The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-30
SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1857.

SENATE.-The Senate was called to or
der, aud the President being absent, MIR. Var
Etten was called to the Chair.
Roll called, and Journal read, which being
finished,
The Chair then stated that Mr. IIalps q
mendment to the substitute of Mr.. Folsom
for resolution of Mr.. Lindsey was the spe
cial order of this hour.
The Senate then resolved itself into Com.
mitiee of the Whole, Mr.. Ridpath in the
Chair, to take into consideration the resolu.
ton of Mr.. Hall, offered on wednesday, as
follows:
ResoJued, That it is the opinion of this body
that no power over the late State election re-
turns, or State Canvass, is delegated by the
Constitution to the Senate of Minnesota
that any attempted supervision over or con-
nection with the same is impertinent to the
business for which this Senate is assembled,
and useless expenditure of time ard money
Mr.. LINDSLEY-I regret illness, Mr..
Chairman, will prevent Inc from discussing
this question as fully as l intended to, when
morning. But when remember that this
resolution attempts to stihe the demanding
proof called for by the people who have been
wronged by the frauds, cannot refrain, un-
well as am from expressing my indignation
at the pretence and subterfuge urged in the
resolution, of "the expenditure of time and
money" Sir, this is one of those expendi-
lures which are neccssary-Onc that exigen-
cies demand, and for incurring which the
people will not deem us culpable. You print
Journals, at an expense of $4,000, and then
laise hue and cry about printing docu-
ment which is necessary, and which is eager
ly wished for by the people who pay for it
document which, properly got up, will cost
about as much as the pamphlet of rules, &c.
must also refer to that specious clause, so
nicely dressed ur, that 'it is our opinlon' that
no power is delegated by the Constitution to
the Senate of Minnesota to do this investi-
cation. | tell you, sir, we have the power !;
it is common and legitimate part of our du-
ties to do such things. The PEOPLE have
delegated us to do such things for them, and
it is what we are here for, and they look to
us to know how we will act out their will
We claim it as due all parties, because men
of all parties are mutually interested in know
ing what we intend to do in the case where
the will of the majority has been over-ridden.
stand here, Sir, as citiZen-from no one
party, but from the people-and in their
name demand an investigation, that we may
brand with the proper ignominy those who
deserve it for attempting to defraud the peo-
pie of their rights, if it should prove that
there are such, and let no such miserable sub
terfuge as this that Sin our opinion we have
no power to make such investigation" be is
sued forth to insult them.
Mr.. REINER-Mr. Chairman The ex-
pense which will incur by refusing this in
vestigation is ten fold more than if it was al
lowed. The alleged frauds have been noised
about, and have even reached the Capital of
our country, and now. it "ppears from last
nights news we are the -eby to be refused ad-
mittance into the Union, new election is to
ordered, and compared to the delay and ex-
pense caused, the cost of the investigation
will scarcely be an item. No question of
dollars and cents should be urged in such a
matter as this. IF the skirts of the Democ-
racy are clear, as they declare, of these frauds,
what harm will it do them to investigate.
Mr.. SMITH, hope, Mr.. Chairman, as
said before, that the resolution will be so a.
mended as to allow the investigation to go
on. l have not yet charged perjury on the
men who are said to have cOncocted and car
ried on these frauds, but expect to before 1
get through. Sir, suppose that tonight a
man was robbed and foully murdered at
house in St. Paul, and the owner of the
house was to refuse an investigation into the
crime, and party should uphold him in it,
would not the community believe him guilty
of the crime, or connected with it? Most
certainly. Then why do these Democratic
friends of ours refuse this investigation g
Because they are guilty; and yet the finger
Of honest scorn is no less pointed at them
now for refusing it, than if it had been made
and the proof fastened on them. ~
We had been hearing Of monstrous frauds
away off in other States, but here was one
right at our own doors, to defraud ourselves
That was liberal offer of the Democratic
Senator, to allow us all to 60 down in the
Secretary's room and tumble over the returns
&c. If every man does bis duty. he would.
but why not let a committee do it, and have
the people know the results Let it be sif-
ted and examined, ask you by every reason
you can urge, by the belief of MANY of us
that Governor not entitled to the seat is to
communicate with us, and by the belief prev
alent among the people that all our State Of
fcers are elected by fraud.
He went on to mention the unparalleled
frauds of Cedar City, Holmes CITY. and the
Cass, Pembina and Todd returns, which were
not even sworn to, and returns of elections
where no elections were held, with whitening
invective. and concluded as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, there is an indignant and