Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-08-20
frequently sacrificed his life (?) and proper
ty to the interests of the party, fighting Know

battle Tor 1t. lie scared around IN TINS 'lau
ner for some time, and was frequently ap
plauded. Said the Democracy had grea
work to do, viz: to preserve the Union iron
discord and ruin O. against Republicanisn
and Know Nothingism, and after getting yer.
red in the face, and saving the air with hi
arms for awhile finally subsidized, much to ev
erybody's relief, as they were perfectly tiret
of it.
The ayes and noes were called on the mo
ton to proceed to the nomination of Govern
or now, and lost-ayes Is, noes 122.
ANOTHER ROW IN THE CAMP.
Another Babel was typiied. Cries fol
"Shields," recess" "no, no." The ques
ton on recess was finally put, and declared
lost. Cries of division" "ayes and noes,
" Shields" &c. This delightful scene was
repeated several times amidst the greatest
disorder, in which the Presidents hamme,
was family heard. The row was finally
stilled
The Committee on Basis of Representation
was here announced as follows: Col. Carru-
Tiers, Messrs. Neil, Yates, Bristol, Cowan
and Dean
GEN. SHIELDS RETREATS.
Here the question whether Gen. Shields
should address the meeting was put and car
ried. The Gen., however, having had warn
ing ofthe dilemma, retreated before this juno
ture and did not appear, and after some fur
Their confusion, a motion to take a recess for
half an hour was successful, and the Conven-
ton broke up, and the Hall was cleared.
When the Convention was again called to
order, Capt. Crosby was directed to clear the
bar of all loafers, which he did after much
trouble, driving away one persistent group of
them by throwing cold water on them-the
first time the Democratic party was ever
known to use cold water.
THE PLATFORM SET Up.
Here General Van Etten appeared with the
report of the Committee on Platform in his
hand. Before reading it, however, the dough-
ty Gen. moved that the Convention resolve it.
self into secret caucus, and exclude all out
siderS
DARK LANTERN OPERATION
This proposal actually met with favor, and
on the question being put, it was carried
The Hall was therefore cleared, and the faith
full having lit their dark lanterns, proceeded
to organize a Know Nothing Lodge. They
continued in session from one o'clock until
about half past three, when the doors were
again thrown open, and the outsiders let in.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention was then called to order,
and after some delay was silenced enough to
enable Ike Van Etten to read the revised
Platform, as follows:
PLATFORM
We, the Democracy of Minnesota, by Delegates in
Convention assembled, do affirm and resolve
Ftrst-That the states of the Union sovereign
and equal; and the expressly delegated to
the Federal Government retained by the people of
the States.
Second-That the people of the Territories are Justly
entitled t. the undisturbed regulation Of their
fairs, from Intervention by Congress or by any
State, and subject only the Con of the Uni
ted States; that attaining the number of nha BIZ
tsns equal to the rate Of in the lower
house OF Congress- such people have the right
ganze State Government and demand admission into
the Federal Union; and that in the organization of
such state Govesnmen the People, by the will of the
majority, fair. expressed at tbs ba!lotbox, have the
ns,nsys c, right adODs any which does
Ihird-The Democracy of Minnesota reiterate and |
fully endorse the National Democratic Platform adopt
ed tie National Democratic Convention at Cincin-
nat in 1885, and further that the institution slave
~, under the Constitution of the United States
only become pertinent political question within the
State Territory where is proposed to establish re.
TAIN abolish it that the citizens of such State or
Territories respectively have exclusive jurisdiction of
the subject matter within its own limits and that there
fore, Congress has power to establish or protect
slavery or to exclude slavery from of the Terri
tories of the United States.
FOartt-That any attempt to re-or en- the African
Slave Trade disgracefu to the and country and
that the advocates of this nhuman traffic are enemies
Of the government and sordd conspirators against the
peace honor, dignity, and existence Of the Union
Fgth-That American citizenship embraces persons
Of all creeds and natOnates, who, under the laws ac
knowledge and render allegiance to the American gov
ernment; and that the Democratic party recos
no distinction between such sitizens, whether native
born or naturalized but guarantees to ALL alike the
same political rights at home and the same govern
mental protection abroad and that further declare
that the amendment tn the Constitution of Nassachu-
sets placing additional restrictions upon admission
of foreign born and adopted citizens to the right
frage is an of the Republican party that we
hold them respons BILE for open avowsl of prn
cples which secretly and coverty held by that |
party in Minnesota, and wherever that sectional
ganization exists which manifested by the fact
they have placed in nomination for the surages of
native and adopted citizens of Minnesota J. II. Baker
u. E..
and william Window for Representa- i've in Congress- |
three open and avowed Know Nothngs.
Sisth-That all laws of The United States duly enacted
should be obeyed and respected unless declared
sutona by the judicial tribunals and that the aid
and encouragement given by the Republican party in
Ohio Wisconsin, and elsewhere to resist the laws,
vict it of being SECTIONAL reasonable, and revolutona
ry in its objects and aims.
Serenhh-Fhat the principles of a Homestead Bill, |
and of Democratic origin first introduced in
to Congress by member of that party and, during the
last session voted for by our and
he of fut RI
should apply to settlers thereafter to locate upon public
lands and those now settled upon them we'll
lands subject to private entry to presumption
the attempt Of the Republican party claim 1t their
measure is therefore, preposterous and absurd,
ty distribution of the proceeds Of the public
lands amongst all the States, thus despopg the public
land states for the benefit older States the Un
ion as witnessed by its advocating the passage the
Agricultural College Bill during the last session of Con-
gress In advance Of the Homestead Bl-thus taking
from the state OF Minnesota three millions acres
OF land and donating the same to the older States
thereby creating State Land Monopoiies in midst
the Homestead to be DESTROYS of "a homes
for the homeless.
Eigh-That all of the putlic lands are CONTRA
~ to the settled policy Of the Democracy of
and this convention pledges the influence of the party
In opposition to any disposition Of public domain
other than to actual settlers under operation of
nberal homestead presumption law. That the sas
TINS time OF the lands now advertised in this State
pc oppressive to the pioneer settlers upon thu
public domain, obnoxious the and freouentJ
expressed sentiments of the Democracy of the Stas,
3hu lepdgnsnt to the policy indicated by Andrew
son ana endorsed by the President in his inaugur- "a
ureenv soC;, ven therefore most respec y and
as means OF preserving a numerous class frs
ana contributing to the best interests of the
N1nh1Lrhat the covert opposition of the Iaadsr ac
the RepTohcan party In this State the admissos Of
tives Of that party in Congress- to the Spsesenta.
both Minnesota and Oregon demonstrate funston OF
sy OF hePuoican PretensIons as beir.g the nscuSia
friends of Ere States. e peculiar
Ienth-That the charge made by tie late Renub,ic.u
Convention that the officers of the State and Tia Da
cratic party had tempered with the purity Of the ballot
box to secure their ascendancy at the last State cleo
ton,is dshonoring the State and still more those who
make them as they know them to be false unfoun-
ded and the fact that their candidate for Governor
was repeatedly invited and challenged to test the cues
ton before the legal tribunals of the State which he and
his political friends declined do affords the most
convincing proof that neither he they believed what
tney 50 vehemently asserted and repeng thor foul
we declare unlimited confidence in the hon
ton. ~
Eerenth-That the present numerous REPRESENTATION
IN .ne TWO houses Of the Legislature is
source OF expense to the people of the State and that
this as well as the present EXPENSIVE system of conn