, 1859-12-23

l~~*s'"f'3-fltVc O. LIE 1ft44 &61 IEalH6e-j
'-s7. p4r1, Mi1a:, Dec. Il, 1s;,.
Tut little has been done this week ty either
House Of the Legislature, in the wny Of actual
bu:lness. only,one bill his been passed NJ Jet,
and that was an appropriation to provide for
the payment Of the January Interest on the
se5o.ov loan, amounting to $1,000 or there
abouts. Sotice Of about tAo hcnated bills has
been g'ren, .ud probably dozen introduced
all Of which have been referred to Committees,
md are still unacted On. II all these bills pass,
pretty much the wt,b'= le4isiasiotn Of the first
sersion will ts repealed, or materially amended,
aud tic whole OF the Revised Statutes, which
have been recently published at an expense to
the State Of elo,0oe, be rc=revi.ed and fepab-
lishcd
Happily, the Senatorial question: is now
disposed Of, snd matters will doubles. progr&ss
much faster. The Joint Convention was held
on wednesday morning last, as the telegraph
has ere this informed you, and on the first bal-
lot, MoRros S. WILKINSON, Of Mankato, was
elected q. S. Senator for the term Of SIX year,,
by .45 majority, in Il vote Of lla. The vote Of
the Democrats Was cast for the Hon. 1AxEs
Sn1Etns.
The Senator elect is lawyer of reputation
and ability; good orator, IN unhiachiug Re-
publican; aud every way worthy Of The position
~hich he will stand up for unwaveriug'y in the
Senate. while representing the interests Of his
State faithfu!ly The Minnesota Republicans
hare certainly done wonders this fall, in elect
ing their Legislature and Stale officers, and
now, in sending n staunch Republican tn the
Senate to take the place Of Democrat. This is
IN earnest Of what We will do in 1861 10 help
place Republican ia the Presidential chair, and
girc to the country pure, honest aud vic Id.
ministration for four wears.
mentioned in my last letter the snnrl occa-
stoned by tie Democratic State ot1icials ho!ding
oyer until jan. ], while our Republican Lexis-
laturc met on Dec. 1.-TWO administrations thus
is no sympathy between them. The Republl'
cans cannot 20 on with their. intended Reform
measures as long as Democratic Goyernor
stands ready to veto them. Nor can they make
The intended examination into the frauds aud
corruption Of the retiring State officials until
tile new officers take possession Of the Depart
mcbts. Thus Legislation is Delayed, and though
tho Republicans are anxious to have us short a
session as possible, do not believe they can
commence their work in real earnest until after
the new officers are sworn in and enter on the
discharge Of their dutieR.
The democratic Lieut.. Governor, Holcombe,
takes ful! advantage Of his position to worry
mud annoy the Republican members OF The Srn-
ute. No decision seems too outrageous or aFbl-
trasy for him to make. and 10 cap the climax Of
pnrtisan impuaence. he refuses 10 entertain the
appeals made from them by Republican 1nen-
beTs! Thus, business in that b1auch Of the
Legislature was ut 4 dead stand, almost, for
three or four days Of this week. and once sls :,
Senate was in session - hours, under " call,
in consequence nf his refusal to entertain IN aj-
neal from i decision. \ resolution was passed
in the House authorizing the judiciary Commits
tcc t. inquire into the province of the House to
impeach him for misdcmcauor md usurpation
Of uudclceated power. Two reports, 1naj"rl.
~ aud minority, were presented, but alter n
mutser dropped.
Another drawback on 1hc progress Of leCls-
lation has been the printing question. The
State rrsntin. was awarded in August. 1858,
pursuant to net Of the first State Legislature,
ordering it to he given to the lowest b!ddcF-to
tue t. Ftonffr Printing Company" The way It
was done was aa follows: / ZACH member Of the
firm made out proposals to do the State print.
in., Mt prices ranging from very low figure,
| to u pretty high one. OF course, under such a
scheme as this-the Auditor being in collusion--
It was awarded to one Of theni-when Of course
he fails to give security, forfeits the contract
and it is awarded to his partner at a higher fg
ure. The profits Of the Democratic contractors
for the State printing during the pas
| two ycars nrc said to have been ninet,
fhouxan1 dol1ars-a sun, that ought tt
{ar all our State expenses. Thus far, no
bill, report, Ut document has bern ordered By
the Legislature tn be printed bv the pretended
estate Printers" and it is said the design Of th
Legislature is to give the printing 10 whnmso
ever they chonose. or course. the proprietor
Of the new Republican Journal Hnn<snfid,
nad Tfns+-will be elected. This paper. as tn
maine indicates, is a union Of the two Rerubli
can dailics formerly published here, making nj
organ nf which the rnr!v maE lie proud, as
mites the force Of the two. either of whos
| were able journals when separate. The print
ing matter will probably he settled in two q
however, If. indeed, considering delay Of paJ
ment, and expense. the recipients make IN,
thing The Statc Trcasurr-candor compel
me to confess -(according to Official rrports>,
totally dcsiccated, and "warrants" thereon sci
ing in cash at the s'tqh. discount Of thirty N
rnt. # the Republicans design to remed
such deporabte state Of things, what here,
lean task lies before them. No charges Of re
ulatiou will be brought against the incom!r
officials. opine, when such begrer1y array
empty boxes is handed over to them on tue
entrance iato power.
We are enjoying NOW Saturday n;elt) ii
xdret *nor ftor.a ot the winter. We had = lit
snow, 10 the depth Of an inch or two.in y
yemher, but it melted awav and tho snow I
J | night giyes us our GEst eleiRhing. Wonder
: some Of yoar readers have not Imagined Us
buried in hinge dritsss They would be suFpri:
. to knnw what mild, bright, dry. delightful fl
: and winter we laEe had. The snow will fresh
, business, which. excepting the pork and gra
trade has been quite dali recently.
Yours t,uly, Cr Nonrn
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