The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-19

extra session. Why, oh why, ID the name
of our slaughtered friends, are our brothers
and neighbors left to perish by the scalping
knife aud tomahawk while Alexander Ram
sey's political ambition is being administer
ed to? And, is it because he is too deeply
engaged in his Senatorial pursuits, that our
citizens 90 to him in person and appeal to
him to do something for the salvation of i'm.
periled friends, or, at least, to let them do
something, are turned away with the heart.
crushing assertion that he "can do nothing
for them" We do not know how these
questions may be answered, but we do know
that while the dark midnight western sky of
our State is lighted up by the fires of burn.
ing settlements, while the scalped and man.
gled dead lie unbured by the smouldering
ruins of their cabins, while our friends and
neighbors who have gone to the rescue are
suffering and dying of wounds and for the
want of medical attendance, or are surround
ed by superior forces of savages, and with.
out ammunition and supplies, we do know,
We repeat, that Alexander Ramsey and his
friend of the News are devoting their efforts
to the accomplishment of his election as
United States Senator.
Again, if it be, as all admit, but simple
act of Justice to our noble volunteers to pro-
vide way by which they may, while fight.
ing for their country and the flag they love,
ill exercise that dearest OF all freeman's
privileges, the right of suffrage, why is not
the Senatorial writer of the Nea0s engaged
in maturing measures for that purpose if be
can spare no time for Indian matters, in
stead of devotipg his efforts and the Neaos
to preparing the public mind for long ex-
ira session and the election of United
States Senator, and in discussing the merits
of the different candidates.
And again, we demand of Governor
Ramsey and his newspaper champion to
to know why it is, that, after it has been
decided to call an extra session of the Leg
islature for the purpose of authorizing our
volunteers to vote, you propose to so amend
the laws as to elect United States Senator
at this session, and thus refuse to them
voice in that matter in which they are,
above all others interested and most desire
to participate. Do this and you prove the
pretext upon which you convened the Leg.
islature, to have been a lie. Do this, and
you stand before the world convicted by
your own words and conduct as political
swindlers and official liars. The soldiers of
Minnesota do want to vote, and if there is
any one thing upon which they desire to
vote, it is that part of the ticket which is
to select their representative in the United
States Senate for the six years to come.
Governor Ramsey, you know this to be so,
and this outrage which your friends have
foolishly proposed to perpetrate upon our
absent volunteers as wei! as every citizen at
home, you dare not perform it you could,
nor you cannot accomplish it if you would.
And there is another question yet,
Messrs. Conspirators, which the honor and
character of our State and its Legislature
demand shall be answered, and which we
shall press. Why is it. and by whose au-
thority is it given out, that under no cir.
cumstances will the remaining regiments Of
this State be differed until after the ad.
journment of the Legislature? Why not
until after the adjournment? And what
has this meeting of the Legislature to do
with the offering of regiments? Do you,
Gov. Ramsey, mean to insult the Legisla-
ture of our State by holding your military
commissions up as bids for senatorial votes?
And do you dare to thus insult the mem
bers of that body and the State they repre-.
sent?
These are plain questions, we are aware,
and unpleasant ones, perhaps, to you, Gov.
Ramsey but be sure, sir, we are not the
only one who is asking them. If you deem
them impertinent, please to bear in mind
that it is yourself and your friends who have
made them necessary. We have not will
ingly entered upon the discussion of this
subject, nor had we, any more than the reo-
pie of the State at large, the remotest idea
that the question of United States Senator
would be made an issue during the extra
session of the Legislature. Our soldiers, all
thought, were entitled to the right of suf-
fraga and it was determined to give it to
them. Afterwards our frontier settlements
we're attacked by the Indians, and it was
thought Legislative action upon that ques-
ton, too, was necessary. But now, at the
time of this writing several days before the
assembling of the Legislature), we see the
especial friends of Governor Ramsey DROP
ping and apparently forgetting all other
questions, and launching out in the most
bitter and indecent manner in United
States Senatorial campaign.
With the question of United States Sen
ator, this Leg stature has by right nothing
to do. 1t was not chosen with reference to,
nor authorized to act upon that subject.
What the people expect and demand at the
extra session is, the speedy adoption OF
measures authorizing our soldiers to vote
and giving us protection from the Indian
tribes in our midst. Ana this, we believe,
is all the members desire or expect to do.
When the people of this State shall have
had, as they soon will, an opportunity to act
upon the question of the q. s. Senatorship
we shall be as ready and willing as others
to discuss the merits of various candidates
But at this time, when other and more lie.
gitimate matters are crowding upon the
public mind, and demanding the attention
Of our Legislature, we neither desire or in,
tend to 90 into any discussion of that sub.
ject. Next winter, should Governor RAM
sey be candidate, we may, or may not de-
sire bis election, but at present we neither
wish to see him or any other candidate
thrusting themselves forward for that posi-
ton.