The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-27
The Gossip at Washington.

Our national politics are in such a novel position just
now, that even the rumors which float about in society
become important as the precursors ~oftentimes Of great
events-the straws which show which way the wind
blows. For instance, it is now whispered that the
President and his Cabinet are backing down from the
position taken in reference to the Lecompton Constitu-
ton. Gov. Wise, Of Virginia, is said to be up for the
Presidency, and that his late very liberal and heightened
letter is a bid for Northern votes. Mr.. Buchanan, it is
now generally understood, is also a candidate for re-
election. The old gentleman does not seem to fear the
Intervention Of the King of Terrors; he is as ambitious
as ever. Like the vene rable lady who was asked by a
grandson, how old a woman must be to outgrow the
feeling of love, and replied, her palsied head shaking as
she spoke, { My dear, you must ask some one older than
me- Nh. Buchanan seems to have no idea Of giving
up the reins of power as long as there is a chance of re-
tanning them.
The New York Herald has been taken into the con.
6dence of the administration. Mr.. Buchanan and Mr..
Bennett are seen much together, and numerous appli-
cations for appointments made by the latter have been
granted; in return, that very powerful journal, the most
powerful perhalf in the world, the London Thunderer
not excepted, is to give its aid to the administration , Q
measures. se. Ia -4s
W. give below a few of the rumors relative to the
affairs, without accepting any of them as Of much &C.
count. aa3o T
The Committee on Territories of the Senate had q
long and arduous sitting Oh the investigation for the ad.
mission of Minnesota, and various difficulties were pre-.
scented which had not been foreseen. By the Enabling
act, twice the number of Representatives in the Ter
~ritorial Legislature were required to compose the Con.
vention for framing the Con titution. Allowing the
. Council to be included, as it was under the construc.
ton applied by Gov. Medary, one hundred and eight
Delegates formed that organization. In certifying the
one Members only, and thus demonstrated t" the Com.
mittee that the terms of the law had not been fulfilled
Another copy of the Constitution, identical in terms
and ~attested, was presented to the Committee, with fifty
seven Republican signatures, but could not be recognised
officially. After much discussion, the Committee re
solved to request Gov. Medary to communicate this lat
ter instrument in form, which when done, will relieve
that objection. If he refuses, the admission will not b
recommended by the Committee. Mr.. Green insisted
that the facts connected with both Conventions SHOULD
be embodied in q report to the. Senate. .sstes
Another objection arose from the election of Mem
bers Of Congress. Under the Enabling act the Unitet
| States Marshal was required to make a census, in orde
to provide for the apportionment. This duty was omit
ted, but the returns from all the counties except seven
for State officers, were rendered to the Interior Depart
ment. Taking the aggregate votes Of these thus report
ed, and applying the same ratio-say l vote to Al 0
populatiOn-to the seven, and Minnesota appeared en-
titled to one member, and q fraction of ~fftyfour thou
sand, while she has sent three here to claim seats. l
} omitted. the House Of course must decide this point il
its own way, but It is hard to conceive how a discrim
ination can be made among claimants holding the sam
right. Therefore, in the event suggested, . new cleo
ton may be ordered. Under the last superintendent
the number of members of the House was limited, ant
the surplus assigned to States With the largest fractions
That was based upon the Census of 1850, while thes
members claim an enumeration made seven years after
which necessarily ignores the progress Of the olde
States during that time. These are points of embar
rassment in the admission. There is still another. Tw
Senators have come here, and are waiting to take thei
/ seats. The enabling act never contemplated any sue
i election before the admission and, if it be worth re
garding at all, the letter Of the law should be respected
; Southerners insist that the" double headed Conventio
. Of Minnesota was as irregular as that Of Kansas.
Tho Y 5. SENATE Territorial COMMITTEE On to 4na'