Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-07-31
The Lowest Kind of Jugglery.

Ut lollO"iIiS Is IcpOTtcu DIS Tie low process
of jugglery resorted to in order to secure to
Rice the drawing OF the long term of the U.
S. Senate from Minnesota. We can scarcely
credit what is here stated, and hope for the in
tegrity of the official involved, the honor of
the dignifed body over which he presides, as
well as for the honor of the country, that it
may be proven untrue. But it is hard to
trust Lecompton Democracy. 1t will not
hesitate at committing any enormity, if there
by political preferment Of party or individual
is accomplished. The jugglery referred to is
thus exposed:
The Vice President, who is az intimate
friend and brother Spectator in Western
lands with Mr. Rice, as we'll as an intimate
! friend of his house in Washington, first pac-
cd in the hat two short ballots. One of these
Gen. Shields drew, which gave him the short
term. The hat was then empt ed and two
iong ballots placed in it, one of which Mr..
Rice drew, and thus secured the long term !"
Can this be true? If it is, more palpa-
bly,, low trick was never committed by the
most expert ard besotted Of thimble-riggers
"a grade Of gamblers accounted the lowest
and most degraded. We must insist that it
seems impossible that Mr. Breckenridge could
so far degrade his manhood suIy his reputa-
ton, and above all prostitute his official posi-
ton as TO lend himself to the commission Of
such base piece of trickery. If such Jug
glery was practiced the reason is Obvious
! Gen. Shields was considered "shaky' on the
Lecompton business Rice, on the contrary,
was known to be Sound" 1t was, there
fore, to the interest of National Democracy
that reliable Lecomptonite should secure
the long term.
We transfer the above statement of an
alledged fact, and the comments threon from
a recent Ohio pap err.
Something of the kind has been bruited
about before but the charge has never been
presented to us in so tangible and positive a
shape, as this article gives it.
Most sincerely do we hope that the para
graph is totally founded in error and that
no such trick in favor of Mr.. RICE and against
Gen. SHIELDS was ever perpctrated.
There is one thing however, which as a cit
izcn Of Minnesota proud of the fame, strikes
us particularly unpleasantly in the circulation
of such stories concerning our Senator RICE;
that is, that people abroad should appear to
think almost any trickery and skullduggery
may be credited when his name is connected
with it
1t is on this account that we are especially
sorry we have not man to represent us in
the Senate of the United States whose very
dignity ard weight of character and the hon
esty of whose antecedents would at once
frown down and put down instantly every
such derogatory and most foul imputation.
But unfortunately for us, HENRY NJ. RrcE's
peculiar traits of character and Indian mode
Of action, are too well known abroad, and
few things are thought impossible, in the way
of underhand dealing, for his enactment.
We are 10th, however, to believe that this
last exposition is true, even of him and still
less that it is true of Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE.
The intimate relation existing between the
two men may have led to suspicious that all
was not fair in the Senatorial drawing; which
suspicious perhaps grew into facts in the pre-
sress of travel.
Let us therefore kindly spread the mantle
IF CHARITY over Mr.. RICE in this matter
even though it should perform for him the
nultitudinous office and be cloak as ample
As that mentioned in the scriptures.
Gen. SHIELDS friends we are aware, believe
this trick as stated was in this manner GER
taioly perpctrated; but let us hope it is their
friendly feeling for the General that makes
them unwittingly harsh in their judgment Of
| Mr.. Rice.
| We don't want to believe in this last dis
honorable crime and we won't if we can
help it.
What cheat his colleague and procure the
COLLISION of Vice President to aid him
Ind Traders 90 very queer things but
this Title JOKER arrangement is too gross for
crcdence-it must be a mistake