Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-05-22
our Scnators--I.ice has the Long Term.


raly ef Xiqa,so:a.- Dsty Tines Of lSh.
Under this phrase of the people general
w. we suppose the Times intended to in
clude the Republican party of the State and
If that was its intention, We take the liberty
Of DENYING most emphatically that such were
the tri>tss of that party and of asserting on
he contrary that of the two, they much pre-
ferrcd Gen SHIELDS to have had that luck,
and in this desire, as we have reason to be-
Govc. not few of the Democratic party
heartily concurred.
We concede that had the people Of Mime
sofa been polled IRE months ago, and the SEN
timents of the Republican party in particu
lar been taken, il is probable Gen. SHIELDS
would have had few voices raised to prefer
him 10 Mr. RICE; but the Times ought to
know, that events have TRANSFERRED in those
four or five months which have radically
changed public sentiment as to the relative
merits of the two men.
1t is well known that uhen elected HENRY
NJ. RICE was avowedly Anti-Lecompton /;
and was noted as the near and cherished friend
Of Mr.. DOUGLAS.
On the other hand, Gen. SHIELDS position
was doubtful, or lot understood; and in adj
dition TO the natural distaste Of the people to
have inflicted upon them an old, and as they
supposed, broken down politician of Illinois,
IS one of the Senators Of vigorous young
State Ike ours; his subscrviency to party Ill
going for the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
act which vote killed him politically in his
old State, was not considered an antecedeM
favorable TO his independent action of the
administration TO preserve popular rights in
Kansas As the Pioneer at that time truly
remarked, TIE vot tiers of Minnesota were we'll
nigh unanimously in favor Of the right of the
reorle Of their sister territory to have their
Or-anc law submitted for their sanction or
rejection, and as unanimously opposed to
Congress compelling their subsection to the
connection CT the swindlcrs and black-guards
assembled IN the Pro Slavery Convention at
Lecompton.
1t is not surprising, therefore, with The
open, plain, and clearly understood Anti
Lecompton position Of HENRY NJ. RICE at
that time, that his election to the post OF
United States Senator from Minnesota should
have been regarded with more favor than was
that Of tie more doubtful and less known
.',MEs SHIELDS, as his colleague.
Bat ,narke tie sequel! When at Wash
is2ton city Mr. RICE instead Of remaining
re to the principles ayoved by him at the
Tine of and after lis election, soon basey
bcnt--
The supple hinges of his knees
That thrift ght follow iiwning,"
rbandoned his Anti-Lecompton position and
is old friend DOUGLAS who had made him
I'll that lie is as q public man. and suddenly
became the obsequicus servant Of Mr.. BU
CHANAH's behcsts and in his Shipol-State
letter exhibited the most Arnold-libe trea
son to the free principles of Minnesota, COM
bined with the most pulling school-boy style
of composition and inanc feebleness OF argu-
ment
The reasons for this disgraceful course OF
Mr.. RICE are also we'll known. Mr.. DoUG'
Las had no patronage to bestow-no offices
- give his followers Mr.. RIcE's NEcEssI-
TIES, as free liver off the public purse, like
BENEDIcT AENoLD's in the revolution, were
superior to lis Legitimate income; and he
therefore surrendered his soul into Mr.. b.
cI,axAS's keeping, for free access 10 and par
tcipatiOn in the tlesh-pcts OF Egypt
VIII tie Tines tell us that a traitor of this
enormity, who has not only dcbascd his own
character, but lowered the fair name and fame
OF Minnesota, before the nation-the deadly
Toe to tic principles of Republican freedom
which underic the Phladelp hia platform
IS a man whom the Republican party Of this
State, or the people generally can have any
wishes OF preference for or feelings other
than those of contempt and detestaton,-
and partulariy, when in cur other Senator,
General Shields, from whom little was eX-
pectei and whose election was received at
first with doubt and dislike, we lave a man
Who has not disgraced the name of Mime
sofa in the federal city, by either Interested
trucking to power, Or by the open sale Of
his principles, or by pcculations which cause
our young State to be insrltcd on the door
sill OF the Senate chamber just as we are
making our first entrance into that convoca-
ton of the sovereignties Of the confederacy !.
GENERAL SHIELDS we have reason to know
was first offered by Mr.. BUCHANAN the con-
trol OF the same power and patronage which
Nr RICE afterwards sold himself to obtain.
But he answered and said, "gct thee behind
ne Satan and nobly resisted the temptation
under the influence Of which lis Indian trad
ing and man-trading colleague fell.
lie has not heSitated TO boldly denouncc
the whole Lecompton swindle, as an ''outrage
upon justice an insult to the people of
Kansas; and a disgrace to the North
And yet. the Times would have us believe
that the maj who has thus come out of the
fire Of trial unscatLed, while his brother
Senator withered before the flames, is not an
preciated by the Republican party of Min
ncsota but that to the traitor associated
with him is awarded a preference over him
Such an intimaton is more than false-it
Is SANDER and insult upon agenerous high
minded and intelligent party.
If Mr.. SHIELDS does not come up to their
idea of a Statesman, he has, nevertheless,
shown himself more of man in this matter
shown himself to possess more honesty,
more courage, and better princples-than, at
at all events, HENRY NJ. RICE has displayed,
nA.I,itti IL