Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-09-03

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the Union. The State officers were sworn in
and the game of plumber of the Treasury
commenced at once. "
Besides subjecting the people to all the uri-
necessary expense of superhuous session Of
the Legislature, the Democratic officers of
State went even farther.
A decision of the Democratic Attorney
General, who was, himself to be benefited, is
obtained to the effect that though they didn't
go into office until May, 1855. their salaries
should be paid from the 1st of January, or
paid for four months when they were not IN
office, and did nothing for the public, but had
been, attending to their own interests-tor
which four months services the officers Of the
Territorial Government were also duly paid
out of the State and Territorial treasury
thus shingling over our expenditures and
paying for two services where only one was
rendered.
The second session of the same Legislature
in June, 1858, commenced. The Democrats
had a majority in both branches. As ses-
sion of the State Legislature had been held in
the month of December previous, economy
and regard for the welfare of the people, re-
quired that that session should be as short
and active as possible. But the Democracy,
on the contrary, being in majority in both
branches, heightened out the session during a
number Of months: threw every obstacle in
the path of the Republicans who were striv
ing to bring it to an end and by every Leg
islative device, and aided by the continued
absence of the acting Governor, impeded ac-
ton and protracted the session. .'. r..,'.
Democratic TriAiug with Liquidation
% to Elect q U. s. Senator to fill Shields
Vacancy. . ,.-....
What was the cause of all this? There
was another United States Senator to be
elected from Minnesota-one to fill the place
occupied by Gen. Shields. Mr.. Shields term
of office would expire on the third OF March,
1859. The law required that his successor
should be elected by the State Legislature,
which met immediately preceding the COM
mencement, in March, 1854, of the new Sem
atorial term. ..-. r..r .' ....
To meet this exigency, Session of the
Legislature, in the ordinary course of affairs,
should and would have been held in the
month of December, 1868. 1t would there
fore be by this Legislature Gen. Shields sue.
cessor would have to be elected.
But here was the rub which troubled the
Democratic leaders. This very Legislature
alluded to would itself be elected in October
1858, and there was every probability, as the
result proved, that it would be Republican in
complexion The Democracy knew this
They knew that if they delayed until ate,
the election of the new Legislature in Oct.
1858, they would in all probability lose the
opportunity they then had of sending Dem
ocrat to the United States Senate.
Therefore, they must, by some device, ar
range it that the oil Legislature, elected il
1857, should have the selection of Gen
Shields successor.
To do this, they must do away with any
session of the State Legislature in the wintel
of 1S59-59, because, under the law, if tina
Legislature met, the Senatorial election mus
take place during its session.
They, therefore, proceed, as we have sta
ted, to lengthen ont by every device the ses
sion of June, 1868, and their leaders all a
once were found preaching strict economy
and laboring to convince the public of tn
great saving that would result to them fron
| no session being held in December, 1858.
Finally, such bill is passed. and the dis
cretionary power is cunningly vested in tn
hands of the Governor to call or not to call
session of the Legislature in Dec, 1853.
By this means double advantage is oh
tanned Not only is the probability of elect
| inc Il Democratic o. S. Senator increased b.
this step, but the power is placed in tn
hands of the Governor to call the Legislator
together in December, 1858, if a Democrat
LEGISLATURE is elected Thus he held an
| ,,t ct,,,,cr IF no
There is still another cause for this actor
BY it the extravagant expenditures and groS
frauds upon the people, perpetrated in the az
preparation bills, are left covered up until a
ter the election of October, 1859, and thu
the corruptions of the Democracy are KEEP
from the knowledge Of the public, until tn
time which is to re-instate them in power Q
throw them out has passed by.
DEMOCRATIC ExTRAvAGANCE II
THE STATE GOvERNMENT.--TH
APPROPRIATIONS.
That these expenditures were of the mo:
extiavagant kind, we can furnish abundar
proof.
On referring to the General Laws of til
State of Minnesota, passed during the tirs
session Of the State Legislature, printed b
Earle S. Goodrich, State Printer, Pioneer an
Democrat office, 1858, we find the followir
record of the various appropriations made b
said "First State Legislature" which Wa
Democratic in both branches
On page SO, "Act making appro-
priations for Current Expenses
of the State" approved Feb.
IL, 1858 ..----. $l35.674.'
Page 90, "Act to appropriate
money for certain purposes
therein named," approved
March 20, 1858 ---------. 97O77.4
Page 1O7, "Aet making appropri-
atoms for support Of the Gov
ernment," approved Aug. II, .d1
1853 119.939.(
Page 1874, "Act for the care of the
Capitol" &C., approved Aug.
-, 1853 6OO.'
Page PAS, .'Act to organize the
Militia" approved August IL,
1858 7OO.'
Salaries of Quarter-Master General
Becker and Adj. Gen. Jones.l
Page 261, "Act to provide for Nor -.
: NAL Schools" approved Aug. ,....s
u 2,1S5S, contingent ------ 10000.
i Page 297, IAN act making certain
appropriations, approved June
q %. 1856 4S421.
e $417.432.
Expenses of Wright Co., estate
6 of Instruction" -------- 12.OOO.
Grand Total, observation-disclosures 29. 432.
J. Let the people of Minnesota gaze with
e tonishment and alarm at this immense agg
IS gate of money known to be already appror
e ated by the First Legislature of Minnesota
al a Legislature which was Democratic in b
: branches, with Democratic State officers