The weekly Minnesotian. [volume], November 28, 1857, Image 2

About The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858

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THE WEEKLYMINNESOTIAN
SAINT PAUL:
Saturday Morning* November 28, 1857.
OFFICIAL PAPER OF TUE CITY.
PROCLAMATION.
By Charles S. Chase acting Governor of the Territo-
ry of Minnesota
Thursday, the 10th day of December, is hereby ai>-
poiuteJ to be observed, by the people of Minnesota, as
Thanksgiving day.
In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand and
caused to be athxc.l the seal of the Territory, at St.
Paul, this the 10th day of November, in the year of
our Lord ISM, and of the Territory the ninth.
CHARLES L. CHASE, Acting Governor.
Edward M. McCook, Private Secretary.
How the Case Stand*.
The Pioneer froths at the mouth even more
than usual, yesterday. It exhausts the
whole vocabulary of abuse.
But it will find itself mistaken if it thinks
to draw us into any personal controversy oil'
from the main point at issue :
This is, that a systematic attempt to foist
Sibley into the Gubernatorial chair, by
means of forged returns, has been made by
the Democratic loaders.
We have already shown numerous instan
ces in which this preconcerted plan was car
ried out in the ordinary course of the election
canvass. But their frauds in this regular
way not being sufficient to effect thejdesired
result,—the returns as they came in showing
clearly that Ramsey was elected—we have
charged that the leaders got together, in a
caucus at the American House, in this city,
to take measures to get up returns from the
northern wilderness, to defeat Ramsey at any
rate.
We have charged that the caucus
place on Sunday, the 24th of October ; but
it mat/ have been, as the Pioneer suggests, the
25th.'
At that caucus we said that an agent was
freighted by them with poll books from the
Pioneer office, to go up to the North and ar
range the returns, and bring down the majori
ties necessary to elect Sibley. And that
such agent did go, and did with others forge
such election returns, giving large Democrat
ic majorities from wilderness precincts where
no people lived, which majotities the Pioneer
published under the head of “700 majority
for Sibley in Cass, Pembina and Todd Coun
ties/’ And on the strength of these bogus
majorities and the forged “Brown” returns
from Cottonwood, Murray, Rock, Martin and
Redwood Counties, with a great flourish, and
in spread-eagle style, it claimed the election
of Sibley.
Carefully avoiding the real gist of our
charge that such agent did go up north with
such poll books, and did with others, fix up
the business on which he was sent, the Pi
oneer fastens upon what it thinks is our weak
point —the Sunday Caucus, and vociferously
demands “the proof,” “the proof.”
In this the Pioneer thinks itself very cun
ning. It is aware from the nature of ase
cret Caucus, such as this was, how difficult it
will be to prove anything in relation to it.—
Men engaged in such disreputable proceed
ings are not apt to make public proclamation
in regard to them. On the contrary, they
surround their action with all the mystery
and cloaks and silence with which it is pos
sible to conceal them. If held at a Hotel,
the keejier ot it would De tne last person in
the world to know anything about it. Such
a Caucus would not number co many but
that the private room of ore of their board
ers would easily, and unconsciously to them,
hold them all.
—Aud we can think of no greater absur
dity than to bring out the keepers of the Ho
tel in such a card as Rice <k Filkins have
published, merely to show that they knew
of no such Caucus being held at their house.
It puts us in mind of the Irishman whom the
Court was about proving, on a trial by wit
nesses who saw the occurrences, that he had
beat and abused a certain person, when he
proposed to offset it by the testimony of
‘•twinty men who did ’nt see him do it.’’—
The brother of llexry M. Rice, and Mr.
Filkins had better kept their heals out of
this muss where there is so much punching
going on !
Our information of this Caucus was deriv
ed from a Democratic source, and “we be
lieve—we know” it to be true that it was
held at that Hotel, at that time. But we
cannot expose the source of our information,
for it was confidential ! It is to be expected
that the participants in that Caucus will deny
most vociferously t'seir share in its delibera
tions and conclusions.
The fact is this—the Pioneer has got all
our witnesses, and knowing this, is what
makes it so bold.
But we have a proposition to make to that
paper and its friends. If any of those dis
tinguished Democrats and “honorable” men
are so much aggrieved and injured, a Suit for
Libel would doubtless afford them a plaster
for their wounded honor. They might even
be awarded such a good round amount for
“damages,” on the principle, “the greater the
truth the greater the libel,” sufficient to
break up and ruin the Mintusotian, which
will be another great point gained for the
Democratic party.
We urge them to try the Libel Suit, and
then we shall give the Pioneer plenty of proof
about the “Sunday caucus.”
This, all must admit, is a fair proposition.
So much for the “Sunday caucus.”
We await with considerable impatience
Borne further developments from the Pioneer
in relation to the “burglary’’ of those poll
books!
It is pretty strong confirmation derived
from its own columns that the writers for the
Pioneer know more about these forged returns
than they are just now willing to admit.
The Pioneer asserts that several poll books
were stolen.
That which wc peremptorily ask the Pio
neer is, whether these were genuine poll books
or forged poll books 1
Whether they were blank poll books from
the Pioneer Office, or manuscript poll books
from somewhere else, —for thereby hangs a
tale.
“The burglary !” “the" burglary !”—don’t
put us off with a half told story.
‘‘Full of Sound and Fury,’* Jcc.
We learn that Gov. Gorman, disgusted
with the inefficiency of the Pioneer, has h;m
self become one of the Editors of that con
cern. In the two last issues of that journal,
in some of the longest articles, knowing ones
recognise the peculiarities of the new Edi
tor’s style. If the Pioneer were correct, in
some former editorial emanations, that the
new editor was a sort of Bohon Upas that
poisened everything he favored, the ultimate
ill success of that paper, in vindicating the Dem
ocratic party from the odium of the forgery
transactions can be easily conjected.
The Pioneer Treed at La»l~The For
gery ot' Flection tteturii* <’onl'e**ed.
We thought when we got on that burgla
ry trail—got the Pioneer to confess that
much—wo had an entering wedge for still
farther developments by that paper or its
friends in regard to the forged returns “pre
pared” by the “agent” of the Sunday caucus.
