Year: 1864

COLC COUNTY, Jan. .Utn, IcO4


DEAR REcrsrER Pardon me if I take
the liberty in this article Of expressing my
political views, before proceeding to dis
cuss the subject promised in my last. An
apology is due, since your Journal has
hong been known As Democratic, strictly
SO, and as such Of course the lines Of our
political faith are far separated. take
this liberty the more freely because my
sentiments since our FIRST acquaintance
have been perfectly familiar to you. 1t
was because Of this, that l felt great deli
cacy At first in asking the insertion OF
these communications, but since you have
kindly granted my request, trust you
will not thiuk me uncourteous in the
liberty thus take. When l state that
am Republican, rabid and radca!in my
belief Of the doctrines Of that party, you
will not think do not give credit to your
honesty in the views you advocate. am
Indeed Republican, to date back to the
first existance Of that party. believe in
"free homes, free speech, free press, free
men, free territories, and Fremont l
60 sill further now. believe our country
never will fulfil its destiny until every
man. without regard to color, is . free
man, entitled 20 equal rights in common
with every American citizen. believe
the only standard Of merit, qualification
or right to any position in life ought to
be his worthiness and ability to fll such
position. l make no exception to this
rule. believe these are the relations all
men will bear to each other in time, and
l never have Ior never will be one to re.
tard the progress Of on event so just, and
that will certainly exist. This is as true
as the Bible is true, or that there is a
reality in anything. have infinitely more
faith and respect in the man who has
black skin than the man who has 4 black
heart Msthinks l can sec not far in the
future when the American flag will be the
emblem Of freedom all the world over"
instead Of the flag representing country
part free and par. slave. But As this
theme is not the subject Of this article l
will not 60 further, although its continn.
ance would be more agreeable than the
task before me.


In this, was to give my views rs to
the right Of certain men to hold seats in
our Legislature. believe that thirteen
members now occupying seats have no
more moral or legal right to these posi-
.ions than any other men in the Territory
How far am justified in this opinion
remains to be seen. Ia the language of
the law, "The Governor shall nominate
and by. and with the advice and consent
Of the LisIative Council appoiu. al! off.
GERS not otherwise provided for" County
Officers are included in this list, under
this authority. N. J. Wallace was appoint.
ed Register Of Deeds Of Cole county,
none will now presume to deny, that here
the Governors power was limited. No
removal and = second appointment could
be made, this being true NJ. NJ. Rich never
Was Register Of Deeds Of Cole county,
and no acts Of his can for moment be
considered as such. This construction Of
the law. is the only one ever given by any
Of our legal advisers. 1t was adopted by
the Territorial Canvasers at FIRST, aud these
gentlemen have always given this inter-
probation at ell times and under every
circumstances. when called upon to decide
cases involving this principle. But sup
posing il to be admitted that Rich's nomi
nation was legal q. the time, a second
Council has convened and Mr.. Rich was
not then confirmed. How is it possible
then, gentlemen Of the Committees that
you can reason yourselves into the belief
that n. N. Rich was ever legal officer of
Cole county. II be was not, then you
have been guilty Of one Of the most high
handed = oU.rages than can be perpetrated
upon people. The &C. Of depr,ving men
OF seats in the Legislature, who have re-.
ceived two votes, nearly, 10 one of tho
setting members, is an act of too great
injustice to be looked upon with any con.
sideration even in the Territory of Dakota
Had you declared the acts Of both boards
Of County Commissioners illegal and or.
dered new election you could then have
some claim to honesty, bnt as it is, you
have shown yourselves entirely void OF
any such virtue. You have not only ad.
mi:ted these eight minority members 10
seats during this session, but you have
6xed for the term Of two years. the Coun-
cilmen from .hat District This is al the
more aggravating since one Of tho nun.
L. =