The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-23

About the only noticeable movement on
the part of the majority of the Legislature,
during the legislative week just past, has
been the introduction of certain sets of
resolutions, which are not only disgraceful
and discourteous in their references to CO.
ordinate branch of the State government,
but exhibit gross ignorance, and enunciate
reasonable sentiments, abhorrent to the
people of the State, and which would hard
ly be countenanced at this juncture by the
Abolitionists of New England.
On Monday last, Senator STANNARD,
Of Chisago, put himself forward in the Sen
ate, as the representative of that section of
the Black Republican party, who openly
teach resistance to the DEGREES of the State
and Federal Courts. In series of resolu-
tions presented on that day, having reference
to the Fillmore County Senators, Mr..
STANNARD denounced the Supreme Court
of Minnesota as being "guilty of illegal
acts of usurpation," in utter violation of
the Constitution" and then he goes on to
state that any recognition" of the act of
the Court in question, 4" would be unworthy
the representatives of free people," These
sentiments, uttered in our Legislature, and
which will probably be endorsed by the
Black Republicans in the Senate, will
be scattered broad cast over the State,
to teach ignorant and fanatical men,
that resistance to the DEGREES of the
Courts, when opposed to their inter-
ests or convictions, is the first duty of
the citizen. Truly noble aim on the part
of the Legislator He seeks to incite
resistance to the DEGREES of the very Courts
upon which reliance is placed, to enforce
the laws he is engaged in framing. When
we see men in high position, acting under
the solemn sanction of their oath, openly
advocating resistance to the constitutional
tribunals, can it be wondered that the rob-
Der, the incendiary, and the assassin are bold
in the preparation of their crimes.
The next resolutions to which we invite
attention, were introduced in the House, by
Mr.. DAYTON, of Fillmore County, instruct
ing our Senators to vote for the application
of the " Wilmot proviso" principles to all
the Territories of the United States. MIR.
DAYTON is evidently Immense on the
political history of the country, for in his
resolution, be recites the following novel
historical fact -" We maintain that Con-
gress has derived this power (viz: the power
to prohibit slavery in the Territories) from
the Ordinance of l797--and the Constitu'
ton of the United States" 1t is natural
that an Abolitionist, in quoting authority,
should place the Ordinance of 1887 before
the Constitution, but we would like to have
from the Fillmore County member, an exact
enumeration of the powers exercised by
Congress under the authority Of the Ordi-
nance of 1887. 1t has been our impression
that Congress derived all the powers it
exercises from the Constitution and for
the information of the Fillmore Member we
would state that the Supreme Court of the
United States, has decided that Congress
has no. the power, under the Constitution,
to prohibit slavery in the Territories, and
that therefore, neither the resolution in
question, or law of Congress containing
such prohibition, are worth the paper upon
which they are written. The question Of
slavery in the Territories, is left where the
Democratic party places it-with the people
who are to be affected either advantageously
or disastrously by its decision. MIR. Day
TON, of Fillmore, is exactly five years be-
hind the times.
The most interesting resolutions, however
of the batch of which we are writing, is a
series introduced in the Senate and House
by Messrs. McLARREN and AoxER, "touch.
ing the position of the Republican party Of
Minnesota, upon National Questions and
the Presidency" Now what this model
reform Legislature has to do with the "posi
ton of the Republican party in Minnesota,
we are at loss to determine. But here
are the resolutions:
Preamble and Joint Resolutions, touching the
position of the Republican party of Mime
sofa. upon National Questions and the Pres
! idency.
Introduced by Mr.. McLarren in the Senate, and
Mr.. Acker in the House, on the 18th ani
l4th of December, 1859.