Our expectations have been realized, as will
be seen by the following paragraph from the
Pioneer of yesterday , which acknoicledges the
/art of ric h forgery by Democratic hands, ami
attempts to crawl out of the responsibilities
of it by claiming it was all a ‘joke.” Its ar
ticle is as follows :
“ The Minnetnrtian will Anil out In due course of time,
that the burglar in the employ of the Republican Central
Committee, who entered a room at Swan River, and
stole therefrom a /ntekags of papers purporting to
contain election returns, did not benefit Ramsey in the
least by his thievery. The stolen returns were prepared
up country, by it gentleman rotul of his joke, as a trap
to eatch He publican gulls, it being well known that sev
eral had beeu dispatched northward, to buy if possible,
and if not. to steal. The trick succeeded beautifully ,
—for while the thief was at his work, the genuine re
turns were on their way to *t. Paul, in the hands of a
messenger dispatched from Fort Ripley.’’
Now we call the attention of the people at
large of every party, to the admission in the
foregoin 0 paragraph from the Democratic or
gan.
—That a -package of papers purporting
to contain election returns” were concealed—
locked up—hidden—“in a room at Swan
River,” in Morrison Co !
—That these “returns” were l ‘prepared —
in other words FORGED—“up country.”
—That they were “prepared,” or forged
li by a gentle man fond of his joke!”
—That they were “prepared” or forged, as
••a trap to catch Republican gulls !”
—That of course, “this gentleman fond of
his Joke” must be a Democrat ; for a Repub
lican would not be likely to set a trap for Re
publicans !
We submit it to all candid men, wheth
er in the article we have just quoted, the
leaders of the Democratic party through
their organ here in St. Paul, have not already
admitted the truth of our charge of election
returns having been forged by Democratic
hands, from precincts in the upper country !
The miserable subterfuge that any one
man, merely for the sake of his joke, should
have gone to the trouble of getting printed
poll books from the Pioneer office—of filling
in hundreds of names thereto,— of fixing up
the oaths of judges and clerks—of making
out long returns of votes cast for different
candidates—is oue that no reasonable man
would put the least faith in for one minute !
And still le«s can any man believe that af
ter having taken all this trouble, this “gen
tleman fond of his joke” should have set his
trap to catch Republicans in a private room,
safe under lock and key !
Is there not bold absurdity upon the very
face of such a pretence?
We take it that it would be the judgment
of all honest and calm minded people, that
these returns so prepared, as the Pioneer gin
gerly terms it—so forged as others would
more truly call it.—were so prepared and so
forged for the sake of being used —filed in
the Secretary’s office—and counted in the
canvass in order to elect Mr. Sibley.
’Tis in vain for any newspaper, or any body
of men whatever, by the flimsy excuse that
it was done for a joke ora trick, to escape
from the withering condemnation which such
rascality deserves to receive, and will receive,
from right thinking men of every partisan
creed.
Tt may be inquired why the Pioneer should
have broached the subject of this “burglary, 5
which was not mentioned from our side of
the house, and why this flimsy pretext of a
“joke” was thrown out to account how such
forged returns came to be there at all, in the
possession of Democrats!
Was it that the guilty men feared that
those returns which they had lost, might yet
appear in judgment against them ?—might
have been fonnd bv some one who would
confront them before the board of canvass
ers ? and they therefore thought it advisable,
in advance, to throw out the idea that it was
done as a joke, and so hide their confusion of
face behind the mask of a broad grin ! It
puts us in miml of the Frenchman's excuse
for killing his wife. He did it innocently, he
said, in “petite moment de vicaciHe !
It appea.s from the Pioneer that while
these forged returns were being stolen, the
“genuine returns were on their way to St.
Paul in the hands of a messenger dispatched
from Fort Ripley.’’
We ask if this messenger who brought
down these l ‘genuine returns,” as the Pioneer
calls them, was not the same “gentleman fond of
his joke,” who prepared, and from whose
carefully barred and locked room the forged
returns were taken ?
And was not this same messenger also the
very agent of the Sunday caucus, who was
dispatched to “prepare” and bring down the
returns, and were not these “genuine re
turns” spoken of. a new h itch of forgeries to
replace those which were lost ? and amongst
them the fraudulent returns from St. Vincent
piccinct, now filed in the Secretary’s office—
the same the Pioneer clings to as tenaciously
as a highway robber to his ill-gotten plunder.
The paper that knows so much about
the “burglary ! ’’ —about the “election re
turns purporting to be from certain precincts
up the country !’’—about the “gentleman
fond of his joke”—why he thus joked!—
about the “trap lie set for Republican gulls!’’
and the queer place he set it in !—render
ing a “burglary” necessary to get into it—
might afford to know a little more, and peo
ple will think it does know m>re about the
“preparation” of those genuine returns which
it so facetiously speaks of!
Now, fellow citizens, without regard to
party, we address a few words for your calm
deliberation.
You see by the foregoing, that out of their
own mouths, and without drawing at all up
on the fund of legal evidence we have in re
serve on this subject, that our allegation of
forged returns from precincts up north having
been “prepared” or FORGED by Democratic
hands to secure the election of Mr. Sibley, is
ahumlantly and wholly sustained !
We claim that this paper, and these edito
rial columns, have done a good work in even
thus unmasking the traitorous ene
mies of the country who are guilty of these
things enemies more to be dreaded than all
the armies and navies of the world, because
they are enemies who sap the vitality of our
institutions, and take away that which gives
us all our strength and power. That we are
a government of the people— that the masses
rule and are soverign—aud that for redressing
every grievance they may suffer from the
measures of government and righting every
wrong they think inflicted by its action,—
They have a weapon surer set,
And better than the bayonet,
A weapon that comes down as still,
As snow llakes fall upon the sod,
And executes the fieeman’s will
As lightning docs the will of God;
are truths upon which our whole political
fabric is based. Here revolution agaiDst the
government to defend popular rights would
be a work of supererogation. AsloDg as the
ballot box is free, and above all, as long as it
is intre, civil war, —bloodshed among brothers
—internal commotions to weaken us as a na
tion-will be unknown, because unnecessary,
and without sufficient purpose to occasion
them.
