The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-04-08
Returns Of che Railroad Loan Election
-PrUper Form Of the Poll Books-I.st
ter from, y. u. Bssslau, Eco.

To- the E'ior Of the Minne@,uan.
Gentlemen your issue Of this morning. IN
der the caption Of Forgery by the Railroad
officials Discovered and Exposed,' you have
thought proper to charge upon tho Minnesota
and Pacific Railroad Company, and especially
that upon the Secretary OF corporation, acts the
responsibility Of which belong 20 me.
Some ten days since, John T.. Owens, Esq,
suggested 10 me the proprlety Of preparing for
distribution throughout the State, poll books
adapted for use at the special election 20 he
holden on the 18th of April. Acting upon the
suggestion, procured at the Office Of the II.
OnseT and Immoral, copy Of the poll book
used at the last general election, and modified
II, a. supposed, 10 meet the ocoD,On. The title
Of the poll book is the same as the one which
has been generally used, except reference to
the act under which the election il TO be held
No other change was made in the body of the
book, except to designate IL for use a, The ape
cal election on the 18th Of April according TO
the provisions Of section 30, chapter ~. Of the
revised statutes, and the act approved March
9Th, 1865.
That these charges were proper will not be
denied and whether proper or not, they do not
affect the character or merits Of the Poll Book
itself.
The fact that the author Of the Poll Book
thought proper 10 adapt the provisions OF the
chapter on elections 0t the Revised Statutes.
numbered chapter 5, has been made the ground
Of serious charge, which ] hope would not
have been made upon careful consideration.
BY reference 10 the last two pages Of the Poll
Book you will observe that IL nowhere profes
ses % copy from pages5 Of the Revised statutes.
The caption to the matter reads a. follows I:
Law relating to Judges and Clerks Of elections
Revised Statutes, Page ~ Adapted TO the
provisions Of an act entitled an act proposing
an amendment % section ten, article nine Of the
Constitution, and providing for the subrnission
Of the same 70 the people, approved March 9Th,
l-5s Had the extracts been taken literally
from the Revised Statutes they would have
been inapphcsble 70 the use for which they
were d,hgnSd
Sections Gye, eight. nine aud ton. are o0pssd
from the Revised s,atutes. Section eleven IL
changed % correspond with the act Of March
ninth. in respect to the time Of opening and
closing the polls. Section twelve - literal
copy Of a c0uespondingly numbered section Of
the X. yised Statutes.
Section 1874 adapted and simply indicates the
form aud nature Of the ballot. Section 10 CO
pies only so much c! 4 corresponding section 81
the Revised Statutes A. app!es. from section
hfteen, down 70 and including section 20, 10
literal Transcript Of corresponding sections Of
the Revised Statutes.
Section 20 Ia adapted for the occasion. Sec.
loh u has been changed by inserting the word
boSerpur Instead Of the words Clerk u the
Board Of County Commissioners. &c" where
ever the same occurs and section - has been
altered IN the came particular
section. III aud 81 we're modified 70 meet my
own conjunction o. section u the act
Of March 9th, LBS. The zane DOUBT
which IL suggested By your article Of this
morning, occurred 20 me, and for the purpose
o. eensuolhs me section according 20 IL de
sign, consulted several members Of the Leg.
islstGre, who informed me that the design q
the BAL vas not a. you suggest, 20 subsiitute
the word "1overnr Tor Secretary, but ~
olyiaie the delays Inciden, 70 an Intermediate
canvas BY the Clerk o. the Board OF County
Commissioners q the several counties. hi.
construction, In view Of the fact tina, The ACT
itself requires the Canvass by the Governor 70
be made within twenty days after the el.ctIot,
and 81 the further fact hat section 6. par. 20,
Amendments 70 tie revised Statutes. Allows
twenty days for the retain toNs Clerk Of The
County Commissioner. seemed best TO utter.
pref he intention u the Legislature.
an, With much respect yours,
J.8 vRisBIy.