Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-01-22
The St Paul Times and MIR. smiley.

Tho 81. Paul Times and Mr.. smiley.
The Times of Sunday last, we observe, &C
cuses the MnNEsorIAN, of making "gross
personal attacks upon Gov. SHELLEY" To
this assertion from the Republican organ
Of the Democratic Party" we reply, by de-
flying it to show, that we have ever intruded
upon our readers any remarks in regard to
the strictly private relations, or, private per-
sonality of the Times particular friend, whose
heart it SO delights to crafty by styling him
"GouernoS!" -. -
Our comments upon Mr.. SHELLEY have In
variably been in connection with his relations
to the public, or have been upon those influ-
ences which have controlled him in the bust
ness of his life, and which still influence his
public conduct sa uar5-.
1t is in this sense only that we have been
personal" in our attacks" upon Mr.. S1B-
LEY; and their "grossness" has not been at
all in proportion to the moral grossness of his
usurpation Of power and Office through crimes
and to'yeries to which he was an accessory,
at least after the fact, as can be proved!
The Times and the Pioneer both know, that
he was never elected Governor. They know,
that all honesty, all public purity, all fair deal
ing, was set at naught when he took advan-
tage of the certificate given him by those
grand scoundrels, JOE Brown and SAM Me-
DAIRY; knowing, as we charge he did well
know, that the majority which their canvass
gave to him and on which that certificate was
based, was obtained by counting in forged
returns of votes from Pembina and Ottertail
votes never cast: and that his majority and
his Governorship are therefore both founded
on crime!
Suppose, for the sake of argument, men do
succeed in wrestling the forms of law to crimi-
nal purposes, and do succeed in practically
subverting our republican form of govern
ment by fraudulent technicalities-shall the
independent press Of the land, the guardians
Of the peoples rights, '.acquiesce in the
outrage, and fastidiously permit, through a
false delicacy, theman or men who knowingly
profit by these wrongs, to 60 scot free, and
enjoy respect and consideration ?-when, il
some poor devil had done the half the out.
RACES which lie at their door, he would speed.
lily be seen grinning through the bars of a
penitentiary, an example to wrong doors
Because Mr.. SiBLEY has been big Indian
Trader: has grown wealthy off the spoils Of
the aborigines or enjoys that certain social
position which wealth always bestows; shall
he, therefore, not be held accountable for his
acts of criminal delinquency, nor be spoken
of but in the gentlest tones of rebuke, or else
eulogised to the skies for qualities which his
actions contradict?
The Times and the Pioneer may fret as
much as they please over our "attacks" upon
their great Moccasin chief: weak-backed Re
publicans, even, may deplore then: but we
have duty to perform to the people whose
rights Mr.. SIBLEY has trampled upon: duty
on behalf of justice and right whose cause he
has outraged: viii; n impels us never to lei
Mr.. SIBLEY sleep in downy enjoyment of his
ill-gotten position, and never to cease protest
ing against the deeds which, to elevate him
struck at that corner stone of American free
dom, the sacred ballot-box, by rendering its
voice powerless when opposed by the skillfu
pen of a Democratic torger! In particular
the Times editors may continue to hob-not
with his Otter-tail excellency, in his chamber
in the Capitol; may continue to compose .
portion of his Kitchen Cabinet of advisers
may continue to elevate him to the skies
while depreciating leading Republicans: bu
the M1NNEsor1AN will, on its side, continue t.
"attack " wrong in high places, nor ever
shrink from shocking good society" Repub
licans by proclaiming from the house tops
that H. H. SHELLEY became Governor of Min
nesota By crime, and that he knew the fact be
fore he assumed the duties of the position