But if a contrary state of things should
arise—if a party in the country, in power for
the time being, finding itself going down hill
in popularity, should attempt, as the Demo
cratic party now appears to be doing through
out the country, to keep it«elf in office by
means of wide spread frauds at elections, —
frauds that go far beyond polling a few illegal
votes in this or that precinct—proceeding even
to the length of inventing elections that were
never held—inventing poll lists of ti e names
of voters not in existence, or only foimd in
city directories and old census returns, —
such frauds, in a word, as Kansas and Min
nesota have lately witnessed—then we have
arrived at a stage in the history of our gov
ernment when republican institutions are a
farce, the ballot box is a farce, the right of
suffrage is a farce ; and the blow is struck,
which sooner or later, will bring upon us war,
and revolution and civil commotion, inevi
tably.
As the Declaration of Independence re
marks, “men are disposed to suffer while
evils are sufferable.” rather than take up
arms to right their cause. But the time does
come eventually, when the long, pent up
grieviance finds vent and vengeance in a
bloody explosion !
How long will the American people stand
having their will mocked and their suffrages
disregarded, by means of hordes of Irish—
“ignorant dupes” of demagogues—led up
without reason or judgment, to the polls, to
outvote them several times apiece—to have
Indians voted by the tribe ; and suffer, ad
ded to this burden on the camel’s back, to
have forged returns of elections held nowhere
by people in the moon ? Men who are the
real people of the country, its bone, its mus
cle, its stamina and intelligence will begin to
say to each other—“its no use voting—they’ll
cheat us out of it anyhow.” And the time
will not be long before they will begin to
think of another remedy !
Men and brethren—if you would save the
country, and perpetuate our institutions—we
must preserve the purity and sanctity of the
Ballot Box !
The Pioneer’s Sunday Leader.
The Pioneer of Sunday appears to cotne to
the conclusion, about the forgery of those
election returns instigated by the Sunday cau
cus, that for itself and party—“the least said
is soonest mended.”
Having tried all the varieties of abuse and
invective—having endeavored to offset our
clnrges of real crimes, by inventing imagina
ry ones against the Republican party—it
seems to intend now to obtain by cajolery
an advantage in the contest, which its abuse
was too strong and its argument too weak
to effect by its previous course.
But having received from it thus far in the
contest no courtesies which call upon us for
reciprocation, we shall pursue our own line
of policy, just as we commenced the battle
against the forgers of election returns, with
out reference to its opinions, and solely guid
ed by our own sense of what is our duty as
conductors of a free press, planted upon the
outward walls of the citadel of liberty, whose
province it is to watch every invasion of pop
ular right, and promptly give the alarm on ev
ery sign of danger.
It wishes us to leave the matter of the “in
tegrity of certain election returns” in the
“hands of the Board of Cavasscrs composed
as (it says) it is of men of unquestioned hon
or, and permit the result to be determined,
under Providence, by their integrity aud
sound judgment.”
—When men grow so suddenly pious, as
this sentence indicates to be the present con
dition of this Pioneer writer, whoever he
may be, it is regarded as a bad sign. Pol
lock the poet, is emphatic in his “Course of
Time,” injwarning against the men who “steal
the livery of Heaven to serve the devil
in.’’ But let that pass for the preseut.
It is sufficient to reply to the Pioneer on
the score of the implicit confidence to be
placed in the Board of Canvassers, that the
Republican party feel no such confidence.-
•Joseph R. Brown is one of that Board, and
is now an officer of the Federal Government.
His antecedents as a political trickster arc
notorious ; nor is it calculated to inspire ad
ditional confidence in his acting on that Board
with fairness and integrity, that there is
tangible evidence extant, which goes to con
nect him with a system of election forgeries
and frauds perpetrated in the counties west
of Brown !
With Mr. Brown, Gov. Med ary makes
a Democratic majority in that canvassing
Board ; and he is a stranger amongst us.—
He was a pretty bitter politician in Ohio ;
and used to have the reputation, it may be
undeservedly, of not being an over-scrupulous
one. Perhaps he wifi do what is right; but
we prefer to wait and see what we shall
see!
In the meantinc, it is our privilege and
duty as editors, to give not only the people,
the real jury in this matter, a'l the light
upon the subject possible ; but to call the at
tention of the Board of Canvassers, to any
matter proper to come up under their pur
view, to aid them in the correct discharge of
their duty.
This is our position.
The Prospect for Workingmen at the
East Brig h telling.
Indications now appear to show that ef
fects of the panic upon the laboring popula
tion of the East will not be so calamitous as
supposed. The panic having ceased, many
establishments are resuming work, and taking
back a portion of the unemployed.
The New York Times speaks encouraging
ly of the condition of things in that city and
vicinity. It says : “ Work has been re
sumed in several large manufacturing estab
lishments in the city and neighboring towns,
and on many of the buildings now in pro
gress, on 'which labor had been suspended,
work has been resumed, and the meetings of
the unemployed workingmen have daily di
minished in numbers. We shall probably
have no more of them after this week.”
As an evidence that the stringency is not felt
very generally in New York, the Herald
states that for the last two weeks the re
ceipts at the theatres in that city have been
$>60,000 or §BO,OOO per week. It is like
wise a curious fact that while the journals
are filled with reports of distress among the
working classes, the theatres and saloons on
the easterly side of the city—which places of
amusement are supported almost entirely by
mechanics —are quite full every night.
But the fact of the manufactories having
resumed, or being about to do so, is certain
ly encouraging.
A Specimen of the Pioneer’s Fairness.
Gov. Cowman’s organ of Saturday—per
haps Gov. Uouman himself—gives proof of
the hardships to which its party is reduced
about, these forged returns when it deliber
ately misrepresents our strong denial in
Friday’s paper of “Republican hands” hav
ing anything to do with them, whatever, into
a “confession” that the Republican “leaders”
had all to do with them—
The Minnesntian ot yesterday acknowledges that its
party leaders have been forging election returns. It
says, speaking of the returns from Pembina, Cass and
Todd, that “ they are all bogus—all forgeries together.”
It is not that we apprehend anybody ever
really believes anything appearing in the Pi
oneer that we notice thia falsification; and it
is merely to show the reckless way these
“gentlemen fond of a joke” do up these
things, that we here copy what we really
did say in our paper of Friday, upon which
the organ of the forgers has made the above
impudent and barefaced assertion. Here it
“We understand there is a strong motive for sending
the improved bogus returns. Instead of Jo. Rolette be
ing elected State Senator, and J. N. Chase (the brother
of Secretary Chase,) to the House, which is the way it
was fixed up when the St. Vincent returns were forged,
these new returns are reported as likely to make Mr.
