The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-04-25

of territorial governments. That IS to
say, the non-interventIon recommended
by the President, and that contended for
by Gen. Cass differ in this alone, that the
former favors the organization of no new
territories, but their admission as states
as soon as the number Of inhabitants
will warrant such a step, while the latter
urges the establishment of territorial
governments, where necessary for the
protection of the people, without append
ing the Wilmot Proyiso. Both therefore
leave the question of slavery to be set
tied by the people themselves. Imention
these facts, not to express any opinion
as to the merits of either plan, but to
show that the Chronicle is wanting in its
usual candor, when it denounces Mr..
Cass for upholding basis Of settlement,
which is essentially the same as that for
which it applauds Gen. Taylor so warm
ly for originating.
The fact is also noticed in the Chron-
icle, accompanied by rather severe
commentary, that your delegate sends
the speeches Of southern members, as
well as northern, into the Territory. |
take it for granted that as it is his wish
to give to his constituents a true state
ment of affairs in the capitol of the ma
ton, he can only do SO by forwarding
documents which emanate from both
Houses of Congress, rejecting every
shade of opinion, and which form part
Of the history of the times. If he has
despatched number of Cass' speech,
he has also of those of Clay and Web
ster in equal proportions; if he has frank
ed some ofClingman' s almost reasonable
harangues. SO ne has of the productions
also of the strong northern man Bissell,
and the classical Winthrop, in far great
er quantities. The absurdity of the sup
position, that he should be held respon-
sible for the sentiments contained in any
speeches, but his own, which he deems
1t proper to place before his constituents
for their perusal, is too great to be con-
troverted. 1t is not for him, as dele
gate connected with no party, and STU
diously avoiding all expression of poiti-
cal preferences here, to constitute him.
self the arbiter of the people he repre-
sents, and to confine his attentions to
them, merely to documents which reflect
his own peculiar views on any subject
1t has been his aim to demonstrate to
them, that dark and dangerous schemes
existed against the permanence of this
glorious Union, that fanatics north and
south with the connivance and aid Of
men in high places, had united for its de-
struction, while the true patriots and
lovers of country were seeking some CON-
mon ground upon which the north and
south mieht meet, and settle the present
controversy at once and forever. That
such middle ground will eventually
be occupied, is his hope and his prayer,
for it is useless to disguise the fact, OF
which every sane man In and out Con-
gress is convinced, that great danger to
the confederacy has existed and does
still exist. For any Representative be-
lieving this, to cry peace! peace! to the
section from whence he comes, would
be shameful dereliction of duty, OF
which trust your delegate will not be
guilty. He is a northern man in all his
habits of life and thought, opposed to
slavery in every form as moral and po-
litical evil. and utterly averse to It's ex-
tension into Territory now free. But
with all this, he is an American, bound
by solemn oath to support the constitu-
ton, and to respect its guarantees, and
with these obligations resting upon his
soul, it cannot be supposed that he can
sympathize with disunionists, fanatics or
nullfiers, whoever they are, or whatev-
er guse they may assume.
/ have been induced to 90 more into
detail in this communication, than in
tended, however it is of importance that
the position of the Delegate should not
be misunderstood, nor that of your COR
respondent.
1t is to be regretted that Congress is
not progressing more rapidly in the trans
action Of the public business. The sub
ject of the admission of California, and
others more or less connected with the
slavery question, continue TO be discuss
ed from day to day in both Houses.
The order of the Secretary of War
for the sale of such portions of the re-
serve at Fort Smelling as are not needed
ioT iuiiltdiy purposes, has peSh uSpeHu-
ed to await the action of Congress on
the bill now before it,
The Republic, and other leading pa
pers of both political parties are down
most severely upon Mr.. Seward, for
having asserted in his speech that there
was power above and beyond the con-
stitution, which would influence him IN
his course with regard to slavery. Pref
ty strong language for man, who so
lately, took an oath to support the Con
sttution of the United States as Sen
ator. "a it-t Rt> ACU0,
The bill to refund pl2 ,000to the Win
nebagoes for an amount illegally paid to
one McFarlane out Of their annuities,
several years since, by order of the Sec
rotary of War, Mr.. Porter, has passed
the Senate, and is now before one Of the
committees Of the House.
/ hope the Chronicle will do me the
justice to copy such part of this commu-
picafion as NAV he deemed necessary to