The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-07-30

1S'tsNs W WE mstSrf. Dut tuc IbpuOsf
cans, finding the vote VI Phelps necessary
10 secure thsir majority in The Coaveatiss,
required certificate OF election To b. given
10 him, against the will Of . majority Of the
people. and he occupies . seat out there in
The other end Of the Capitol.
Armstrong, ! say supposing he ~1 con-
PEELED 10 live in the county which elected
him. does not cone on here to claim his sat.
But sir. the Isople Of thu county d Mower
had thc right Ia elect whoever they pleased
~ represent them in the Constitutional Con.
vention. The Enabling Act does not pr
tend to prescribe what the qualifications Of
members shall b.. II says, the election shall
be held. conduofed and thu returns made in ell
respects TO conform with the Territorial
elections, but il does not say what the q'lai'-
,ftaiin, Of the delegates shall b.. II does
DOT prescribe that the residence OF the del> |
gatis shall b. in the same county for which |
they arr elected II says, the elections shall
be hslt, That is one thing that they shall
be eonduetei that il two things; and that
the ysfurns shall he made in all respects, &c;
that Is three things but there is nothing
there prescribing the qualifications 81 dele
gAt's. This deliberative body, ia, in accord
sncc with the spirit Of the provisions Of the
Constitution Of the United States. made the
Judge Of the election returns and qualifca-
tons Of its members 1t is this Constitn-
tional Convention which is to be the judge,
and not The Register Of Deeds in the county
OF Ilenncpin, not the Register OF DEEDS in
the county u Houston, not the Register OF
lhsis in the county Of Mower. They are to
receive the returns und ~ certify who has
received the majority of votes, but there their
duty. and there their power ends II is not
Tor them to perform al the functions OF ori
government. Mr. Armstrong was legally
and properly elected 10 this Convention, ~
| am informed, and be is legally and proper
ly entitled 10 sat on this floor.
But where shall these details Of outrag's
eDdy
Mr.. President. give this Republican party
the prestige Of power in Minnesota, and they
will Hood your Territory with the minions
Of their Enigrant Aid Societies, armed with
Shapes rifles. perhaps. who will labor to
overturn your Democratic institutions, and
will inaugurste scenes Of violence and blood
shed, ~ they have in kansas.
So far IA the proceedings of the DEMO
cratic Delegates electsi to this Constitu-
tional Convention are concerned. they have
nil been characterized by good order and
conformity to parliamentary law and pre-
c-lent, The course We hal prescribed for
ourselves, il we had been allowed TO carry
il out, was the only course which W. could
have properly pursued. TO follow the prece-
dent furnished us in the New Jersey con
tested election care-not TO receive the Ger
tifcate Of members when We hal evidence
before US Of their fraudulent character. AZ
prUaa tdce evidence. but 10 require these
men to stand aside until the roll hal been
called, Of undisputed delegates. and quo
rum appeared in their seats
There IL one other matter which | pro
pose to notice just at thl, point have be.
toro me the proceedings Of what is called
1.-THE Convention" sitting in the other end
q the Capitol published in the Nnneatidn
in which ] ses resolution was intrWiuced
and passed.. that members TO the Consti,u-
tional Conventions, legally elected meaning
Dcmocrats) might have permission to come
in there, lprovnled. suppose, they would
come without pistols aud bowieknives,) and
take seats with them. Mr. Cogswcl is rep
resented ~ having indicated to US in loving
speech that h. is for fair play, Some OF
them tell us that il W. will come in there
they will turn out the bogus members and
will do the right thing. Now sir. We have
10 decide what they intend To do by what
they have done. We must look 10 the future
and Judge Of the past There is no other
rule by which these men can be judged
| Sttf IN. ia,
find men sitting there who have no more
righ, to sats in this constitutional Con
vc0,ion than 81 many m,n from yondr stone
quarry. We should insist on following the
rule, with rsgard to these men. laid down in
th New jersey cas-. We should demand
that the preoslents furnished by the action
Of Congress should b. followed II they re
fused. there would bc violence very likely,
AMI they know it. |, would furnish food
for fanalicism AMI that is what they want.
will not 60 in there unless it is To recog.
nize the voice Of the people at the ballot
box. IT, they will agree that ,hr persons
having majority Of the votes Of the po-
PIE A. expcscd at the balo, box. for d,lc-
gates to this constitutional Convention. dis
regarding technicalitics, designating infor-
mality. taking the voice 81 the lsole as
fairly cxprs~s,l, and will come in Ia assist
,s :" our organization, they are bid 10 come
But W. recognize no power in this assembly
but tbs voice Of the sovereign people.
God gave Vs. in exactly the RICH, time, q
Washington to conquer tyranny. He has
given Us, in exactly the right time free in
stitutons. which We are to perptuate. Tie
! has given Us in exactly the right time. tho