Chase Senator instead ot Rolette !
“In one word, as we said, first and last, we have no
confidence in any returns with majorities for anybody,
purporting to come from the ‘counties of Pembina, Cass
as Todd.’
“ They are all bogus—all forgeries together.
“ Certain we are that no Repvblican hands hate
had anything to do with the corrupt and disgraceful
transactions.”
—And this is the “confession” which we
are accused of making of Republican com
plicity in the Democratic game of forging re
turns from wilderness precincts!
Can impudence farther go ?
The Political Gambler* and “ Joker*.”
The great question now among sporting
circles is, tcho is the “ gentleman fond of his
jokeT
The fraternity are a little jealous of Gor
man and the Democratic party for thus get
ting up a little joker —“ now you see him
and now you dont,” —on their own hooks, to
cheat the people out of their rights as they
gamble them out of their property, and
they think it unfair, moreover, that the lead
ers of that party should yet have the effron
tery to still stick themselves up for respecta
ble people, and “ honorable 1” men.
Sporting men think that if the Democratic
leaders intend to pursue this branch of the
“ profession,” it «ill be more in accordance
with the fitness of things if they would
forthwith mount its badges, to wit: a
white napless stovepipe hat, and six inch
wide mourning bauds around them, in erder
first that they should be free of the guild, and
second in a crowd be recognized by them,
and when cheating and robbing was going on
that they as “ brothers of the cord,” would
escape scot free! Dog does not want to eat
d'-g.
Some think that Gorman is the gentleman
fond of his joke himself, because, like the lit
tle joker of the gamblers, the best descrip
tion of his course of action is, —“now you see
him, and now you dontbut there is one rea
son against this supposition, he would never
put any joke or secret of his so strongly un
der lock aud key, as to require force to make
him give it air!
We are authorized by a'l the gentlemen mentioned as
having been present -‘at a Democratic Caucus held at the
American House, on Sunday, October 24, to consider the
state of the returns, for Governor,” to say that they
were not there then norat any other time, either bejore
or afterwards, for that purpose or any other.-Pioneer.
“Ma, wants to borrow your wash tub,”
said a little red-headed urchia to the matur
ed head of the household of a near neighbor.
“Tell yonr ma that the hoops are all off, that
I have’nt got any, besides I want to use it
myself,” was the reply.
—So with the Pioneer. It says that the
gentlemen alluded to were not at the Ameri
can House, on Sunday, October 24, at a Cau
cus to consider the state of the returns for
Governor. They were not then at any oth
er time for that purpose. And finally, that
they were never at the American House for any
purpose.
This is certainly a clincher.
The Capture of Delhi.
Not the least gratifying item of intelligence
by the Arabia, is the account of the capture
of this stronghold of the rebels in British In
dia, after a desperate conflict of six days.
The assault on Delhi was commenced on
the 14th September, and the seige train hav
ing previously reduced the bast on and cur
ta n against which its fire was directed, the
attack was made in four columns, at which
the one composed of the Cashmere Contingent
was repulsed, the otheis were successful. An
entrance was effected at the Cashmere Gate,
to the north of the city, and an advance was
made along the ramparts to the Sabul gate,
where an obstinate resistance was made by
the mariners. The next day the British com
menced firing on the magazine, and stormed
that position on the 16th, capturing 125
pieces ol cannon.
Three more days of hard fighting ensued,
when the place was stormed by assault at
several points, and carried by the British.
The loss of t ie British in killed and woun
ded, is stated at 600 men, includiug some 50
officers.
The resistance of the mutinere was obstin
ate, and as no quarter was given, we may
suppose that the atrocities which marked the
opening of the rebellion at that point a few
months since was bloodily avenged. Orders
were given by Gen. Wilson to give no quarter,
but to spare the women and children,
and we suppose that of course such of the
male citizens as had not taken up arms were
also spared.
The troops were also ordered to abstain
from excess and pillage ;it is reported that
the slaughter of the mutiners was immense.
Great numbers of them however escaped,
among them the king of Delhi and his two
General Outram had reinforced General
Havelock at Cawnpore. The latter had star
ted for Lucknow, at which place the garrison
held out gallantly.
Before this, it is safe to assume, they have
been relieved.
Reinforcements were arriving iu India and
before the opening of another spring, the
English will be more firmly established in In
dia than they were before the breaking out
of the rebellion, and they will take good care
that the great arsenal of their empire shall
not again be left to the almost sole guardian
ship of the dative troops, who are deceitful,
and treacherous. The present rebellion, be
ing crushed so promptly, may be said to be
over.
Last Saturday the steamer Flying Cloud,
from New Orleans, discharged fifteen tons of
gold and silver coin at Cairo, the southern
end of the Illinois Central Railroad. One
hundred thousand dollars of it was destined
for the U. S. Assistant Treasurer at St. Louis.
The people of lowa City have taken initia
ry steps toward establishing a “Young La
dies Institute” in that city.
Annual Review of Steamboat Statistic*.
We had in part prepared the following
article several days since, but other duties
having engrossed our attention, the comple
tion of it was necessarily delayed.
It will be noticed with peculiar gratifica
tion the aunual increase of the Steamboat
trade during the last fourteen years, not on
ly as illustrative of the rapid and permanent
growth of our city but as evidencing a cor
responding development of the industry and
resources of the whole North-west.
Lake Pepin was opened this year so that
boats came through on the evening of the
30th of April, and reached St. Paul early on
the morning of the Ist of May, and the “last
boat” left our port on the 14th of November,
thus making the season of “through naviga
tion” but 198 days in length—eight days less
than the unprecedented short season of last
year, eighteen less than the average of sea
sons during the last nine years, and thirty
two days less than the season of 1851.
