The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-06-16
/" Minnesota Peiisiss - The Campaigu
Opened"

and 1r'tuns-s Black Republican paper
which We rarely SEE devotes long article
in late number TO rehssh Of the charges
Of corruption against the Democracy Of Min
uesots, and especially sgsinst Gov. SHELBY,
which has formed the staple Of the M,nnsso.
tinns editorials during the past eighteen
months. These charges, which have been
often refuted, would be outrageous, II they
were not ridiculous. They consist Of the
allegations, that the canvass made by Gov.
MxpAnY, J. r. BsowH, and T. J. Cal
BRAIrH, two Democrats and one Republi.
can, who were appointed State Canvas
Ing Board BY the schedule appended TO the
Constitution, was irsudulently made for the
benefit Of the Democratic candidates that
the Supreme Court Of the State, being com.
posed Of Democratic Judges, wss tribunal
70 prejudiced, and intrinsically dishonest. that
Gov. RAMSEY could not safely trust the issue
Of contest before II, and that, therefore,
he never attempted to assert his legal rights
10 the Office Of Governor and that Gov.
sIBLEY, 10 declining 10 enter the canvass as
Q candidate for reelection, b actusted there
TO by q cowardly fear Of defeat, on account
Of the frauds by which, II 10 slIedged, he OBJ
tanned bis present position. These charges
will doubtless be reiterated throughout Our
own State by that portion Of the press with
which the defamation Of private character,
and the degradation Of official position, are
held 10 be but venial onenses, when the de-
sire for party success suggests their asser.
ton. On this account, we may be excused
for occupying the space necessary for . re.
view Of the facts, which, Of themselves, are
both an answer 10. and q refutation OF,
the charges involved.
10 the first place, the mode Of canvass was
One agreed upon, without dissent, by both
branches Of the Constitutional Convention,
Republican and Democratic and, being 30
agreed upon, was Incorporated into the
schedule Of the Constitution. The same
unanimity was observed In the selection Of
the members Of the canvsssing board--the
Democrats presenting the name Of JosErH
X. BaowS, the Repus licans Thomas j.
GALBRAirm, and both Democrats and Re
publicans cordially uniting on Gov. MEDARY
US the third member. The election being
over, the returns In, and the board Of can.
va~ers convened. according to the require.
ments Of the Constitution, 1t remained Tor
that body TO determine the basis on which
the canvass Of votes should be made In
regard to this basis disagreement existed
between the mcmbers--the two Democrats
preierring ono scheme, and Mr.. GALBRArrH,
tho Republican, prelerring another. Some
days were spent In this state Of disagreement,
until at last Messrs. BRowN and MxpARY nc.
ceded TO the scheme Of the Republican mem.
Der. for the sake Of harmonious action,
although they considered II unjust towards
the candidates Of their own party. The Re
publican member Of the board was known N
IN ardent and confidential friend OF Gov.
RAMSEY and on oil hands the scheme pro-
posed by him was attributed to the dicta-
ton Of the latter, aud ~ being concocted
for his special advantage, The adoption Of
II, under such circumstances, BY the Demo.
cratic majority cannot certainly DO regarded
- anything lees than an act Of graceful
magnanimity. II was 30, In fact and the
canvass proceeded under II, and was CON-
plsted, strictly according to the project thus
proposed BY the Republicans themselves.
The canvass thus made was certified and
sworn to as correct by every member Of the
board. including Mr.. GALBRAns, upon
whose resolution II was conducted, and xho,
by his signature to the report Of tho board
when acting under the solemn obligations Of
his ofhcial oath, testified not only to the
fairness Of his own project. but also to the
integrity with which |, had been adhered to
by his Democratic associates. These are
the facts regarding the canvass Of the votes
cast At the first election for State officers
sworn to BY every member Of the Canvassiug
Board. Democratic and Republican. after .
patient and complete investigstion--never
denied BY any man who had character for
vcrscity to lose by the commission Of false
hos, and never controverted.
These facts, which are part Of the sworn
records Of the country, relieve Gov. SiBLxy
RON every slsndsrous imputation which has
been cast against him BY tbs nAlgnAn,
envy Of ALrxAspss RAMSEY. his unsucsess
fal competitor. We do 20, hesitate to place
this stigmaI upon the brow o, Gov, RAxssr,
because In every act connected with the