Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-09-17


central committee for the ensuing year.
G Tho Chairman ss,ns.s .ppoin;saahe following
u u: a y: s@::sy, : R'' Wing:
Chas. Parker, Pine Island.
Il. L. Philips, Central Point.
The convention then adjourned to meet
again after supper.
RATIFICATION MEETING.
RALLY OF THE DEMOCRACY.
COL. GRAHAM GEN. SHIELDS.
On the evening of Tuesday Of this week,
tho day upon which our County Convcn-
ton was held, the Court House was crowd
ed with the citizens Of our town., who had
turned out en- masse to hear speeches by
col. Graham, and Gen. Shields; who hay
ing fought side the enemies Of their country
in Mexico, are again together CALAMITY bat
tlirg them in Minnesota. And as they
conquered them there 50 will they here.
Mr.. Graham opened the meeting, and
though extremely unwoll, spoke in his usual
clear, forcitle and logical manner on nation.
al topics. Showing how the opposition
made hobby Of every new humbug and
|imposture. Spoke Of the bad effect on the
the country Of the agitation Of the slavery
question, which SO far from benefitting or eve,
promising to benefit single slave, had en-.
tirely stopped the emanci patton mevemen,
that previous to its advent was going on glo.
riously in several southern States. Por.
Itrayedits mourlifal results in dividing and
disorganizing the churches and thus dissolv.
ing one Of the strongest ties that bound to.
gether the North and the South, and dem.
ons.rated that the only way to remedy this
evil was to take the question out of the ma
tional councils, and continc it to the local..
ties where it properly belongs-the States
Or territories where it may b proposed to
tablish or abolish slavery. '.'5 T.. '.'.'. L',
He. then referred to the homestead bill
Proved that Mr.. Kelly Of New York and
not Mr.. Grow, as the Republicans claim,
introduced itinto the House. Our Senators
and Representatives worked tor it because
they thought it might be amended after ii
passed; but Is it passed the house it amount.
ed to nothing. There are three forties in
this land district which it would cover, and
two Of those are forty feet under water.
1t did not cover enough Of land in Mime.
sofa to make good farm, and as the lands
in the other Northwestern States, had en-.
tered the graduating list, it but small por.
ton Of them. He would advocate a free
homestead for every settler regardless Of thu
kind Of land occupied. Lie did not call
in question the honesty Of Mr.. Kelly or Mr.
Grow, but he did not believe either of them
was conversant enough with our land sys.
tenn to draft homestead bill covering the
whole ground: He said he had many warm
personal friends here who would vote against
him-all he asked at their hands was fair
and honorable conduct Of the canvass. With
a declaration ofhis national sympathies he
then concluded a. speech that effectually ap.
pealed to the heart and the understanding OF
every honest man. 900 ii u :iI5lnffY
Gen. Shields then took the stand He
made few remarks in regard to the home
stead bill. lie always believed in the prin-
|ciple, and had advocated it before the Re-:
publican party was born. Mr.. Ramsey was
then its active enemy. Il He always voted
for the bill falsely claimed as Crows, in, tbs
senate last winter until the Republicans
undertook to use it as club with which
to. kill the appropriation bills; among which
was one establishing mail route from st..
Paul to Puget's sound, and giving Minneso
ia more land, and moro money, and which
which would have done: her more benefit
than forty sham measures like "Grow's
Bill" lJ,U j.l"I 2"il5t.n. s..t3 oys
He then gave his views on State policy.
The Republicans were continually grumb.
ling and bowling and caterwauling about the
tix we were in, and the manner in which
we got in, but show US no honorable and
practical way to get out. His plan was to
make an arrangement with the Railroad
companies, that they are not to draw the
remainder Of the $5.OOO,00O loan. They
are to agree if the State will make good the
outstanding bonds to pay the interest on
them for three years; then, the State to
make the bonds over to the companies, and
The companies pay to the State interest on
the bonds yearly, at . certain per cent per
annum, and with the money so receiv-
ed the State to form : sinking fund, out of
which to pay the interest, and eventually the
principle Of the $2.5o00oo; without taxing
the people one red cent. This policy had
worked we'll in Illinois, when she was fifteen
millions out and had less work conc on her
roads than Minnesota has, and it would
work we'll here. '...'.'.Als a't
He then spoke ably and cloquently on
ho A. ~