It will be seen that the number of Arri
vals this year, though showing a very mark
ed increase over last year, have not come up
quite to the mark we predicted, which is ow
ing in part to two causes, viz: the astonish
ing and unprecedented shortness of the sea
son, and the general stagnation of business
produced by the financial troubles at the
East. The increase in the number of boats
in the trade is 20, being more than the total
number of boats in the trade in 1852. But
the most remarkable increase, and one show
ing the healthy state of business is the in
crease in tonnage. It will be noted that the
rate of increase in tonnage is greater than
the rate of increase of the number of arri
vals or the number of boats in the trade, thus
demonstrating the inc: eased capacity of boats
now iu the trade over those in years past.
The following table it is believed will show
the correct number of arrivals made' by the
different boats in the trade this season men
tioned below:
BOATS. TKIP9.
A. G. Mason 6
Antelope 105
Audubon 4
Adelia 24
Alhambra 5
Arizonia 1
Atlanta 1
Brazil 4
Belfast 4
Bangor 8
Ben Coursin 1
Ben Bolt 1
Cremonia 12
Commerce 2
'City Belle 17
C. H. Wilson 3
Conewago 10
Clarion 15
Chippewa 3
Cambridge 2
Chenango 1
Comet 1
Denmark 8
Dew Drop 1
Eolian 1
Equator IS
Envoy 11
Eunice 1
Excelsior 2
Editor 1
Endeavor 2
Ered Lorenz 23
Fanny Harris 14
Fire Canoe 6
Frank Steele 20
Falls City 6
Freighter 2
Gen. Pike 1
Galena 2!)
Golden State 10
Grey Eagle 31
Golden Era 18
Granite State 16
Glenwood 2
H. S. Allen 1
H. T. Yeatman 4
Harmonia 9
Hamburgh 8
Henry Graff .8
Henry Clay 9
99 Boats
BOATS. TRIPS.
Itasca 45
Isaac SUelby 27
Jacob Poe 1
J. Bissell 5
James Lyon 7
Jacob Traber. 3
Jennette Roberts 25
Jennie Whipple 8
Keystone 3
Key City 29
Kate French 2
Kentucky No. 2 1
Key West 1
Laclede 2
Lucie May 6
Lacrosse 2
Lake City 1
Mont auk 4
Messenger 0
Minnesota Belle 8
Minnesota 11
Mansfield 4
Medora 20
Milwaukee 49
Metropolitan 6
Northern Belle 28
Northern Light 80
Ocean Wave 40
Orb 5
Oakland.... 3
Progress l
Red Wing . 4
Rescue 0
Rosalie 2
Rocket 1
Reveille 8
Saracen 1
Sam Young 8
Skipper 1
Time and Tide 19
Tishomingo 3
Tigress 8
Vixen 5
War Eagle 29
W. S. Nelson 3
Wave 7
W. H. Denny 1
White Cloud 5
W. L. Ewing 5
Of these boats the f<
allowing have been en
gaged in Prairie du Chien trade : Alhambra,
Milwaukee, Itasca and Ocean Wave—making
138 arrivals.
11l the Dubuque and Dunlieth trade were
the following: Fanny Harris, Grey Eagle,
Golden State, Key Gity and War Eagle—
making about 115 arrivals.
In the Galena and Dunleith trade were
the following boats:—Adelia, City Belle,
Fred Lorenz, Galena, Golden Era, Granite
State, Northern Belle and Northern Light—
making about 200 arrival.
In the Fulton City trade were the Cremo
nia, Falls City, Envoy, Hamburg, Harmonia,
Orb, Rescue and Rosalie—about 60.
In the Minnesota River trade were the
Antelope, Clarion, Equator, Frank Steele,
Isaac Shelby, Jennctte Roberts, J. Bissell,
Medora, Time and Tide and Wave—making
about 240 arrivals.
The A. G. Mason, Audubon, Belfast, Bra
zil, C. 11. Wilson, Conewago, Denmark, Fire
Canoe, Henry Clay, Henry Graff, -Jas. Lyon,
Jacob Traber, Lucie May, Mansfield, Minne
sota Belle, Metrepolitan, Montauk, Oakland,
Orb, Vixen, White Cloud, W. L. Ewing and
W. S. Nelson, were a large portion of the
season regularly in the St. Louis trade—mak
ing about 100 arrivals.
Besides the above there were a large num
ber of transient boats that made one or two
trips apiece, principally from St. Louis and
points on the Ohio River. The arrivals di
rect from Pittsburg number 27.
There were 24 arrivals from Lake Pepin
previous to the breaking up of the ice there
and after the resuming of navigation here
and on the Minnesota River—between the
15th of April and the Ist of May—the 11. S.
Yeatinan, Reveille, Equator, Wave and Time
and Tide making regular trips.
It will thus appear that of the 065 arrivals,
240 were from the Minnesota River, and 24
from points this side of the Lake, leaving the
number of boats that have come to St. Paul
direct from points without the Territory 701
—au increase of 125 over last year.
The following table, prepared from our
files, will show the number of arrivals at this
point during the last fourteen years:
1544 there were 41 arrivals
1945 there were 4s arrivals increase 17 per cent.
1846 there were 24arrivals decreasest)pr. cent,
1947 there were 47 arrivals increase!*) percent.
194 s there were 03 arrivals increase34per cent.
1849 there were S')arrivals increaseßs percent.
1850 there were 104 arrivals increase 25 per cent.
1651 there wore 110 arrivals increased per cent.
1952 there were 171 arrivals increase 44 per cent.
1853 there were 235 arrivals increase 32 percent.
1554 there were 310 arrivals increase 32 percent.
1555 there were 583 arrivals increase 49 percent.
1556 there were 759 arrivals increase 35 per cent!
1557 there were 965 arrivals increase 27 per cent.
—Showing an average annual increase du
ring the last thirteen years of 26 per cent.
The number of boats engaged in the trade
in 1850 were 7 ; in 1851, 11 ; in 1852, 17 ;
in 1853, 23; in 1854, 38; in 1855, 68 ;in
1876, 79; in 1857, 99—showing an average
annual increase of 38 per cent.
The following will exhibit the dates of the
arrival of the “first boat” through Lake Pe
pin, for the last fourteen years :
IS44—Steamer Otter, Capt. Harris April 6.
1945 Steamer Otter, Capt. Harris April C.
1946 Steamer Lyux, Capt. Atchison March 31.
1947 Steamer Cora, Capt. Throckmrrton April 7.
1949—Steamer Senator, Capt. Harris April 7.
