The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-08

The ELECTION OF Loo AND LUMBER
SURVEYORS irrepressible conflict
that has been going on for week in the
ranks of the Republican members of the
Legislature, was terminated on the 4th, and
the ordinary business of legislation can
now proceed with quiet. The occasion OF
the conflict was the election of the Sur
veyor of logs and lumber, for the Second
District (St. Anthony position said to be
worth several thousand dollars year. The
Lumbermen of that District were divided
into two powerful factions, one advocating
the election of GEORGE A. CAMP the
other, the reelection Of MARK T. BERRY, the
present incumbent. The claims of each of
these gentlemen were pertinaciously pressed
before and during the caucus, but after
several ballots, Mr.. CAMP received the
nomination. The BERRYIrEs, however, were
inclined to bolt the nomination, claiming
the wishes of the "lnmber interest" Of the
District had not received due attention, and
managed to stave off the election for several
days, so as to give time for the sentiment"
to work. Yesterday, when the Joint Con-
vention met, the Happy Family had fra>
ternal conversation over it, some idea OF
which can be gathered in the brief sketch
in the regular report. When the vote was
taken, though, the BERRY1rEs all came
down obedienlly, and voted for the caucus
nominee, except one, who refused to strike
his flag, and another who lodged the vote.
The Democratic members did not interfere
in the love feast, but enjoyed it immensely.
POLITICAL PRAYERs.-The Chaplain of
the House is presumed to know that even
the members of the dominant party in that
body, sometimes get surleit of politics,
yet almost every morning they are compelled
to listen to stump speech for the masses,
under the guise of an invocation to the
Deity. A person has little dscernment,
that cannot penetrate the motive for such
irreverent exhibitions of bitter party feeling
and we have the best reasons for believing
that they are distasteful to many members,
as they are unacceptable to Him who is
called the "Prince of Peace" There are
enough Legislators to prey the State out of
So per day, by flaming the fires of political
animosity, without having their speciality
invaded by sensation prayers. A cores
pondeDt of the Minneapolis Atlas, one of the
most blood thirsty papers in the State
speaking of the prayers of the Chaplain
says:
The one prayer of this morning, was worth
his pay for the whole session; he prayed that
if blood must be shed, that God in His inf.
mite mercy would keep from all harm the de-
tenders of the Union. and forever sustain, by
His Infinite Might, the proud ensign OF our
great nation, the beloved flag of our idolized
country--a flag that had been honored and
respected by every power on earth, on every
ocean and in every sea. The prayer produced
a visible and beneficial effect upon the men,
bers, and decided, perhaps, some of the small
minded among them to. open their hearts to-
ward one who could so easily galvanize
little patriotism in their mummyised carcass
ses.
FINAL ADJoURNMENT.-Although the
Legislature has the privilege of extending
the sessions for sixty days, under the Con-
stitution, yet there is no provision that COM
pels it to occupy that number of days, and
where there is no necessity of it, an earlier
adjournment is imperatively demanded by
the best interests of the State. We un
derstand that number of the members of
both Houses are DESTROYS Of an adjournment
as early as the last week in the present
month, and are of the opinion that all the
business may be transacted within that time,
with reasonable amount of industry. All
the business now on hand could be easily
despatched in ten days. Both bodies are
anxiously awaiting the reports of the Com
mittees on Railroads and Railroad Grants,
and School Lands, which are the only inn
portant interests to be passed upon. These
subjects have been so thoroughly discussed
that the reports of the committees, what
ever they may be, can be acted upon, imme-
diately, and as properly, as if they were
delayed to the extreme limit of the session.
Since the State organization there has new.
er been session when there was better
opportunity OF efectiDg an important reduc-
'otion in legislative expenses than the present,
for the reason that there has never been a
session when there was less business OF i'm
portance on hand. There is absolutely
nothing before either body that could not
easily be disposed of by the 25th Of the
present month. .D
The first step to accomplish this would
be the passage of resolutions calling upon
all committees to report at an early day,
and prohibiting the introduction of bills for