, as to the agreement which was made
betwe en- the Democratic and Republican
members of this body. l arrived in this city
late on Saturday night of the lltb inst, and
as'ertailtd that cancus had been held by
the Republican, members who had reached
here earlier. at which it was resolved that no
attempt ;'hOud be made to organize this
Convention on their part, until the Demo-
cratic men,' ers had been consulted and their
wishes made known. was not at that au
Gus. ami as matter of course, what trans
PRED there is a matter of hear.ay with me.
DO know however, that there was state
ment to thar effect, which was reduced to
writing and signed by Certain Republican
members of tbs Convention, and handed to
Certain Democratic members with the under.
standing that they should sign and return
the same. And am justified in saving that
instead of that instrument being signed and
returned, another proposition was returned
which is in these words
| "GENTs:-fhe Democratic members of the Constitu
tona Convention present, will be goyerenea ns to
time and place of meeting of said Convention bv the
usual rules governing parliamentary bodies in the Uni
(SignedD NJ SHR3BIrRNE
c. L. CHASE,
| WA. GURMAN
To Messrs. BALcoMBE and Others"
Now, Sir, if understand the "usualn hour
OF meeting OF Con titutional bodies of this
KIND, 1t varies in different States: and when
THIS paper was returned to the Republican
members who had signed the first pronosi
ton, the idea struck them, and not only
struck them. but others VINO heard that an.
swer read, that it would adj it of some little
| doubt OF construction and that il Was not ex
exactly IN accordance with good faith to saw
the least ofit, to withhold the original dCc,l-
meDt and return one in its place which could
be construed as circumstances might REQUIRE.
| After consultation with various Republican
members OF the Convention who were here.
| II appeared to be the unanimous conclusion
that near the hour OF II O'clock on the morn. |
ing OF the l3th,. the Republican members
should come into this Hall or this Capitol |
not for the purpose Of organizing the Conven-
ton, but tor the purpose of preventing the !
Democratic members from organizing il with.
| out our knowledge or Concurrence. And
Sir, here wish it distinctly understood. that
our sole object for so doing was to prevent
onr being taken by surprise.
We believed in guarding well the outposts
that the citadel might be safe.
do not know the exact hOr when other
members came in here, bnt about the hour of |
one O'Clock on that morning came into this |
| building, and went into the Council Chant er,
where | found considerable number of Re-
publican members sitting upon seats. and
talking upon various subjects. We remained
there fat least some Of us) in an unorganzcd
| condition until near daylight, when left the
building for the purpose of obtaining nv
| breakfast.
l know nothing of what too, place after
until returned, which was about 8 O'Clock
a. NJ, when I found the door of this Hall
open and several Republican members here. in
All unOrganizod condition, some talking about
one thing and some another. We then.
| most OF Us took our seats, and continued in
them until about quarter before IL O'Clock
NJ. About hat timo portion of the Demo-
cratic members came into the hall in body.
| will not say how many, for the reason that
most OF them were strangers to me-but as
| soon as they came in Mr.. Chase rose in that
le>k. raped upon it, and called the Conyen-
| ton to order. About the same time Mr.. North
also stepped into the desk and called the
| Convention to order, which one called to order
fist l will not pretend to say. My judgment
! is that there were but few seconds differ.
ence. What motion was put will not nre
tend to say, for the confusion and noise was
so great could not tell, but heard in an
Swer to 4 certain noise, or a certain sound
which l supposed emanated from the lips of
N1r. Chase, a kind Of unanimous expression
| tho Dnmocrafio h
adjournment. As soon as that tonk place,
these Democratic members left the hall.
Now, Sir. wish to ask every member
within the sound of my voice il they did uot
understand there was solmn agreement made
between the Democratic and Republican
members of this Convention. that there WAS
to be no attempt at organization until IL
O'Clock NJ, which agreement was consummated
about O'Clock on Monday morning 1t is
unnecessary perhaps far the members who were
mere 70 prove that there was contract of
this kind, but for the benefit cf nv constitu-
cnts at home, l will prove it, and prove 1t
not only by writing signed by their leading
men, bnf ny their lealing organ Of this City.
First will produce the writing. which is in
these words
Resolred, Tha. the Deaocra,ic members of the Con-
stitutionai Convention 40 cacus do hereby affirm the
position OF the Democratic members last evening and
viii concur in te proposition to at IL O'Clock NJ
this day the usual hour for the assenblage of para
mentarA bodies In the United States.
(signed) n. sHERBURNE Chai man.
G.. l.. CHASE, Secretary.
now propose to introduce another wit.
ness tho Pioneer and Democrat for the pur
pose OF proving concIusivey this me fact
Although IL O'Clock NJ on Monday was the time agr.ed
upon on which the Convention should called TO or
der (ndnitting that there agreement % that ef
feet and that the time mentioned in that agreement was
~ o. lock N.Y. yet the Black Republican, ms took posses
sion of the Hall of the House Of Representatives on
Sunday night, fifteen houzs prior to the time, &c.
Now, Sir, have proved conclasivclv by al
instrument Of writ NJ under the hands of their
leading men, and also by their organ o! this
city, that this Convention should not be or.
ganized until IL o'clock NJ. Gu Monday, the
18th inst.
And now arraign tho Democra tic men,
bers, and charge them with being the viola.
tors of this agreement, and this charge will
prove, sir
There are three ways, Mr.. President. in
which man can prove fact-first, bv the
introduction of witness which he himself |
has brought upon the stand; second by wit
nesses which the opposite party have intro
duced /; and third, by their own ad ission.
l propose first to adopt the latter ecursp.
and show fr,m their <,wn r,rs~r, :, .%L.x AZ