1949 Steamer Highland Mary, Capt. Atchison..April 9.
1950 Steamer Highland Mary, Capt. Atchison, April 19.
1951 Steamer Nominee, Capt. Smith April 4.
1952 Steamer Nominee, Capt. Smith April 16.
1853 Steamer West Newton, Capt. Harris April 11.
1854 Steamer Nominee, Capt. Blakely April 8.
ISss—Steamer War Eagle, Capt. Harris April 17.
1856—Steamer Lady Franklin, Capt. Lucas... .April 18.
1957—Steamer Oalera, Capt. Laughton May 1.
The following shows the time of departure
of the “last boat” and the number of days
of navigation during a series of years :
1849, November 19 224 Days of Navigation.
1850, November 18 213 Days of Navigation.
1851, November 20 230 Days of Navigation.
1852, November 10 209 Days of Navigation.
1553, November 22.... 225 Days of Navigation.
1851, November 23 229 Days of Navigation.
1855, November 19 216 Days of Navigation.
1556, November 10 .. .206 Days of Navigation.
1857, November 14 199 Days of Navigation.
From the above exhibit, it appears that
the average period of the arrival of the first
boat through the Lake during the last four
teen years has been on the 11th of April,
aud the average period for the departure of
the last boat during nine years on the 17th
of November. The average number of day’s
navigation during the latter period is 2kG.
It will be seen that we reckon the period
of navigation from the time of the arrival of
the first boat through the Lake—a period
generally ten days later than the clearing of
the river at this point, aud the past season,
fifteen days later.
The following table shows the amount of
wharfage collected during the last three years.
The decided increase during the past season
is in consequence of the rates being changed
from !jji3,oo per boat to five cents per ton :
1555 11,272 00
1866 1,691 00—increase *4BO 00
1857 9,177 30—Increase 7,486 80
The following table shows the annual ag
gregate amount of tonnage (Custom House
measurement,) for each year, and the annual
rate of increase since 1850 :
1850 16,640
1851 19,255—increase 15 per cent.
1852 27,308 —increase 41 per cent.
1858 39,170 —increase 43 per cent.
1854 51,740 —increase 82 per cent.
1855 87,812 —increase 69 per cent.
1856 124,140—increase 41 per cent.
1857 197,268 —increase 69 per cent.
It appears by the above that while the av
erage annual increase in the amount of ton
nage is 43 pjr cent., the increase during the
past year is 59 per cent.
Another “Joke” Exposed.
An article appears in the Pioneer of Sun
day, from the Albert Lea (Freeborn County)
Star, of the 12th, with this awful heading :
“ More Black Republican frauds—a Dem
ocratic member of the House defrauded of
his certificate.”
This Star paper is edited by a man named
Swineford. who, before the election, pre
tended to publish a neutral paper. He him
self ran on a bogus “people's ticket,” in that
Senatorial and Representative District, op
posed to the regular Republican nominations
—the Democrats not daring, in that region,
to sail their own ship with their own colors
flying at the masthead.
Tn spite of all his wiles and counterfeit
neutrality, however, lie and his humbug
“people’s ticket” were badly beaten ; so he
naturally feels in an indignant mood, and the
mask of neutrality 1 eing no longer necessary
for his purpose, it is thrown aside and he
stands revealed a Pro-Slavery Democrat of
the fifth water. Of course, an individual of
so much talent, influence, impudence and
consequence as himself, could not possibly
have been fairly beaten ; the people voted all
right, but somehow, the count of the vote was
wrong; and he strikes right and left terrible
blows at some of the naughty Republican
leaders of that district.
The great point made by him, however, is
the rejection by the county board of canvass
ers, a majority of whom were Republicans, of
a precinct called “Bear Like” in consequence
of which “villainy,” as he calls it, Mr. Geo.
B. Kingsley', who was on the “ People’s tick
et” was defeated, and Dr. Durham, Repub
lican, elected to the House. He hopes Mr.
Kingley will contest the seat.
Far removed as we are here in St. Paul,
from this boiling tempest in a teapot, wc
might not have noticed the ebnlition of the
Starman, had not the Pioneer thoughtfitto re
produce his article in its columns, for the pur
pose, doubtless, of letting the lorgery frauds
of the Sunday caucus up North down easy,
by showing that the Republicans had also
been doing naughty things in the southern
part of the Territory.
A little investigation of this Freeborn coun
ty matter will disappoint our neighbor of this
feeble offset. The facts were some time ago
reported offici dly by the Board of Canyass
ers to the Secretary of the Territory ; and
by giving tin matter a little investigation, it
will be found that this whole difficulty about
“Bear Lake precinct” was occasioned by some
Democratic “gentleman fond of his joke” en
deavoring to “prepare” a “trap for Republi
can gulls”! in that quarter of the world.
What a facetious race the Democratic leaders
arc becoming !
According to our information, the facts are
about in this wise :
Bear Like Precinct, in Freeborn County,
gave honestly 22 Republican, and 23 Demo
cratic votes. Two returns showing this re
sult were made out, one of which was sent to
the Secretary of State, and was received here
in due course of mail. The other was start
ed by a private messenger, for the purpose
of being deposited with the Register of the
county.
Bnt on his way, it seems, he was encoun
tered by some “gentleman fond of his joke”
under whose supervision and instruction the
return? were duly “prepared,” and when they
were finally received and opened at the coun
ty seat, instead of forty-fici votes being polled,
they showed cn their face that in the transit
they had absolutely swelled to over Sixty !
the increase being entirely to the credit of the
bogus “People’s Ticket !”
When the board of canvassers met and
saw this nice “trap set to catch Republican
gulls,” they concluded they were not so gul
lible as to go into it.
They therefore rejected the whole return
as fraudulent; anil thus deprived the “gen
tleman fond of his joke” of the cream of it!
Had not the whole return been spoiled by
the forgery, and had it been counted in the
canvass as it originally was despatched, it
would have made no difference in the result.
Touching Dr. Watson, the Republican Sen
ator elect, wh > in his capacity < f Justice of
the Peace, acted on tho Board of Canvas
sers, no man but an unscrupulous partizan
would venture to impugn his purity of mo
tive in any action which he engages in. Those
who knew him when here at St. Paul the
past summer, as a delegate to the Constitu
tional Convent on, will endorse our opinion of
him as a man of pure conscience and high
principle ; and it is prima facia evidence that
a thing was done up honestly, fairly and cor
rectly, when it is known that he had any
thing to do with controlling the matter.
