Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-06-12
From the Rochester Omsted Co., Free Press, May 26.
Our SenatOrs--4aice has the Long Term.
Shields the short one.

Shields the Short one.
'The telegraph brings us the news that Mr.. Rice
has drawn the long term of his office to expire in
1868, and Gen. Shields the short term to expire in
1859. This is no doubt in accordance with the
wishes of the Democratic party and the people
generally of Minnesota"
We cut the above extract from the Saint
Paul Daily Times, a paper that processes to
be strongly Republican, but if the sentiment
it contains is to be regarded as q criterion of
its Republcanism, it certainly does not give
US an exlated idea of its purity. The Times
arrogates to itself-we believe-the title Of
the "leading Republican journal of Mime
sota," and we have heard it so denomnated
by Others but if its course is to be charac-
terized by the inconsistency indicated by that
article we for once decline following it's lead.
The good fortune of MIR. Rice in having
drawn the "lOng term," may or may not be
g in entire accordance with the wishes of the
Democratic party" in this State. With their
views upon the subject we have nothing to do;
but that the people generally" are graft
fed and delighted by such result, we do
not for moment believe; and the compla-
cency and apparent qualification with which
the Times makes the above assertion, is to
say the least, somewhat remarkable That
Mr.. Rice has "drawn the long term" and
Gen. Shields the "short term may entirely
accord with the wishes of the Times as
well as the DcmOcl attic party, but we do not
believe there is any other Republican paper
IN the State or an isolated individual of the
Republican party whose wishes are at all
gratifed by such result. We do not know
what Mr.. Rice has done to entitle him to the
gratitude of the Republicans of Minnesota,
or why they should be particularly delighted
with the idea OF his representing them for
six years in the Senate. That gentleman's
political proclvities are well known, and they
ar. certainly of no such character, as to afford
any assurance that his aid or his vote will
ever be given to the great cause of freedom
in which the Republicans are now engaged
If he was ever entitled to any political con-
sideratiOn at the hands of the "people of
Minnesota he has fo' feited it all by the
contemplate and unmany course he has ia.
ken with reference to Lecompton. and the
plrilul pettitogging to which has resorted to
! lngratiate hin self with the administration.
What better, we would ask, is Mr.. Rice
than the balance of his Democratic dough-
| faces coadjutators, whose acts the Democ-
racy of this State 'and every other Northern
State repudiates and whose want of Stamina
and desertiOn of principle, las been by the
| whole NOrthen press stigmatized by the ig
nominious epithets such infamy deserves?
The entire Democratic press of this State
have We'd with each other in laudng the course
oi those Democrats, who, standing shoulder to
shoulder with Mr.. Douglas, have contended
against the administration for the mainte-
nance of those rights which form a portion of
! the heritage OF our fathers. Will thev then
| in the same breath sing pean to those invet-
rate dOughfaces. who for a little brief
space Of administration favour, ignominiously
deserted the cause of popular sovereignty and
banded themselves with the intolerant, and
now dominant slave power of the South? So
| far as the course of Gen. Shields is concerned
it has all at events been consistent with his
proteSsed principles. He has been an earnest
| and persistent opponent of the Lecompton in
| lqulty from its first inception, and he is this
day lighting with his "armor On" in the ranks
with the Republicans. G. n. Shields is MIR.
Rice's peer in ability, and in moral worth, po-
ltical Integrity and public honesty far his
superior. The people of Minnesota" large
majority OF them,are, as the Times we'll knows,
epublican-bitterly opposed to the present
administration and its course; why then does
the Times assert that the years msrepresen-
tation of them by Mr.. Rice in the U. S Sem
ate is in accordance with their wishes? Gen.
Shields would not probably be the choice of
the Republicans of Minnesota to-day, had
they the power to elect Senator, but we do
not doubt he would be far more acceptable
| to them than H. NJ. Rice can ever be. The
Times has no right thus to compromise the
Republican party of this State, and we ear
nestly protest against any such misrepresenta-
ton. Neither has the Times any business to
allow its quarrel with the Minaesotian to tinge
the hue of its political complexion, to such
an extent as to induce it to take position
ic" nsistent with the principles it processes
to advocate, and detrimental to our prospect
| as party.