The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-17


disregard Of the plain provisions of the
Constitution, and of every principle of
Justice. 1t is the first attempt to in
troduce in Minnesota the pernicious sys.
tenn of DISTINGUISHING counties in the Legis-
lature, because they are Democratic coun-
ties, and of giving bogus representation
to others because they are Republican
counties. Talk of Pembina election frauds
of ballot box stufing-but this bill con-
tains enormities far exceeding in guilt the
most outrageous acts ever charged upon the
Democratic party ofthe State by the most
bitter Republican politician.
The BILANsKY CAsE.-The House spent
almost the entire day of the 9th, in discus.
sing bill to commute the punishment of
Mrs. ANNE BILANsKY, convicted of murder
in this county, to Imprisonment for life in
the Penitentiary. We are not at all sur
prised at this action. Since the commence
ment of the session, every pretext has been
seized upon by the Republican majority to
postpone the consideration of important
measures, in order to ventilate the isms with
which that ismatic party is afflicted. A
few days since it was lager beer and the
Maine law then again it was notification
of the fugitive slave law and negro equality
and yesterday, and half dozen other days
of the session, it was capital punishment
And the debates on each of these PROPOSE
tons, to quote Col. ROBERTSON, did not
rival in ability the discussions of an ordinary
village lyceum of school-boys. 1t is thus
the money of the tax payers of the State is
squandered, and pledges ofretrenchment and
reform repudiated.
The bill to commute the punishment of
the unfortunate woman now in our county
prison, for the highest crime known to the
law, and one committed in cold blood, and
without provocation, on the 9th, passed the
House by bare majority. We hold that
the House, in acting as it did, transcribed
its powers, by interfering with the duties OF
the Executive and Judicial departments
two coordinate, but independent branches
of our State government. The Governor is
invested with the power to commute the
sentence ofcapital punishment, and we have
no doubt Gov. RAMSEY would have gone as
far as public justice and sound policy re-
quired, and even leaned to mercy's side,"
in the case in question. But the House,
overriding the spirit ofthe Constitution, has
thought proper to interfere, and has thus
set precedent fraught with danger to this
community, and the people of the State.
The TAR1FF-A BUCHANAN PARTY IN
M1NNEsorA.-We feel happy with Mr.. b.
cHANAN we congratulate the Constitution };
and we rejoice with the Pennsylvania De-
mocracy. There IS Buchanan party in
Minnesota. It will be recolected that in
his annual messages, the President has
uniformly recommended the levying Of
specific instead of ad valorem duties, for the
especial benefit of Pennsylvania iron masters
and New England cotton spinners. 1t is
true, Secretary COBB protested against this
Executive recommendation that it was
denounced by nine-tenths of the Democracy
in Congress; and that it met with little
favor in any portion of the Union but still
it was an administration measure. Out here
in Minnesota, however, the President has at
last been seconded in his move for a high
protective tariff; for on tie 9th, in the Sem
ate, at the instance of Senator HEAToN,
higher-law, Black Republican disunionist,
from the Western Reserve of Ohio, reso-
luton was adopted reading as follows:
Resolved That it is the ense of this body
that such laws should be passed by Congress
as will cause the levying of suitable specific
duties on foreign imports, and make fair dis
elimination in favor of American manufac
lures.
This resolution was supported by the Re
publicans of the Senate, and opposed by the
Democrats. A motion made by Demo-
cratic Senator to strike out specific and in
sert ad vaiorem duties was voted down.
Senator HALL, of this city, then moved the
following, which was also voted down, by
strict party vote:
That the resolution be recommitted to the
Committee on Federal Relations. with instruc-
tions to inquire and report to the Senate
lst-Whether Minnesota should not declare,
through her Representatives that in her opn-
ion, Congress has no power to levy duties upon
imports, except for the purpose of raising suffi.
Gent revenue to meet the expenses of govern.
ment
2d-Whether the levying of high duties upon
the importations Of iron, wool and cotton
cloths would not affect injuriously the Interests
of the people of this State.
3d-Whether the industrial products of Min.
nesota are such as to require protection from
foreign competition.
4th-Whether the benefits derived from a
high protective tariff upon articles of import
would equal the tax that, in consequence of
such tariff, would fall upon the people of this
State.
We are glad the record stands as it does.
The Democracy of Minnesota are in favor,
if not Of free trade, of as low tariff as is
absolutely necessary to meet the expenses of