Ren. Walker and Hi* Filibusters.
The latest dispatches from New Orleans,
dated the 15tb, says that the Steamer, Dick
Keys, which took Walker from the mail boat
in Mobile Bay, had returned, having placed
the (filibusters on Walker’s steamer, Fashion,
which sailed the same day for Nicaragua.
The whole force consists of about 400 men,
with 1,000 stands of arms, and a large quan
tity of munitions aud provisions for three or
four months.
Tho Fashion obtained a clearing for Grey
town, in order to avoid the authorities.
In Washington, the Government Officers
do not fully credit the report that emphatic
instructions have been sent South, with a
view, if possible, to intercept Gen. Walker
and his party. Having got off safely, they
will doubtless proceed to their destination in
safety.
When are We a State ? What can the
Legislature Do T
Notwithstanding that, from our member
ship in the Convention elected to frame the
Constitution, we might be supposed familiar
with the document just adopted by the peo
ple as the fundamental law of our State, we
nevertheless confess to have been pretty ig
norant of many of its details, uDtil an article
in the Pioneer, a week or two since, invoking
every Demoeratie member of the Legislature to
be on hand early, for the election of United, States
Senators, and so forth, induced us to look up !
a copy of the instrument, and bestow upon |
it a more attentive study than any of us were i
able to give it in the Convention, during the
very short interval between its being reported
from the Committee of Conference and its
final adoption—“going it blind,” under the j
pressure of a strong necessity,—by the j
double-headed Constitutional Conventions.
Nor do we think the people at large, are
any better, if so well posted up, in regard to
its various provisions. They too, in voting
for it, did so blindly, trusting to the repre
sentations of the Press, and of their political
leaders on both sides, that there was at least
nothing very objectionable in it; and desir- J
ous, moreover, of being relieved of their
present vassalage to the Federal Govern
ment, and to be able as soon as possible to
choose for themselves who should “rule over
them.” The result of our examination of \
the document, is, in the first, place, to morti
fy us that we should ever have voted in Con
vention, to send out to the people a paper so
full of crudites and inconsistencies, so defec
tive in grammer and so inelegant in style
The Lord, we hope, will forgive us for all our
sins, and this amongst them. For our of
fence there are, however, palliating circum
stances. Had not the Democratic minority
run off from the majority Csnvention, and set
up a bogus body in the west end of the Cap
itol, there would have been no necessity
created, nor “outside pressure” brought
to bear, for the appointment of that
famous Committee of Conference, which virtu
ally was the whole Convention; and even
that Committee had no fai r chance to polish
up its work, hurried as it was, for time, —
precious time lost iu the early week of the
session by the stampede of the Democratic
delegates,— and pressed on to premature
parturition by the anxiety of the members
of the Convention—here without pay, and
bearing their own expenses,—to finish their
labors, and get to their respective homes.—
How be it, this Committee of Conference is
our “ scape goat” as a member of that Con
vention for whatever short comings aud im
perfections the Constitution of Minnesota
may at this writing display to the gaze of the
bewildered student over its pages.
So much for our first deductions conse
quent upon an examination of the document.
Our second conclusion, from such examina
tion, is decidedly adverse, against, and “ for
ninst” the Pioneer's construction of the Con
stitution, that the State Legislature elect,
which is to meet on the 2nd day of Decem
ber next, has any right to choose United States
Senators, or to pass any law, or to do any
thing whatever , except adjourn from day to
day, or a specified time, until the State of Min
nesota has been formally admitted into the Union
by Congress.
How a different opinion can obtain with
anybody, is a mystery inexplicable to our
mind, even after making all due allowance for
the blundering and inconsistencies of our
blundering and inconsistent Constitution.
It is true, Section G of the Schedule, pro
vides as follows:
“Sec. G. The first Session of the Legisla
ture of the State of Minnesota shall com
mence on the first Wednesday of December
next, and shall be held at the Capitol in the
City of St. Paul.”
Thus it is clear, that the first session of the
“State” Legislature, is directed to commence
on the 2nd day of December; but the point
at issue is, what it can do after it is in session?
Can it pass any law ?
The answer to this query is found in Sec
tion 11, of Article IV, as follows :
“Sec. 11. Every Bill which shall have
passed the Senate and House of Representa
tives, in conformity to the rules of each
House, and the Joint Rules of the two Hous
es, shall, before it becomes a, law, be presented
to the Governor of the State,” for his ap
proval, siguature, &c.
By this it is evident, that though the Leg
laturc may meet, yet without “the Governor
of the State,” it can pass no law !
The next question is, can it elect United
States Senators ?
The answer to this is found in another
Section of the same Article, which is also
subjoined :
“Sec. 26. Members of the Senate of the
United States from this State shall be elected
by the two Houses of the Legislature, in
joint Convention, at such times and in such
manner as may be prescribed by law."
There is no escaping here from the inevit
able conclusion, that until provision is made
by law, fixing the “time" and regulating the
“ manner ” of the election, no United States
Senator can Constitutionally be elected by the
Legislature.
And as no law can be passed, without the
assent of the Governor of the State, the ques
tion—
Whether the Legislature will havo any
thing to do when it meets on December 2d?
Resolves itself into the farther question,
Will there be at that time a Governor of
the State in office ?
On this point, let us again consult the
• Constitution, in the first Section of Article
V., relating to the Executive Department :
“Sec. 1. The Executive Department
shall consist of a Governor, Lieutenant Gov
ernor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer
and Attorney General, who shall be chosen
by the electors of the State."
Now, the “ electors of the State” having,
on the 13th of October last, “ chosen ” s.ll
these officers, it might be thought it was
henceforth plain sailing—that nothing more
was to be done, immediately that the official
canvass of the vote is declared and the per
sons elected duly announced, but for them to
take the oaths and enter upon the duties of
their respective offices forthwith.
Iu that case the Legislature could go right
ahead— pass laws and among them, the pre
liminary laws prescribing “ the time and
manner” of electing United States Senators,
and then Rice and Gorman would be speedily
sitting “ cheek by jowl” in the Senate cham
ber at Washington as per programme! What
an interesting spectacle that would be !
