Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-06-05

Enabling Act of Congress contained q dis.
tinct pledge Of the public faith that, upon
her compliance with certain conditions, pre-
cedent, therein contained she should be re-
ceived into the Coniederacy. Those condi-
tions were accepted without change or modi-
fcation; a constitution republican in its
form, framed by her delegates, and adopted
by nearly unanimous vote of her people was
presented to Congress at an early period Of
the session nevertheless, she has been COM
PEELED to wait for months at the doors of the
National Capitol, before they were reluctantly
opened to admit her. A spirit of enlarged
patriotism would have prompted an immedl-
ate and welcome reception by Congress of
fourishing and populous State, which had not
only been ever distinguished for her obedi-
ence to law, but had complied with each re-
quirement of her Enabling Act. 1t is not
strange that the neglect to admit M nnesota
for so long a time should have excited the
regret, no less than the indignation of her
citizens
1t has injuriously affected public and pri-
vate credit-checked immigration, and par
| alyzed, to some extent, the energies of her
population. Capital always sensitive had
ceased to seek investment in our midst, ow-
ing to the uncertainty of the action of Con-
gress in our case, and the possible risk of loss
in community where the protection of law
| might be supposed to be weakened by the
anomalous situation in which VIC were plac-
cd For this state of things Congress is re-
sponsible. Having followed the course point
ed out to us with scrupulous exactness, We
had organized our State Government, as we
were expressly authorized to d. and we pre-
sented ourselves to the National Legislature
with full confidence that the pledges made US
| would be faithfully redeemed. How was
our application received? Our Senators and
Representatives were repulsed-cur expos
| tulations were unheeded-and the humiia-
| ting spectacle has been presented to the
world, for the first time in our political histo-
ry, of State, against whose admission not a
single valid objection could be urged, being
kept cut of the Union for many months; not
because of any fault OF her own-not that
she merled punishment for insubordination
or resistance to law-but simply because it
subserved the purposes of Congressional pol
iticians to allow her to remain suspended, for
an indefinite period, like the fabled coffin of
the false prophet, between the heavens and
the earth.
1t was in view Of the unsatisfactory state
of our affairs in Washington. that the Legis-
lature of Minnesota, during the present ses-
sion, rejecting most truly the sentiments of
their constituents throughout the State, pro.
| vided for an amendment to the Constitution,
| which empowered the officers elect to quail
fy on or after May l, 1858, without longer
awaiting the action of Congress. The peo-
pie, by an imposing majority, endorsed the
recommendation of their representatives,
thereby administering deserved rebuke to
all who had been instrumental in delaying the
admission of the State. 1t is fortunate that
the bill admitting Minnesota has become a
law, or otherwise grave questions would,
doubtless, have arisen, involving the right of
the General Government to exercise jurisdic-
tion within the limits of State, which could
not consistently acknowledge such preten-
sion, and it is far from improbable that seri-
Gus consequences would have resulted from
any attempt to enforce the laws of the United
States within our boundaries. The over
whelming majority in faver of the bill on the
final vote, in both Houses of Congress, is the
most conclusive evidence of the utter frivoli-
ty of the objections urged against the meas
ure. In the Senate, 48 out of 81 votes, and
in the House of Representatives, 158 out of
l96 votes, were cast for the admission of
Minnesota.
The hostility of some of its opponents was
manifested in a manner, alike unusual and
improper. Hon. John Sherman, a member
of Congress from Ohio took occasion, in a
speech made by him in the House of Repre-.
sentatives, in opposition to the bill for the
admission of Minnesota, most falsely to accuse
the Governor elect by name with being
participant in election frauds committed by
the Democratic party, as alleged by him, a
grave charge, for the truth of which, when
questioned, he could give no better authority
than the assertions of INSCRIPTIONS partizan
prints. So long as such an accusation was
confined to the columns of party newspapers,
known to be utterly unworthy of credit, they
merited no attention from me, but when ut
tered upon the floor of Congress, and made
part of its records, owe it no less to the
character of the State, than to my own per-
sonal honor, to denounce it as basely calum-
NOUS and without the shadow of foundation
| If frauds or irregularities were perpe.rated
by either or both of the political parties in
the election for State officers, they were er-
| tirely unknown to me, and had neither nv
consent nor cOuntenance. God knows that
1 am not so welded to office as to accept any
position at the expense of the purity of the
ballot box. have hitherto invited, as l now
invite, the strctest judicial investigation into
the facts of the case, for, if not legally elected
Governor of the State of Minnesota, 1 would
scorn to fill that station for single hour.
| Even after the admission of the State, she
was met at the threshold of the Senate by
insult to one of her Senators. Hon. Henry
NJ. Rice being about to take the oath of Of
flee, was rudely interrupted by Hon. Mr..
Harlan, Senator from Iowa, who objected
to his being sworn until certain charges af
fec,ing his integrity had been examined, not.
withstanding the fact that the refutation of
the;e charges had been previously furnished
to the Senate by the War Department The
course of Mr.. Harlan was justly character
lied as un-senatOrial and cruel. If his sole
object was to ascertain the truth or falsehood
of the allegations against Mr.. Rice, he would
have been contented to resort to the ordina-
ry mode of moving for Committee of In
vestigation after the Senators from Minncso-
ia had been admitted to their seats, and
could defend themselves against assaults and
he would have obtained their ready co-ope-
ration in elcting the facts which so nearly
concerned the honor of Senator, and of the
State he represented
The self reliant and dignifed attitude OF
the people of Minnesota during the pendency
in Congress of the Bill for her admission,
may we'll challenge the admiration of the
country. Conscious Of the strength of her
position, and of their rights under the Con.
stitution, they suffered long and silently, re-
framing from any unbecoming demonstra-
tions, however they might feel outraged by
the unnecessary delay. They evinced a will
lingness to submit to any sacrifice that did
not involve the honor of their State, rather
than to leopard the public tranquility, and
weaken the bonds Of the Union, by hasty
and premature action. The intelligence of
the admission of the State was received with
satisfaction, indeed, but was unattended With
those exhibitions of enthusiastic JOY with
which the tidings of cordial and warm re-