The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-27
The Gossip ut Washington.

Our national politics are in such a novel position just
now, that even the rumors which float about in society
become important as the precursors oftentimes Of great
events-:he straws which show which way the wind
blows. For instance, it is now whispered that the
President and his Cabinet are backing down from the
position taken in reference to the L~ecompton Constitu.
ton. Gov. Wise, Of Virginia, is said to be up for the
Presidency, and that his late very liberal and heightened
letter is a bid for Northern votes. Mr.. Buchanan, it is
now generally understood, is also a candidate for re-
election. The old gentleman does not seem to fear the
Intervention of the King of Terrors; he is as ambitious
as ever. Like the vene rabie lady who was asked BY .
grandson, how old a woman must be to ontgrow the
feeling of love, and replied, her palsied head shaking as
she spoke, { My dear, you must ask some one older than
me- Mr.. Buchanan seems to have no idea of giving
up the reins of power as long as there is a chance of re-
tanning them.
The New York Herald has been taken into the con.
fdence Of the administration. Mr.. Buchanan and Mr..
Bennett are seen much together, and numerous appli-
cations for appointments made by the latter have been
granted; in return, that very powerful journal, the most
powerful perhalf in the world, the London Thunderer
not excepted, is to give its aid to the Administration , 9
measures.
We give below a few of the rumors relative to the
affairs, without accepting any Of them as of much &C.
count -a3e
The Committee on Territories of the Senate had a
long and arduous sitting Oh the investigation for the ad.
mission of Minnesota, and various difficulties were pre-.
scented which had not been foreseep. BY the Enabling
act, twice the number of Representatives in the Ter
ritorial Legislature were required to compose the Con-
vention for framing the Con %titution. Allowing the
Council to be included, as it was under the construc.
ton applied by Gov. Medary, one hundred aud eight
Delegates formed that organization. In certifying the
Constitution, Gov. Medary appended the names of fifty
one Members only, and thus demonstrated t." the Com.
mittee that the terms of the law had not been fulfilled.
Another copy of the Constitution, identical in terms,
and attested, was presented to the Committee, with fifty.
seven Republican signatures, but could not be recognized
officially. After much discussion, the Committee re-
solved to request Gov. Medary to communicate this lat
ter instrument in form, which when done, will relieve
that objection. If he refuses, the admission will not be
recommended by the Committee. MIR. Green insisted
that the facts connected with both Conventions should
be embodied in a report to the Senate.
Another objection arose from the election of Mem
bers of Congress. Under the Enabling act the United
States Marshal was required to make a census, in orde,
to provide for the apportionment. This duty was omit
ted, but the returns from all the counties except seven
for State officers, were rendered to the Interior Depart
ment. Taking the aggregate votes OF these thus report
ed, and applying the same ratio-say l vote to Al o.
population-to the seven, and Minnesota appeared en-
titled to one member, and a fraction of ~ffty-four thou
sand, while she has sent three here to claim seats. Il
united. the House Of course must decide this point in
its own way, but it is hard to conceive how a discrim
nation can be made among claimants holding the same
right. Therefore, in the event suggested, a new cleo
ton NAV be ordered. Under the last apportionment
the number of members of the House was limited, anc
the surplus assigned to States with the largest fractions
That was based upon the Census Of 1850, while these
members claim an enumeration made seven years after
which necessarily ignores the progress Of the Older
States during that time. These are points of embar
rassment in the admission. There is still another. Twt
Senators have come here, and are waiting to take thei1
seats. The enabling act never contemplated any sucl
election before the admission and, if it be worth re
garding at all, the letter Of the law should be respected
Southerners insist that the double. headed Convention
Of Minnesota was as irregular as that Of Kansas.