The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-08-05

WAsHiSGroS, July Y, ls5S.--AlI who
are acquainted with the proceedings Of the
Senate ON the admission Of the Senators
from Minnesota TO their seats will remember
that lots were drawn by them 10 determine
the classes TO which they should be assigned;
the term OF One class ending on the 4th Of
March, 1859, OF another on the 4th Of March,
1861, and OF the other on the 4th Of March,
1868. II will also be remembered that
Gen. Shields drew the lot which gave him
the shortest term, and Mr.. Rice that which
gave him the longest term. As, before the
drawing, there was one Senator less In the
class having the shortest term that in each
Of the other CLASSES, il was necessary, in or.
der 10 edualize the classes, that the shortest
term should be first filed; therefore both
the Senators from Minnesota drew for that
term ard it fell to the lot OF Gen. Shields.
All the classes being then equal, it was next
To be determined by another drawing to
which of the two other classes Mr.. Rice
should be assigned, and it fell TO his lot to be
placed ia the class having the longest term
In an extract, which have seen, from o
Northwest paper it is asserted that in order
to secure TO Mr.. Rice the longest term, with
view TO some dishonorable object to be ac-
complished or promoted by his votes, the
Vice President placed in the bal!ot.b box for
the first drawing two papers both marked
alike for the shortest term, one OF which was
drawn by Gen. Shields, and that the Vice
President then placed in the ballot-box for
the drawing for the two other classes two
papers both marked alike for the longest
term, one OF which was of course, drawn by
Mr.. Rice and that by this trick OF the
Vice President he secured to Mr.. Rice the
longest term, and to Gen. Shields the short.
est term.
This Infamous accusation against the Vice
President would seem too absurd to gain
credit 10 any quarter. But, as know bet
ter than others that it Is wholly untrue, it
appears most proper for me to expose its
faisity. That may be done by the fol-
lowing extract from the Journal Of tine Sen
ate Of the l4th Of May lat, containing the
proceedings referred to, which shows that
the Vice President had nothing to do with
them that he did not prepare or put into
the ballot.box the papers which were TO be
drawn. and that the charge against him is
altogether unlounded.
Agreeby to u plan reported by the Com
mittee on the Judiciary, and agreed to by
the Senate, the papers which indicated the
classes to which the Senators from Minneso.
Ia were To be assigned were prepared and
put into the ballotbox by the Secretary.
and the drawing took place at his table, on
which the box was placed, and where the
| Senators from Minnesota came for the pur-
pose Of drawing. The Vice President was
| in his usual seat, which il above and some
feet removed from the Secretary's table 50
that any interference with the drawing on
| the part Of the Vice President would have
been impossible. The preparation OF the
papers to be drawn, the drawing them out,
and, in tact, the whole proceedings, were open
and public in presense Of the Senate and Of
numerous spectators. The Vice President
| was only looker-on. his duty not requiring
anything to be done by him. The proceed
ing was, moreover, in all respects similar TO
what had been dane on all similar occasions
from the beginning Of the government.
AsBuRy DiCKINs,
secretary Of the Senate.
Estfast from tho Joarnati lte senate, MAY a. lssn
MIR. Bayard from the Committee on the
! Judiciary, to whom was referred resolution
Of the Legislature OF Minnesota in joint
convention, reported the following resolu.
ton; which was considered by unanimous
consent, and agreed to:
Resoired, That the Senate proceed TO as
certain the classes 10 which the Senators
from the State OF Minnesota shall be insert
ed in conformity with the resolution of the
lAth Of May, $50, and US the constitution
requires.
On motion of Mr. Bayard,
Ordered. That the Secretary put into the
ballot box two papers Of equal size, one OF
which shall be numbered one and the other
shall be blank. Each Of the Senators Of
the State of Minnesota shall draw ont one
paper, aud the Senator who shall the paper
numbered one shall be inserted in the class
OF Senators whose term Of service will ex-
pire the 81 day OF March 1859.
That the Secretary then put into the bal
lot-box two papers OF equal size, one of
which shall be numbered ttro and the other
shall be numbered three. The other Sena-
tor shall draw out one paper. II the paper
drawn be numbered tiro the Senator shall
be inserted in the class OF Senators whose
terms of service will expire the third day Of
March, 1861 aud il the paper drawn be
numbered three the Senator shall be inserted
in the class of Senators whose terms Of ser
vice will expire the third day Of March,
! 1863
Whcrupon,
The papers first above mentioned being
put by the Secretary into the ballot box
the Hon. James Shields drew the paper
numbered ons, aud Is accordingly in the
class OF Senators whose terms Of service will
expire the third day OF March, ls59 and
the Hon. Henry NJ. Rice drew the blank.
The papers numbered 'ro and three were
then put by the Secretary into the box
and the Hon. Henry NJ, Rich drew the pa
per numbered three, and is accordingly in
the class Of Senators whose terms OF service
| will exnire ON the third ,lav of March 1863.