The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-19
MINNESOTA.

The Administrationists, or so-called Demo
Gratis, of Minnesota, being in power, and with
the certain prospect that with fair play they
will soon be defeated, are adopting measures
which will enable them to forcibly keep pos
session of the offices. A st. Paul, Minnesota,
Ietter.writer communicates the subjoined para
graphs to an exchange: .s-t--
"The Democrats in our Legislature are
scared, aud dare not let the people decide upon
their merits and dement's before a choice Is
made of United States Senator to succeed
Gen. Shields on the 4th of March. They were
80 negligent of their duties last winter, the Re-
publicans had to fill some very important 9th :
ces, such as surveyors of lumber, which greatly
annoyed the Democratic majority. To prevent
any such mischief in future, the majority, in
March last, made it rule tt at a twotbirds vote
should be required to suspend call of the Sen
ate. So a call of the Senate could be made at
any time, and the Senate held under call, and
no business could be transacted. That rule
worked very well for the majority, until it was
recently arranged that Gen. Shields's success
or should be chosen at this session. Then it
was found that the two-thirds rule would give
the Republican minority of the Senate power
to prevent any such election, by holding the
Senate under call, if necessary, until the day
of adjournment. T
at was determined to meet the requirements
of the law providing that the Senator should
be chosen at the last meeting of the Legisla
ture subsequent to the commencement of his
term, by electing Legislature next fall, which
shall not meet unless called together by the
Governor, and providing for the election of au-
other Legislature in the fall of 1869, and SO
every year thereafter, which shall meet at the
Capitol in December. In that way annual Sea-
sions are provided for. Put the Republican
and Anti Lecompton Legislature, which is sure
to be the next chosen, must not be permitted
to fill the vacant Senatorship. THE arrange
ment having been made, the two-thirds rule
was in the way How to get rid of that has
been the study. At one time it was thought
that, by an adjournment, the rule would be
dropped, and not revived at the adjourned sss
sion. There was some doubt about that. Then
it was determined to take the bull by the horns,
and, on the principle that might makes right,
at once rescind the rules. Consequently, last
Tuesday, Democrat moved a reconsideration
of the vote requiring twothirds vote to sus-
pend call of the Senate, and on that motion
moved the previous question. Although call
OF the Senate was moved by several Republi,
can Senator'S, in stentorian voices, before the
Democrat had made his motion, and as soon
as the drift of it was discovered, yet the ears
of the presiding officer, Lieutenant Governor
Holcombe, were too thick to hear any but
Democratic voices and by series of most
supplementary rulings and resistance to ap-
peals from his decisions, succeeded in giving
the majority their own way"
Such conduct as this cannot in the end harm
any but those guilty of it. The R epublicans
NAV he ohaatad ont of O nraaant triumnh hv
by INSCRIPTIONS opponents; but it will only
tend to make their final success the more sure
and permanent,