Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-14
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Something More dbout an Event In tho Last
meeting OF the Executive Council, and an
Error Corrected

something More about an Event In the Last
Meeting of the Executive Council, and an
Error Corrected
To the Editor of the Globe.
In Your publication of what purports to be
proceedings OF the executive council of the
Minnesota Historical Society, on Monday even
ing, am represented to have made motion
to adjourn at the moment when Judge Good
rich had commenced answering question nd
dressed to him by Col. Earl S. Goodrich.
The part of your report to which particu-
larly object as directly personal to myself, and
as untrue, l. included in the following context.
Col. E. S. Goodrich asked: SIS that paner the
act OF the incorporators, or your individual
opinion!
Judge G.-''My individual opinion.-but
Gen. Sib}ey wants
Col. Robertscn-'I move we adjourn"
Col. Goodrich-'As one of the corporators.
regard the decision of the supreme court as
final
The motion to adjourn was then carried"
While as member of the executive council,
my sense of parliamentary decorum would
always be sufficient to forbid and prevent any
such attempt as your publication imports, to
interpose or favor the lnterposition of a pao
motion to adjourn" so as to abridge the OBJ
portunities of Judge Goodrich for the express
sion OF his opinions objects; and it is quite
| impossible that should desire to gag any com
munlcation or report of opinion, or OF decision
which might be offered as endorsed by General
Sibey.
Toward that gentleman I could rot entertain
any other sentiment than that of cordial
friendship and profound regard. .shich no di-
verSence OF opinion about the legal sta US of
the Historical society could prejudice or di.
minish. And may add, that can saw wit h
the confidence of familiar knowledge, that all
fhn nfi,n boo g
who have heen partisans of the Old Historical
society organization, Ill the recent conflict with
the new organization, manifest on all occasions
the same friendly and regardful sentiments.
And what significantly emphasizes this esteem
and appreciation of Gen. Sibey, is the fact that
their golden opinions Of him have not been at
all deprecated by the frequent and persistent
use OF his name The ShibbOleth of Battle
against tue Old Historical society," and as a
palladium and shield. from behind which to
launch forth wordy missiles against the
executive council, which, for more than
year past. have heen hurled at its members, as
| II they had been already judicially convicted.
as obdurate usurpers of the franchises, trust $
and property of the Minnesota Historical So
ciety.
Now. that this perplexity has been settled by
our highest judicial authority, and all con
.roVersy ended, las was supposedly between the
opposing Itlgant sides of the Historical So
| ciety. We had hoped and expected to enjoy q
generous and pleasing reunion (nor do / be-
heve that this expectation will be Disappointed
which would be the harbinger of Il new and
brighter era Of prosperity and usefulness for
| the Minnesota Historical society.
The promise of this most desired reconcilia-
| lon and reunion indeed he, aided by the
presence at our Monday evening meeting OF
Col Earl 8. Goodrich, one of 1.-The a,rporators'
who presented gifts of great value for the Ii
brary; but, ut the moment when the council had
pressed through md finished its order of busi-
ness, and was ready to adjourn with n feeling
OF assured reliet that all Vas WELL Jud ,e
Goodrich arose. regretfully, and informed the
council that he had SINE remarks to make
about the course that would be taken by the
corporators" in regard to the recent decision of
the suprt me court of the State, which remarks
he made AMI then read from manuscript what
seemed to be prese lted as the status of 1.-THE
corporators," all OF which was received silent
ly, Lot word Or act interrupting him.
The substance of hat he said and read was
understood to be that the real questionable
constitutional questionable obligation of con-
| tracts question, was not properly before the
supreme court OF the State, and that the whole
case would yet nave to go to the supreme court
OF the United States for final ad Indication etc.
having taken his seat, | moved an adjourn
ment, which was seconded, when Col. E. s.
Goodrich intimared that he wished to ask a
question, wherenpon l Immediately withdrew
| the motion to ad Ourn.
Then Col Goodrich asked the question re-
ported by you. as above quoted-and Judge
Goodrich replied-and all this without the
slightest interruption. No motion was made,
as reported in the GLOBE, to adjourn: nor
until the colloquy between Col. Goodrich and
Judge Goodrich had closed and silence again
prevailed, when l arose, and remarking, (as /
believed), that member of the council
desired controversy with Judge Goodrich, re-
newed my motion to adjourn, which was car
RED. How it happened, or by whom, l was
unsupported, care not to know or enquire:
and would not have attempted to occupy
your columns with this communication, had
not a friend just suggested to me that your re-
port of my motion to adjourn might appear to
those Ignorant of the facts, as an act of dis
courtesy aimed at Gen. Sihley.
Respectfully,
st. Paul, Dec. Is. D. A. ROBERTSON.