Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-06-28

new state capitol IN JuaL Guy ESCdAls
TO The minds of many old pioneers
how, years ago, the father OF this man,
by a bold piece Of work, prevented the
removal of the state capitol to st.
Peter. where it would otherwise prob,
ably be located this day.
The story is famous one OF early
days in Minnesota, and its details
are known to but few old grizzled
settlers still surviving that strenuous
period of the states earliest history.
In fact, some portions of the tale are
generally filled in by conjecture. TIE
following, however, is youched for as
the true version of the affair by H Try
Rolette, who received his inforina-
ton from his father.
Joseph Rolette, a French pioneer,
was a member of the third territorial
legislature, which met in st. Paul in
1852. He represented that part or
the territory up along the Canadian
line known as Pembina county. The
legislature then met annually, and he
was elected a member every year
thereafter till 1858. In 1856 and 1857
he was a member OF the council,
which was practically the same as
the present state senate. During the
session of 1857 he was chairman o.
the committee on enrolled bills, and 1t
was in this capacity the he seized the
opportunity to commit the most
audacious act ever carried out in the
history of Minnesota legislatures to
defeat a pending bill.
The legislature was unquestionably
in favor of the removal of the capt
tol OF the territory to st. Peter, which
gave every promise Of being the
future metropolis of the state. The
bill establishing the capitol at St.
Peter had first passed the council Feb.
u, and six days later passed the
house. St. Paul members made a gal
liant fight against the measure, and as
a last resort offered to compromise
by having the capitol located on
Nicoliet island. now a part of Min
neapolis The Hennepin county mem
bers, fearing some trick. would not
listen to this proposition. All was
ready for the signature Of the bill
by Governor German, who had been
appointed territorial governor to
succeed Governor Ramsey. Governor
German had already signihed his IN
tention Of signing the measure when
it came to him.
Five days Uefore the close of the
session the enrolled bill was given to
Rolette, as chairman Of the enroll
ment committee, 10 compare 1t with
the original bill.
Desperate circumstances require
desperate remedies.
Rolette knew the only remedy was
to keep the bill away FROM the COVER
nor Slipping away from the capitol,
he safely deposited the bill In the
vault of bank kept by Truman
Brothers at Seventh and Jackson
streets, telling the bankers the bill
was an important paper involving the
title 10 an estate He then took the
landlord of the Fuller house iAto his
confidence, and. securing a room on
an upper floor, went into hiding for
the remainder of the legislative sea-
son.
The fonowing day, when RoleJte
failed to appear at the legislative ses
sion, the friends of the bill 'smelt G
mouse" and passed a resolution cali
ing for an immediate report on the bin
from Rolette, or if the chairman could
not be found, from the next ranking
member of the committee A call OF
the house failed to bring in the miss
ing Frenchman, and little further in.
vestigation showed that the other
members of his committee knew moth
ing Of the missing bill. The friends OF
the bill then moved to proceed with
The measure; but here they made 4
mistake. Under the existing rules IL
required two-thirds vote to dispense
with the proceedings under the cau,
and they could not muster the voting
strength needed. Until the call was
dispensed with, no further business
could be transacted. So John NJ.
Lamb, sergeant-atarms, was sent out
with orders TO bring in Rolette at all
hazards. n
The search made for the absent
councilman was a memorable one
Reports were that he had been seen
at various places. Each clue was FOL
lowed up, but with no avail. In the
meantime Rolette lived high in hi'
room al the Fuller house. and the
landlord faithfully kept his secret.
For l23 hours the legislature re
NAMED in continuous session, the
members remaining where they coulc
De summoned on a moments notice.
Finally. q new law was drafted ant
passed but the speaker refused L
sigl it. holding it was Invalid. Gov
ernor German signed il, but later
when St Peter people brough
mandemus proceedings under tn,
measure, Judge Nelson of the United
States court ruled the law invalid.
a lew minutes after Presiden
John Z Brisbin declared the counci
adjourned Roiette appeared with IN,
missing bill ]. was too late. however
for any action on the measure: To,
late even 20 pass = valid resolution
of censure.
And so it was ehat 5.e Rolert
saved the caui-o for ST. asl. An
it was partially an memory of Jo
Rolette's work that Henry Eoleitt
his son, was gwen q posi- len ia e.
new capitol when he aUgGea.
ELECTRIC STREET LIGHTING,