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

But all at once this cry of an intention to
contest was hushed, in an impudent, afro
cious, and lying libel upon the Supreme
Court of the State. 1t was heralded
abroad, by the Republicans, that the Court
of last resort in Minnesota, for the protec-
ton of the life and property Of the citizen,
was corrupt and dishonest-that it was a
partizan Court-and that its members, long
esteemed as men of irreproachable character
and purity Of life, would perjure themselves
in order to shield or further the interests of
a political friend. The contest was aban-
doned, ostensibly, on this ground.
We give below, in their own language,
the reasons assigned by the Republicans, in
the official address of that party, now in
course of publication, for abandoning the
contest:
But, say our opponents, why was this fraud
ulent cleo ton not contested? If all this which
has been alleged and set forth is true, why did
you not bring it before a Court of Justice
Our answer is simply this:
1. The highest Court in the State is the su-
preme Court. 1t would be by this Court the
question would have to be decided. That
Court held office under the same election which
had made Henry H. Sibley Governor, and
therefore by the same frauds, and still others
we have not had space to enumerate. Judge
then, of the justice the Republican party could
expect at its hands. Brutus of old did right,
even when the penalty fell upon the head of
his own son. But who ever heard of Demo
cratic Brutus doing justice, when his own po-
sition, his own dignity, his own pocket, was to
De the sacrihce Such supposition exceeds
the limit of human credulity.
II. Every obstacle was thrown by the Dem.
ocratic officials in the way of fair contest.
Governor Ramsey took the preparatory steps
towards cOntestng the election, and his coun-
sci applied to the Secretary of State for copy
of the vote for Governor in the different cOun-
ties This was refused him. The Secretary of
State refused to give copy of part of the
returns that is of the returns as to the vote for
Governor, unless he furnished copy of all
the returns for all the State officers, THE FEES
AND COSTS FOR SUCH COPY WOULD HAVE BEEN
ABOUT $4,000!
The first reason assigned for refusal to
contest the election of SIBLEY was that the
Supreme Court, by whom the question
would be decided, held Office by the "same
frauds" which "had made HENRY H. SIBLEY
Governor" Let us examine this question
and we will do so from a Republican
standpoint-not claiming single cote for
the Democratic candidates for Justices of
the Supreme Court but what is Acknowledged
to be correct and honest by the Republicans
themselves, and awarding to the Republican
candidates every cote claimed for them J;
and if we do not demonstrate that each and
every member of the present Supreme Bench
had majority over his Republican oppo
nent of from 300 to 700 votes, we pledge
ourselves to admit the justice of every ALE
cation made by the opposition, as well as
the propriety of their abandonment of the
contest. A.....
We quote from the Republican address
the canvass of votes made by the Committee,
and which they claim elects RAMSEY by
439 majority over SHELLEY:
THE PARTIAL OFFICIAL CANVASS.
The Democratic majority of the Board over.
ruling. arbitrarily, the efforts of the Republican
member to secure fair and impartial canvass
finally made up the following as the official
canvass of the Board: