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


turned for each from Cass, Pembina and
Tod, and the totals stands as follows:
Flandrau,. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ..l9, lO4
Berry,. .................... .lS,46l
Flandrau's majority according to Repub-
ncan canvass. ............-........6 43
By the same process, the majority of
Justice ATwArER, over Mr.. BILLINGS is 1859
as follows:
AtWater,. LIZ, Ivy
Bllllngs. .lo, 43O
Atwater's majority .769
We have shown, by the figures which
the Republicans rely on to demonstrate that
RAMSEY was elected-by deducting from the
result every vote they question, and adding
thereto every vote they claim,-that the
entire Democratic judicial ticket was elected
in 1857. Therefore it cannot be, because
the Judges held Office by frauds" that Gov.
RAMSEY declined to contest his opponents
election, before the Supreme Court of the
State.
Now, for the second reason for the failure
to contest. 1t was because copy of the
necessary documents on which to base judi
dicial proceedings would cost $4,000, owing
to exhorbitant charges of the Democratic
Secretary of State, Hon. FRANCIS BAAsEN.
On this point, Mr.. BAAsEs speaks for him.
self, in the following communication
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE,
ST. PAUL, Sept. Sd, 1859.
To the Editors of the Pioneer and Democrat.
A friend brought to-day under my notice,
an article of the Ninnesotian, Of Sept. LIST, en-
titled, "Address to the People of Minnesota"
one of the sections OF which was headed
"Why the Election was not Contested" and in
one paragraph of which occurs the following
statement:
II. Every obstacle was thrown by the Dem
ocratic officials in the way Of fair contest.
Governor Ramsey took preparatory steps to.
wards cOntesting the election, and his counse!
applied to the Secretary of State for copy Of
the vote for Governor In the different Counties
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 Gov
ernor, unless he furnished q copy of allthe re-
turns for all the State officers THE FEES AND
COSTS FOR SUCH A COPY WOULD HAVE BEEN
ABOUT $4,000!
The whole article So far as it relates to my
action is false and the transaction, as it oc.
Cured, was. simply as follows: On or about
the 18th day of June,i 1858, Hon. D. Cooper
visited me at the Capitol, and desired permits.
sion for one of his clerks to examine my office
in search of documents, which 1 refused but,
at the same time, offered to give him copy of
any document he might desire, to be made out
by my own clerk.
He then told me he desired a copy of the
vote for Governor in 1857, for the purpose of
contesting, on behalf Hon. Alex. Ramsey, the
right of Gov. Sibley to the Gubernatorial
Chair, and that he would make written appl-
cation for said abstract which 1 promised to
furnish having it perfectly understood, that
would not furnish any garbled extract of any
paper, as I considered myself not authorized
to do so, but would furnish him full abstract
of the votes for Governor, such an one as he
would of necessity want if the matter should
come before the Courts and furthermore,
told Mr.. Cooper, to show how little 1 desired
to throw any abstacle in his way, that did
not want any fees for the making out of said
abstract, but would expect him merely to pay
the extra clerk would. set. to work for him,
whatever would be reasonable compensation
for his labor in preparing the copy desired.
On the 23d of June received by mail let
ter from Hon. D. Cooper, of which the follow
ing is correct coyy , and to my establishment
directly in conflict with our prev ious agree
ment:
ST. PAUL. June FL, 1858.
Hon. Mr.. BGasen, Secretary of State,
SIR-For the purpose of laying the foundation
of legal proceedings, to contest, on the part of
the Hon. Alex. Ramsey, the right of the Hon.
H. H. Sibley to the office of Governor of the
State OF Minnesota, we respectfully request
you to furnish US, from the files in the Secreta.
RVS office, the vote cast for Governor at the
October election of 1857 as follows:
Where the vote of all the precincts was can
vassed by the Register of Deeds, of the respec-
tive counties, we desire only the names of such
counties. with the aggregate vote in each, for
the respective candidates for the Offices of Gov
ernor, in figures.
In those counties where the Registers can.
vass was only partial, some of the precincts
having been omitted. we desire the names of
such counties, with the canvassed vote in each
for each candidate for the Office of Governor,
and in addition thereto, the vote of each of such
omitted precincts, in each county, for the re-
spective candidates for Governor, arranged so
as to designate clearly the county to which
each of such omitted precincts belong.
Also the names of the election officers in the
respective precincts of the counties of Cass,
Todd and Pembina, purpOrting to have been
canvassed at Otter Tail City, with the names
of the canvassing officers at the latter place.
The fees for such information will be paid
whenever the same is furnished, or in advance
if desired. Respectfully,
Your obi. servant,
D. COOPER.
Atty for Alex. Ramsey
Now, Messrs. Editors, you see the Attorney
A d. doI