The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-30

&C., Sec. XIX: All moneys that may be
due the treasury, and which shall be paid to
the Treasurer on that account. shall be either
gold or SLIDER, or current bank notes of tho
banks of the State of Minnesota.
Another section of the same act pr Divides
(sec. VII, page 1907 that the treasurer
shall receive in payment Of public dues the
bills drawn by the Auditor of the State,
in conformity with the laws of the State;"
the same section further providing that such
bills, or warrants, when thus paid into the
treasury, shall be cancelled by being marked
redeemed" and that the fact of such can
collation. shall be recorded on the treasurer's
books.
The above comprises all the existing law
on the subject of the character of funds
which are receivable at the State treasury;
and it shows that the only funds which the
treasurer has any right to receive for dis
bursting purposes, and which, therefore, he
con tender in payment of any creditors
claim against the State, are gold or silver
or current bank notes of the banks of the
State of Minnesota" Mr.. MORRISON s
objection against the printing contract,
was, that Il" it demanded payment in spe-
Gle, or its equivalent" The law con-
templates that nothing shall be disbursed
from the treasury but "specie, or its
equivalent" Here. then, is perfect harmony
between the demands" of the contract and
the requirements of law. This, Mr.. NOR
RIsoN alleges as ground why the contract
should be disregarded. If Mr.. MORRISON
were conceded imbecile, this style of rea-
soning might be placed to that account, and
the whole matter be disposed of, so far as he
is concerned, with the suggestion that he
would be a proper subject for second
birth " into the legal fraternity. But when,
pretending to be a lawyer, he makes the
foregoing state of law and facts the basis
for charge of fraud" he cannot be sur.
prised that we place him in the category to
which he manifestly belopgs-that of being
gratuitous libeller and slanderer, and of
uttering his libels in the most cowardly
manner, under the cover of his privileges as
member Of the House.
The Minnesotian and Times gives the fol-
lowing as one of the reasons why the Senate
and House were justified in their disregard
of the printing contract:
4. The contract of Mr.. Goodrich with the
| State Auditor, was for silver and 60 Id, or its
equivalent. Other bidders would have received
State Warrants at par, but Mr.. Goodrich, hav-
ing bid highest on specified items, contracts
with the Auditor to receive his pay in silver
| and gold or its equivalent.
| - The last proposition throws open an av-
enue to villainy which should receive the seri
Gus consideration of the Legislature. Suppose,
under this contract. Mr.. Goodrich Wakes ar
rangements with certain Bankers to deprecate
| State Scrip He puts in his bill at $4,000
| State Warrants are run down to so cents on the
dollar, Now the State is obliged to pay Good
rich 500, 600 for printing which other printers
would have done for $4,000. Goodrich, hav
ing received his $4,000 in State Warrants at
! so cents on the dollar, in connection with his
| Banking friend, runs them up to 80 cents on the
dollar, and makes out of the operation $4,000
very snug little sum carved out of very
! shreWed little trick
Just such ridiculous stuff as the above
has been mouthed about in all conceivable
shapes by the Republican members, on the
floors of the two Houses, as an excuse for their
illegal action on the printing question. A
Mr.. ABBOT, we believe, on the basis of the
Mianesotian's reasoning, figured up an in
tended swindle on the part of Mr.. Coop.
RICH, amounting to thirty odd thousand
dollars. We do not need to notice such
nonsense for the information of intelligent
men but we will do so for the benefit of
those who may be ignorant of the law.
And
First One error in the Minnesotian s
financial calculation consists in regarding
the issuance of State Warrant by the
Auditor for the amount of claim against
the State, as payment of such claim The
warrant is no payment whatever; but is
merely an order on the Treasurer to make
such payment, in case there is money in the
treasury applicable thereto. 1t is an official
evidence of Indebtedness on the part of the
State, and not payment of indebtedness by
the State-a difference with very broad
and practical distinction, as most people
have realized who have had any extensive
dealings with the State.
Second. Another error, disturbing the
feasibility of the Minnesotian's scheme, is
made in its attribution of powers to the
Auditor. The Minnesot;an, in its pro-
gramme, gives that officer the power to set
tie the equities between the State and its
creditors; whereas, he possesses only the
power to settle claims upon the basis of the
legal rights Of such creditors. And, as the
presumption of law always is, that the State
is able and willing, at all times, to liquidate
all its debts; and as the Auditor, with all
other officers aud persons, is bound by such
legal presumption; we fail to perceive how
he can assist in carrying out the $4,000
" operation which is so deliberately figured
up by our ingenious contemporary.
Int g %, Al o%