Bat alas ! as Burns remarks :
» The best laid schemes of mice and men,
Gang o’ft a glee.”
There is a difficulty, and not a slight one,
in the onward pathway of our State and of
these Statesmen. In the same Article V. of
the Constitution, there is a section which
reads as follows :
“Sec. 7. The term of each of the Execu
tive offices named in the article, shall com
mence upon taking the oath of office, after the
State sh alt be admitted by Congress into the
Union, and continue until the firat Monday in
January, 1860, except the Auditor, wLo shall
continue in office until the first Mouday in
January, and until their successors shall have
been duly elected and qualified.”
By the terms of the above article, it is
plain enough, that the Governor and other Ex
ecutive officers are precluded from taking the
oatlu of office and of entering upon their duties
until after the admission of Minnesota, by Con
gress into the Union !
Consequently, when the Legislature meets
here on the second of December, there will
be no Governor of the State ready to meet
and advise with them, or assent to the pas
sage of any laws they may see fit to frame.—
They are perfectly powerless without him,
and it is a matter of astonishment that men
with any pretension to ability, should risk
their reputation for thought and sagacity by
taking a contrary view.
The eagerness of aspirants for the U. S.
Senate, impatient of waiting for the action of
Congress admitting us into the Union be
fore plucking the golden apple of the U. S.
Senate—is doobeless at the bottom of such
a perverse construction.
The Pioneer of Friday has an article which
we suppose gives all the argument these peo
ple have to offer to sustain their mistaken
views. Among olker things it quotes the
following section from the Schedule to the
Constitution:
“Sec. 5. All Territorial officers, civil and
military, now holding their offices under the
authority of the United States or of the Ter
ritory of Minnesota, shall continue to hold
and exercise their respective offices until they
6hall be superseded by the authority of the
State”
It also remarks:
“This provision continues in office, the pres
ent Federal and Territorial officers, and au
thorizes them to act in conjunction with the
State Legislature, until the Territory is for
mally admitted into the Union by act of Con
gress. * * * *
In voting to aocept that provision, the peo
ple of Minnesota virtually voted to make
Gov. Medarv Executive until his successor,
elected on the second Tuesday of October,
should be inducted into office.
This we believe, is the view taken by Gov,
Medaky ; and he will communicate officially
with the State Legislature, upon its assem
blage.”
Now, is this not the very “error i’ the
moon.” The provision of the constitution
they quote—a harmless and simple one mere
ly to continue the functions of the Territorial
Executive Officers during the short time that
might possibly elapse between the admission
of the State by Congress, and the swearing
in of the officers elect—is wrested for parti
zan purposes to mean, that Gov. Medarv,
Secretary Chase, aud other Federal Territo
rial Officers, are now officers of the State, du
ly elected by the, people through their adop
tion of the State Constitution I
Was ever anything so‘'absurd ! We do
not believe that Gov. Mkdary himself takes
any such position. He has more common
sense. Why look at it. The provision it
self continues them merely as Territorial
officers ; and says they shall perform the du
ties of ‘'their respective offices”—certainly,
meaning their Territorial officers, only !
If there was any doubt of the soundness
of the position we have taken, in this matter,
a reference to one other,—and we might refer
to several other—provisions of the Constitu
tion, will be sufficient to “make assurance
doubly sure.”
The last clauso of Sec. 1 of the Schedule
reads as follows.:
“All process which may be issued under
the authority of the Territory of Minnesota,
j previous to its admission into the Union of the
United States, shall be as valid as if issued iu
the name of the State”
Here the Territory of Mmnesta is plainly
referred to, as existing up to the moment of its
admission into the Union.
If that is the case, how car. the State Le
gislature that is to meet on the 2nd of De
oeraber, do anything whatever, and what
right has the federal Governor of the Terri
tory, to communicate with, or have anything
to say to it ?
None whatever.
He has taken an oath to support the Or
ganic Act of Congress, which recognizes a
Council not exceeding 15, and a House of not
over 39 members, as the Legislative Assem
bly of the Territory.
Yet here will be assembled as a State Le
gislature a body of 37 Senators aud 80
members of the House.
By no process of transmutation could this
body be made a Territorial Legislature ; any
more than Gov. Medary can be transmuted
into being the first Governor ef the State of
Minnesota!!
—Better give that game up, 0 aspirants for
United States Senate ; and wait a little
longer for the good time coming !
The meeting of the State Legislature on the
2d of December is simply a blunder of the
Constitution ; and another blunder extant is,
that the people did not elect a Territorial
Legislature ! Only in St. Anthony, and in
Houston and Pembina Counties were they
wise enough to do this. Had members
thcrerf been universally chosen,we should not
lie iu the “dead lock” we certainly will be in
this winter, without one. But, it’s no use
crying for spilt milk.
The Destruction of the 11. s. Train by
the “Saints.n
By reference to the latest news column, it
will be seen that the rumor given a few days
since, of a Government train having been
destroyed by the Mormons, is abundantly
corroborated.
There can scarcely now remain any doubt
that the Mormons intend to act in open hos
tility to the United States, and resist them to
the last. The Administration stems from the
first to have disbelieved that the Mormons
were in. earnest in their threats, and even
now, dispatches say, it “is undecided what
course it will pursue.”
Tue last advices from Col. Johnson, who
had a force of two thousand men in hi s com
mand, state that they had gone into winter
quarters near South Pass, whe.e “they are
in no peril whatever from either the Mor
mons or the season, and that tho expedition
will not suffer the slightest inconvenience
from the destroyed trains.
The daring acts of these ontlawed fanatics
show that inflamed by their reckless leaders,
they will endeavor to make good their threats.
The assembling of the faithful at Salt Lake
shows some bold coup d'etat is meditated. —
Doubtless their mode of warfare was to have
been a guerilla species of fighting—to have
picked off, harassed and surrounded parties
of the troops while separated in the defiles of
the mountains. But now that the U. S.
troops have gone into winter quarters, the
war will probably remain in statue quo, with
oat any move on either side, until spring.
To see a sturdy fellow with a cigar in his
mouth which cost as mach as a loaf of bread
following a band of music and carrying a ban
ner with the inscription, “Broad or Work,’’ is
an alarming spectable.
|jh