The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-30

ouIraSeu peope WHO are watching your &C
ton on this matter. You have robbed them
OF their rights, and have gagged an investiga.
tion. You have foisted over them a bogus
Governor, and State officers elected by fraud
But tell you beware A long future is be-
fore you, and though you may carry out your
ends now, retributive day will come, when
the people will rise in their might and hurl
into infamy the betrayers of their rights.
Mr.. BEMAN-IfI consulted my own feel
ings, Mr.. Chairman 1 should keep silent to-
day-nol that feel that have talked too
much, but the excitement of these debates in
which | have participated, have operated del
eteriously on my nervous system, and made
me feel my i'll health very sensibly. may
now only reiterate what l have said before
but in times of such corruption and damned
vilany We are called upon to impress line
upon line and precept upon precept.
Why are the democratic Senator'S so silent
this morning Not one of them has repli-
ed, as yet. Have not the news from Wash
ington struck them dumb, or do they wait for
the gentleman from Ramsey to advance his
plausible arguments?
Sir, the innocent are never afraid Of inves-
tigation-nay a man wrongly accused will be
anxious to have the matter sifted. Is that
the case with the Democratic Senators g.
The Democratic party of this Territory are
boldly and publicly proclaimed to be guilty
of the most gross and unblushing frauds in
the late election, and this intelligence has been
heralded from one end of the Union to the
other. 1t is publicly charged that Mr. Sib-
ley obtained his certi fcate as Governor by
fraud and vilainy, and that Governor RAM
sey was fairly elected by the votes of the
people, and the Democratic party know this
to be so, and they don't want Sibley's title to
it investigated. Here at once is the evidence
of gross, open and apparent fraud, and
which would convince any one that all the
charges made are true, and | here in my
place in the Senate, solemnly declare that I
believe these charges to be true, and that if
an investigation could be had by the Senate,
Democrats in high standing would be public
ly implicated in this villainy.
But, sir, these frauds did not commence with
the late election. They had their origin at
the very commencement of our efforts to be-
come State. In the Constitutional Conven.
tion the Democrats being fairly defeated un-
dertook to usurp the control of that Conven-
tion by force, and being defeated in this they
separated from the Convention, and without
quorum in their body boldly proclaimed
themselves to be the Convention.
In this they were backed up by federal
G vernon, who meanly, and dishonesty re
tained the Constitution signed by the Repub-
lican majority, and sent only the instrument
signed the Democratic minority.
The voice of the Federal Government has
now condemned them, and we reap the bit
ter fruits of Democratic breach of faith and
Democratic dishonOr. A Legislature delay
ed in its action, because there were not names
enough on the instrument they sent t, Wash
ingtOn as our Constitution to authenticate it,
and this is why we cannot pass any bill Of
any Importance, but are involved in inextri-
cable confusion.
1t will not do, let me tell these Democrat
ic Senators. You have fooled the people
once, but you cannot do 1t again.
He closed with whitening invcctive on
the Democracy, asserting that its frauds and
corruption would soon work its ruin-that
the day was coming when right would tri
umph, by Gods help, over wrong, and when
it did come, it would wipe out the so termed
Democracy so completely that not ,even
grease spot as big as the member from Penn
bina would be left mo Democratic Sena-
tor dared reply to Mr.. Benan or pretended to
justify their cause on the foor.]
Mr. SMITH moved that the Committee
rise.
M. SKINNER moved to amend that they
report back the resolution, recommending its
passage.
The question was carried as amended, yeas
13, nays IL. The Committee therefore arose,
and reported it thus.
The question being on adopting the report
Mr. BATES said, Mr.. President, there is
said to be sign in Boston on a shop, "All
kinds of turning and twisting done hcre."-
So tits in this Senate. 1t is actually anus
ing to see the way the Democrats turn and
twist to avoid coming to direct vote on this
matter. Why, sir. if was member Of the
party, and such charges had been made as
have been made upon them I would court in
vestigation instead of endeavoring to choke
it down.
What says Section two of our bill of rights?
I" No member of this State shall be disfran-
ehised, or deprived of any of the rights or
privileges secured to any citizen thereof" &c.
And how have the rights of the citizens
been protected Why, by DISTINGUISHING as
many of the legal voters of Minnesota as was
necessary to secure the unholy ends of the
Democratic leaders, thus rendering null and
void that instrument for the protection of
the people.
And how are these wrongs to be righted
They tell us go to the courts We have
nothing to do with courts here,-fOr we are
here ourselves to guard the interests and
rights of the people.
The Democratic Senators are very lavish
in having daily Journals, which other and
older States cannot even afford, but they
have grown so very economical since then,
that they each 60 into the expense of hav-
ing this nvestigation-and after this gross
inconsistency, charged as, the retrenchment
advocates, with being inconsistent.
He then spoke of the assertion that Mr..
Galbraith had ratified the proceedings of
the board of Canvassers, thereby intimatiDg
its endorsement by the Republicans. But
Mr. G. had not attempted to ward off inves-
tigation at the same time, and was as anx
ious as any body that it should be DONE
He closed by saying that frauds at the ballot
box, and in the returns, are the one great
evil: sir, that as Republican people, We have
to guard against. There is no more insidious
foe to our liberties than to corrupt this weap-
on of Liberty. 1t is increasing to an alarm
ing extent, too, and right here in Minnesota,
commencing her existence as State, lave
most notorious crimes against the rights of
the people been committed. We should
made an example Of those who have planned
and executed the scheme, and preserve our
rights, in the future that is before us as a
people, inviolate.
The report of the Committee was adopted
ayes H. nays 13.
The question then occurring on Mr.. Halls
amendment, there were ayes Is nays 49,
Mr. JONES moved reconsideration of
the vote-ayes 13, nays Is.
The regular order of business was then
taken up
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr.. SMITH: bill for an act to re-
no.l ob,ptar IL session laws of 1855 abolish