The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1858-08-05
The Protesting Party.

The Republican members Of the Senate
have signalized the long session of the Leg
islature, now drawing to close, by-pro-
testing. They have initiated no measures
OF legislation, important to the interests of
the people, and instead of seconding the De.
mocracy, in the enactment of needful laws,
have, from the first day Of the session, inter.
posed every conceivable embarrassment to
the speedy performance of the public busi-
ness. They have done this, too, for the
basest OF party purposes.
As early as last December, the Republi-
cans Of the Senate, protested" against the
passage of any and all laws, by the Legis-
lature, until the State was admitted into the
Union They protested" against the re-
cognition Of the State officers, provided by
the Constitution. The leaders of the party
here in st. Paul. RAMSEY, CoorER, BAB-
COCK, Foster and others, through the me.
dium OF secret circulars, private letters, and
personal solicitations, protested against
the admission Of the State into the Union.
Fooled in this treasonable scheme, they" pro-
tested against the admission by the House,
Of our Representatives elect, Messrs.
PHELPS and CAvENAUGH and also sought
to curtail our representation in the House
TO one member.
All this protesting" bold attempt
to barter the interests Of the people Of the
State--was merely to secure prospective
political advantage. What cared the Re
publican Senators and wire-pullers, il the
State was refused admission into the Union,
and the Constitution sent back to the peo-
pie; in that event they stood one more
chance of obtaining political power. Their
protest" against action by the Legislature,
until Congress decided upon our applica-
tion, was fitting prelude to the reasonable
schemes of the Secret Circular plotters.
Even if their policy resulted in anarchy, or
the rule OF lawless rufiians, it possessed the
Irresistible merit of aiding the waning for
tunes of the Black Republican oflice-seekers.
At the present session, the Republicans
have again resor:ed to protesting" Their
first protest. based as it was upon wrong
principles, had the single merit of being
phrased in courteous terms. Their last
effort, in the free use OF billingsgate in
which it INDUCES, would put to shame the
most abandoned frequenter of the fish
market. Comparing the Lieutenant Gov.
ernor of the State, in an official paper, to
JUDAS lscARIor, and invoking for him the
fate of the betrayer of our Saviour, should,
and we believe will, secure for the Senatorial
slanderers, the condemnation Of everv fair
minded man in the State. Public opinion
pronounccs the protest" blot upon the
fair fame OF the State--a violation OF par.
liamentary usage-and On utter reputation
by the protestants, of every trait char
acterizng men Of intelligence and honor.
The Republican press can say nothing
in defence OF the document one of their
most influential Senators openly repudiates
it; and other Senators state that they signed
it at the solicitation of others and without
perusing it. The protest was concocted
to promote the interests of the Republican
party; it has not only failed in this, but by
the low abuse in which it indulges, affixed
lasting stigma to the names OF those who
signed it..
We will await anxiously for the next
protest y Protesting seems about all
the Republican Senators are capable of.