The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-08-12
The Senatorial Question.

Senator the present session, IN place oil
Gen. SHIELDS, received its quietus in the
House, yesterday.
On Saturday last. joint resolution was
introduced, providing that the two
Houses should meet in joint Conven-
ton for the election of U. 5. Senator, ON
"Wednesday of this week. On Tuesday,
this resolution was taken up and indef-
nitely postponed. Pending the conside-
ration of motions made prior to the vote
on the motion for pos,ponement, it was dis
covered that the resolution in question had
heen distracted from the Clerk desk. This
placed the House in dilemma that body
having ordered the main question ON the
postponement of the resolution.
The Speaker said he knew Of no resolution
before the House, and stated the question to
be upon the indefinite postponemen, OF some
indefinite subject, question, motion or resolu.
ton, which this House has ordered, but
which the Chair knows nothing Of. and which
cannot be found either on the desk or jour
nal"
The motion, rs put by the Speaker was
carried-ayes "A, nays none-the minority
refusing to vote.
Immediately upon the passage of the mo
ton, Mr.. SrARKEY of this county, introduced
the following resolution
Resolved, That the course pursued by mem.
beers OF the present Legislature, 10 enforce the
election Of u senator Of the United States, at
the present session, 10 fill the seat occupied by
Gen. SBiKLDs for the purpose Of advancing cor
rupt designs, and to elect Lecompton Senator
~ y demonstration against STEPHEN A. DorG.
Las, and TO coneiliate the iavors Of the national
administration, Is alike vioatiye Of the senti.
ments Of the people ofMinncsota and obnoxious
TO the honor, interests and dignity Of the State.
The resolution was adopted by ayes A.
nays Is, portion Of the minority refusing
to vote The Democrats who voted for the
resolution were Messr. DKMMoN, MASTERS,
MISryRE, M'GRoRrY, ScorIKI.D, SrARKEy,
and VKRrREss. Pending the call Of the
ayes and noes, an interesting debate of a
highly personal nature arose. which was
participated in by Messn. RurAS, STAR
KEY, WArRous, WILSON, STEVENS, ROBIN
SON, BRADLEY, aud Others.
Mr.. SrARhEy justified his course in intro
ducing the resolution, by reasserting at
length the charges preferred in il.
Mr.. BRADLEY, in one Of the most able
speeches of the session. rcfuted the charge
that the election OF Senator was intended
a. an Administration or lecompton meas.
ure he (Mr. b. would vote for the caucus
nominee, no matter what might be his posi-.
| tiOn on Iecompton-a measure belonging to
the past. lie charged Mr.. SrARgEY with
having attended Democratic caucuscs, more
AZ the agent Of the Black Republicans, than
as the representative OF Democratic con-
stituency. Mr. B. also showed that Mr..
SrARKEy on the passage Of the Senatorial
bill, had been urgent in its favor, and that
he had even clinched the passage Of the
bill, by moving reconsideration Of the
vote, and then voting against his own no
ton. He contrasted his conduct in NO do
ing with the scurriites and imputatlons
contained in the resolution, which he de-
nounced as ungentlemaDly, discourteous and
based upon lie.
Mr.. SrAgKEY stated he had always been
opposed to the election Of Senator. This,
Mr.. BRADLEY denied, and pointed To the
record. lie also offered to prove tina. Mr..
5. was, at the present time, pledged to sup
port a certain candidate for Senator.
During the debate, various matters OF a
private nature were referred ", and gentle
mems mind refreshed by Il reference TO their
private conversations and pledges on the
Senatorial question. Mr.. BRADLEY, in his
speecb, denied any intention Of criticising
the ac,s Of those who had uniformly and
consistently opposed the election Of Senator;
be referred 10 those alone, who at one time
favored such election, and voted in caucus
and in the House, 10 bring j. about.
The entire action and discussion in the
Hoae yesterday, 50 far az the participation
Of democrats is concerned cannot but be
regretted by all who have a, heart the in.
terests d the party, and especially Of those
who feel sincere desire for the success Of
Senator DocGLAs, no, only in the con,es, in
which he ia now engaged, but in BIZ future
elevation TO more etaited poeition. The
senatorial qaes,i0n should have been settled
10 cAucus, among Democrats, not 10 the
House BY aid Of Republicans. In a con
zuI,atin, NJ d.. n.,af..,atle t,n,ntsx. ,lso