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

;rauc ConeutunOn." Such was my Language
u substance. / told them that our party /
would not consent to any such thing; thatit
was not tair to ask it; and that there was no
use TO talk about it further judge Sher-
burne remarked, Il was not in when; the
was made, and certainly misap- 4
pretended your remarks" He had said. q
stated before, that my proposition, ifcarried 4
out, was simply ridiculous. Ex-Governor
German, with whom I had discussed the |
matter fully, in the morning, rose up from
reclining posture and said, "If you misappre-l
hended, Judge, there are a number in your
words to that effect. knew
he understood me, and wished to put false
upon il, by an insulting inuendo,
that had wilfully changed the proposition,
or that the proposition was simply ridiculous.
replied, sfhere are some gentlemen that I
wish would always misunderstand mei pre-
fer to chose my own companions" Those
think, are the very words used. AS to |
Judge Serburne feeling insulted and demand
ing an explanation, it is a fiat lie, got up by |
those who retail it, whoever they may be-
an unmitigated lie. Judge Sherburne, Tam
confident, will state that fact, if called upon.
To him appeal in confidence; and what
man, pretending to be man, would state
through the public journal, what his own po-
litical friends must know to be false. How
much of man is he? made the remark I
above stated, and Gov. German rose up and
asked me if meant him, by that refnark.-i
told him, Certainly" I spoke it out fat |
ly, with no reserve. Twas sitting behind
round table, in the corner Of the room. Ihad
been sitting few minutes before with my
feet upon the table, and whether was in
that position at the moment, do not certain
ly know. Those present say was, and my
recollection is that was He took his cane
every man knows it wasa heavy cane-and
struck me over the head before could place
myself in position to defend myself. was
then in position in which could not de-
fend myself in any possible way-I was
struck to the floor and as I rose and saw
this mantle most consummate and the
basest coward ever saw in my life-diag-
onally across the room, I picked up frag-
ment of his cane and finding it no use for
my purpose, seized my own, when / saw
him shrinking away into the corner of the
room, and crying, ssdon't let him strike me
with that cane" He Immediately left the
room. Where he went do not know-my
friends could not ascertain-and, as / under
tol until nearly dark, and then, with two men
in his buggy to guard him, went home.
Now, I state the facts, without coloring
and without any exaggerated particulars, as
members of that Committee must know
The insult first came from Gov. German
more insulting because in ambiguous phrase.
As to those statements made there, as being
insulting to Gov. German. 1 understand he
says he would do the same thing again, upon
repetition of them. repeat them here;
1 repeat them 10 the fullest extent, and say
when repeat and reiterate them, that, tho
! almost a NONRESIDENT in practice-though l
am not a quarrelsome man, though not a
| brave or strong man, hold myself person
ally responsible for every word utter. Now
that eowardly, miserable poltroon may take
| that up, but / prophecy he will not, un-
less he can get me in some position where
cannot defend nyself, or unless there are
halt a-dozen men to guard him from being
struck "with that cane."
But this morning appears another state.
ment in the papers. 1t is ridiculous to make
such statement, as every man who knows
anything about it, knows to be utterly false.
What he can mean, l hardly know. But
perhaps I can sumise. That man is not
known so well abroad, as he is here. He
does not make those statements to be used in
St. Paul, for he is known here. Every man
knows what his reputation is in the city Of
st. Paul. His statements win haRe ne effect
here, one way or the other. He does not
make them for this latitude. He makes them
for the districts where the facts cannot 60
and where he thinks his paper will be circu-
lated. What does he say 2 =
"They were promptly separated, and while two Der.
holding Mr. German Mr.. Wilson seized large
iead-headed cane and approached Mr.. German, wheu
German said gHf u l1lEp EE5-r-1
Now as to that, we were standing Opposite
to each other across the room. There were
| number of men close around me to prevent
me from crossing to him, and he upon the
other side of the room, evidently very much
alarmed for his safety, no person holding him
or having hand upon him. For all that
matter, all that was necessary was to hold
him from jumping out Of the window. But
read further from the speech:
~" When Gorman said, don't hold me until he strikes
me with ,hat cane. he does, will make more sum-
marily defence than have" tt''
submit here, Mr.. President that this thing
is simply ridiculous if intended for home con-
sumption. But it was not intended for home
consumption, but to be sent abroad. I ven
ture the assertion here that there is not a
member of that committee that will not, il
you can get them 10 speak at all in reference
to that transaction, unequivocalIy declare that
that declaration is false. / said he cried, and
cried out with pathos and feeling, "don't let
him strike me with that cane"-not word
more, not word less, and the recollection of
the members of that committee agree with
g. 81 ~v,I oil fuo ca 20
ments make here, I am responsible-for ev-
cry one of them. 1t Is false, sir.
Thus ended the matter. Now as to the
object for which that committee was appoin.
ted. / have not particle Of doubt, and not
a member Of this body, and, so far know,
but very few in the other wing of the Capt.
tol--certainly not many among the candid
and honorable men of that body-have ex-
pressed doubt but that the secret object OF
that gentleman has been, all through, to pre-
vent any sort of an arrangement being made
between the two Conventions. AS / said be-
| fore, he lives in q storm. He lives where the
attention of the community is distracted and
| drawn from the man. to other circumstances.
| He knows that he can do nothing when men
look calmly at the man who wishes to be sent
| to the u. S. Senate That is understood by
him.
| Now as to the action Of that Commit
tee When that Committee took their soats-
in the Committee room to endeavor
to arrange this matter, and to agree upon
one Constitution to be submitted to the peo-
pie; as the resolution under which we were ap-
pointed declared it onr duty to do. The very
| first word said was by w. A. German. lie
ssid:-GentIemen know one thing; there
| is no use in trying to agree upon one constitu-
ton; we can never do it," or words to that
import. That man goes ont then into the
other wing of this capitol and makes a long
speech, showing that he was in favor Of agree
ing upon one constitution. I say that the
first words said in that Committee room
was that very declaration of Willis A. Cor,
man. Our committee said they came there
for that purpose, and nothing else. His own
committee declared that they too came there
to try to accomplish that end. Upon that,
seeing he was not sustained by his own COM
mittee, be sits down and says "Gentleman,
have some knotty points want to present"
And what 10 the first resolution, or about the
first resolution be presents That the con-
stitution sgreed upon by the joint committee,
shall be signed BY the Hon. H. H. SibIey,
as President, and by all the admitted mem
bers save some in our own body whom they
declare ara not les,allv elected. Who believes