The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-09

1881 z, lZS
Or total of 4,05S votes, were excluded
by making the canvass upon the plan pro-
posed by Gov. RAMsEY's Republican friend.
instead of that suggested by JOSEPH R.
BROWN.
The Republicans, in their long address,
contend that this canvass was made upon a
wrong basis-that it should have been upon
the precinct returns, made directly to the
Secretary's Office, by the petty officers in
each township of the State. Common sense
will teach any one, that the canvass made
in the respective counties, by the Register,
assisted by two Justices of the Peace, was
the most reliable process to arrive at just
conclusion. The Registers and Justices are
supposed to be acquainted with the pre-
cincts in their respective counties, and if
honest, would be more likely, from the
means of information at their hand, to make
a correct canvass, than could possibly be
done by Board of Canvassers in st. Paul,
examining the returns of three or four hun
dred precincts, with the population and
location of nine.tenths of which they were
unacquainted.
At any rate, the canvass was made upon
Gov. RAMsEYs plan, tor Mr.. GALBRAITH
was in hourly consultation with that gentle
man; and the Republicans are thus debarred
from complaining of result which they
were mainly instrumental in producing.
But aOhy did not the Ex-Governor contest !?
Immediately upon the result being declared
he announced his intention of so doing. 1t
was proclaimed in the State Legislature by
his political friends, that he (Gov. RAMSEY
would carry the matter up to the Supreme
Court. 1t was so announced on the streets
of st. Paul by RAMSEY himself, and pub
lished at his instance in the Republican
journals, not only of Minnesota, but of
Philadelphia, Harrisburg, New York and
Chicago. The Democrats of this State
contended the canvass was conducted in a
just and proper manner, and that the result
arrived at, was the only correct one possible.
They boldly challenged the Ex-Governor to
press to a decision the issue raised, before
the tribunal he himself had voted to estab-
lish, to pass upon such, questions. Gov.
S1BLEY, in his inaugural address, delivered
before both branches of the Legislature in
joint convention, invited the Ex-Governor to
enter upon a judicial investigation of the
facts. He said, in referring to the charge
of Hon. JOHN SHERMAN, in speech in
Congress, that he (SIBLEY) held his position
by fraudulent canvass of the votes, that
$50 long as such an accusation was confined
to the columns of party newspapers, known to
be utterly unworthy of credit, they merited no
attention from me, but when uttered upon the
floor of Congress, and made part OF its re.
cords, owe it no less to the character of the
State, than to my own personal honor, to de.
nounce it as basely calunnious and acithout The
sliado,r of foundation. If frauds or irregulari
ties were perpetrated by either or both of the
political parties in the election for State off
GERS, they were entirely unknown to me, and
had neither my consent nor countenance. Goo
knows that am not so welded to office, as tG
accept any position at the expense OF the purity
of the ballot box. haze hitherto ,nUited, as
no,r inrite the st icfest judicial Investigation init
the facts of the case; for, If not legally elected
G0rern0r of the State Of Minneso a, icOuld
corn to fill that station for single hour"