Weekly Minnesotian and times., 1859-12-31

Mr.. ROBERTSON moved that the memo
rial bc referred to the Committee On Com
mercc, with instructions to inquire into the
propricty of pctitioning Congress for Free
Trade across the Northern line of Minnesota
with the Hudson Bay Territory. Carried.
RESOLUTIONS.
BY Mr. ACKER the Senate be re-
qucsted to meet with The House on Monday
next. at l2, NJ. to Wines the Inauguration
| Of the new State officers. Adopted.
THE CONTESTED STATS
The House then II solved Itself into com
mittcc Of the whole, 10 take up the reports of
the Committee on Elections, in reference to
the contested seats Of members from Da-
kota COUNT.
Mr.. ACilER in the CHAIR.
Mr.. STEVENS move: that the report Of
| tn minority be adopted
Nh ABRAHAM moved that the minority
be substituted fJr the majority report
Mr.. STEVENS said he hoped all party
| feeling would be laId aside in this matter.
| lie wished to see the Congress mode prevail
| that the one having the greatest number Of
votes be declared elected Mr.. S then re
viewed the testimony Of the case in regard TO
| the polls at Burnsyille. Such certificates as
were presented from the officers there, he
thought could not be received as legal
Mr.. BARTON replied to the gentleman
| from Winona. He said that the Judge, who
could not write his name had authorized some
one else to do it for him. The law presumed
all who voted at huntsville were legal electors
until the contrary was shown. He attacked
the testimony Of Mr.. Fish, and cndeavored 10
show that there were only four men who lived
in Scott county who voted at Burnsvc, and
they only voted the State ticket He said if
he was ousted, it would be IAN outrage I'M
paralleled in the annals OF history" &c
Mr.. SECOMBE followed III a lengthy argu-
ment on the legal rights and questions involv
ed in the case. He reviewed the testimony,
showed where the law had been diSregarded,
and where the evidences of fraud were app~-
rent on the face of the original lists and re-
turns which he exhibited lie went in favor
of the.minority report being adopted, or of al
lowing all the sitting members to retain their
| seats.
Mr. ROBERTSON then got the floor He
attacked the positions taken by Mr.. Secombe.
AS the lobby was full of rshmen, the speak
er accused him OF appealing to the natural
prejudices of the Republicans against Irish
voters" Ontense sensation i'll the lobby
He said he would 90 in for retaining the
whole OF the sitting members. lie was i'm
PEELED TO this by his sense of duty.
Mr. GREENE, Of Steele, took up the testi-
mony at great length, and occupied the atten-
ton of the House i'll cnGeavoring to show that
the three sitting members were entitled to
retain their seats.
At one o'clock the Committee rose, and the
House took u recess.
AFTERNOON SESSION. - When the
House was called to order again,
Mr.. CLEANELAND got the floor, and
dissccted the question in very thorough
manner, deducing from the testimony an un-
mlstakeable proof that the whole Burnsville
canvass was Il fraud, and as the House can
decide on the qualifications Of its members it
was for the House to determine whether its
sitting members or the contestants were emit.
tied to the seats, and decide as they under
stood the rights of the case
Mr.. MORRISON followed Mr.. C.. lie
said the adoption of the minority report would
he an injustice and proceeded to answer the
arguments of Mr.. Secombe, regarding the
evidences of fraud Oh the face of the returns
and lists.
lie was followed 10y Mr.. STEVENS, of Wi
mona, who took quite Il different position from
Mr.. VI.
The minority was then substituted for the
majority report, by vote of 81 to %
The debate still continued, and was carried
on at great length by Messrs CoggSwcll and
Robertson, both otwhom took grounds against
the adoption OF the report
Mr.. ROBERTSON again occupied some
| time.
Mr.. PURDlE rcbuked some statements
made by Mr.. COggswell that he was speak
| lng To men who had made up their minds He
MIR. c. had beat around the point without
coming to 4 conclusion, as well as any one l,e
ever knew. As regards the evidence, he said
he did not believe any legal election has been
held in BurnSvillc at all, and so would vote
accordingly. and was conscientious in this.
The Committee then rose, recommcrde :,
the adoption of the minority report, and .l.J
TO he discharged from further cons, ,.,,;',n
OF the subject.
Mr. hNoN moved that tue reports be re
ferrcd back to the Comn.:' ga to take firthcr
evidence.
WI bAhloN sad he thought the Com
ihl,tce had not p,.ven him a fair opportunity
| W pi,'S III ~ ch evidence as he wished. lie
s''lu hc {" .ld prove that two-thirds of the re
,,'i'' ~ =. Dakota county were worse than the
Dur .isyllle returns. 1t was not negligence on
! his part, and he would like to have chance
to bring in testimony
Mr.BUTLEls, from the minority of theCom-
mittec, made an explanation relieving the
Committee from some charges relative to rul-
ing out testimony. lie moved to amend, that
instead OF a rereicrencc, it be referred to a
special committee Of five The amendment
was accepted.
Mr. ACkER said he was unwilling to see
the committee assailed lie did not think
they deserved it. This morning we did not
hear anything about uniairness on the part of
the commlttcc-but now, when the case is all
over and it has gone against the sitting mem
berS, they raised a hue and cry of untarneSS,
although they have had nearly Il month to
| give in their evidence-and ask new trial.
MeSsrs. WALKER, SCIIULTES, and
WILKINS made statements relieving the
committee from the aspcrSions cast upon
them.
MIR BARTON retortcd reitcrating his
| charges against them.
Mr. STOCK moved to adjourn. Lost
ayes %, nays 33.
Mr.. ROBERTSON attacked the committee,
and said u resolution of censurc should be
passed ON them. lie said he had never
known such case as this, where the cou.
mlttec refuse to allow proper testimony 30 hG
heard
Mr.. SECOMBE called him to order.
The Chair said no member should accuse a
committee of illegal acts.
Mr.. ROBERTSON proceeded at some
length, and grew more abusive and finally
spoke of ''villainy" on the part of the com
mittee, and called the House "Star Cham
Dcr."
Several members sprung up and called him
to order.
He demanded the points to be reduced to
writing.
Mr.. ABRAHAM submitted the points in a
general way. The Chair said the words used
should be quoted
Mr. ROBERTSON continued, and finally
concluded.
Mr.. IlULETT moved the previous gues,-
ton. 1t was ordered, and put, but lost
a call of the House was had. and sus-