The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-24
Legislative Topics.


Legislative Topics.
DAKOTA COUNTY CONTESTED SEATS
BLACK REPUBLICANIsM.-In the early part
of the session, three Democratic members
from Dakota county, Mesrs. BARTON, WAL
DER and NEWELL, were elected from the
House of Representatives, and three Repub-
lican competitors admitted to seats. 1t was
not pretended that the Democratic candidates
had not majority of the votes returned to
the canvassing board; but the Republicans
rested their contrasting case on irregularities
on the part of precinct officers, in making
the returns. We believe fraud was also
charged at one of the precincts, but it was
not substantiated by syllable of legal tes-
timony. The Republican contestants did
not make out case deserving respectful
consideration from the House. 1t was so
fimsy, that leading Republicans, belong
ing to the conservative school, denounced the
whole proceeding as unjust and illegal.
Speaker CoGGswELL and Mr.. GREENE of
Steele county were particularly severe upon
the proposition. But there was, and is now:
majority in the House, so utterly reckless
in the accomplishment of partizan ends, that
the legally elected Democratic members
were elected, and three men put in their
places, not one OF whom had been elected
by the people of Dakota county.
A week or two ago the case again came
before the House. The tables were then
reversed and Messrs. NEWELL, WALD1ER,
FLANAGAN and BARTON, Democrats, appeared
as contestants of the seats of the four Re-
publicans from Dakota. The papers pre-
sented by the contestants were referred to the
Committee on Elections. Nothing more
was heard of the matter, until yesterday, the
fact was smoked out in the House, that the
Committee had not investigated the question
and did not intend to do so, and that all the
efforts of the contestants to obtain hearing
were unavailing. A resolution offered by
Col. ROBERTSON instructing the Committee
to report was voted down by party vote,
every Republican in the House voting to
sti6e the investigation.
Of course there is reason for the conduct
Of the Republicans, other than the one given
of consumption of time. And it is this
under the rule laid down in the early part of
the session. when Messrs. WALD1ER, NEWELL
and BARTON, were elected from their seats,
the Republican majority would now be
compelled to declare the seats of Messrs.
MORRISON, HAYS, CAsK1E and B1xLER va
cant. This is the reason the question of
contest was not allowed to come before the
House upon its merits, but was suppressed
in most cowardly and outrageous manner.
Shame on the skulkers.
Z One rule of action for the disposal of
questions in which Democrats are interested,
and different rule of action for Republi-
cans, is the established policy of the House.
We can only wonder that Messrs. HAYS,
MORRISON, B1xLER and CAsKIE can consent
to retain seats secured to them by such dis
honorable and criminal means.
The ELECTION LAw-MR. SECoMBE IN
TIGHT PLAcE.-Mr. SEcoMBE, the Republic
can leader in the House, is so beautifully
provided with facial and mental brass, and
has so little regard for courtesy, in bis legis-
lative intercourse with members, that he
most generally escapes from the predica
ments in which his extreme partizan views
place him but yesterday he was cornered,
shown up, puctured, and came to the ground
very much like a collapsed balloon. Itwas
in this wise:
Some days ago, while the general election
law was under discussion, in the House, it
was determined to extend the provision for
the registration of voters to the State at
large, registration in cities having been
previously provided for. A committee con-
sisting of Messrs. SECoMBE, ToLLMAN and
PFAENDER was appointed to make the YER
bal amendments to the bill necessary to
accomplish this object. The duty of doing
so was confded to Mr.. SEcoMBE who had
charge of the bill. 1t was reported back to
the House, by that gentleman and passed,
four.6fths of the members imagining that the
bill had only been amended in the manner
specified by the House instructions. The
bill then went to the Senate where it was
rushed through, not Democratic Senator
having been furnished with printed copy
of it, or permitted time to investigate and
examine the written copy in the bands of
the Secretary.