Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-06-06
"a FUNNY PAPER"

"a FUNNY PAPER"
We consider it unnecessary to notice what the
Pioneer thinks Of the Times or its editor, but in
order to explain the heading of this article we
are obliged to quote the long looked-for position
of our contemporary on the question OF Slavery
which at present ugitatcs the country. With
ont sioor;nr to personal reflections. we propose
% give the Pioneer the full benefit of its views,
and therefore copy the following
..The Times will not by this, or any other prov
o.ation, drive us into discussion of the slavery
question, or of any other subject now before the
public, which hangs upon It,"
|. The Times did not seek to drive the Pho
neer ..into discussion of the Slavery question"
it merely gave its own views on the passage OF
the Nebraska Bill, and if the Pioneer had no views
or if it had and felt unwilling to express them,
it had no right, Git certainly was IN bad taste) 10
ridicule the views of its cotemporary. II 1t wish
cd to take up the question on its merits. ana DIS
cuss it, we were perfectly willing to do so, but
we were not. and are not now disposed to throw
mud balls Just for the sake of binding the eyes
of the People In this respect the Pioneer is GER
tainly a 8. funny paper" But it remarks:
~We have no sympathy with professional slave
~ aritatcrs. Northern or Southern: but, consid-
cred politically. the most unmiXed contempt. we
believe that the a.itations of the last quarter
century have produced more harm to the slave,
and thrown more obstacles in tho way OF MS
emancipation, than the efforts of all true philan-
thropists can cure and remove III the hall celtu y
10 come. We dcprecatc II as working no Sooo,
but evil, continually"
-. Neither do we sympathzo with those who
are continually agitatng tho Slavery question,
particularly when that agitation tends to fasten
the bands of Slavery more tightly. Politically
considered, this agitation is a great curse to the
country. and knowing these facts and utterlng
these sentiments we are surprised that the Pioneer
should in the remotest degree give its countenance
to the originator Of the Nebraska Bill who, it is
we'll known, only sought by its introduction into
the Senate. to rain the favor Of the South, and
thus pave his way TO the Presidential chair. Pre-
,ious to the introduction Of that Bill, the aSita-
ton of Slavery had ceased-the compromise OF
1920, embracing, in substance, the sentiments OF
the ordinance of 1877, had stilled the waves OF
discord and while the whole country was turning
its attention to the Pacific Railroad, Northern
man with Southern principlcs-a man who had
repeatedly said in his speeches that the compro-
mise of 1920 could not be disturbed-a traitor to
better
tinction,--soley for the purpose Of gratifying
that ambition. matter at what cost, threw the
Grebrand into the Councils Of the nation which
has been the means of creating greater excite
,aant and committing a foulcr wrong than was ever
before thrust upon our happy land. We can
agree with the Pioneer in its remark, that for
such we entertain ''thc most unmixcd contempt
and we must say that when we find an editor de-
prccatnc the agitation of Slavery by political
whippcrs-in on the one hand, and on the other
wnking at If not unfolding the very agitators
themselves, we are forced TO believe that such an
citor is . funny editor and such journal
- funny paper"
Even if we had faith in the virtue of agitation,
We should regard it the height OF folly to COM
mcncc or countenancc it, among people who.
from their political position, can make no author
itative demonstration on the subject. Aliens, by
our Territorial position, from the general politics
of the country, we cannot make our voice, either
of approval or condemnation, heard or felt, where
alone it can be made elective. There are other
subjects on which can employ our thought and
labor, TO more practical advantage"
8. Here we differ very materially with the Pr
on.er. We believe We have right to express
oar condemnation Of palpable wrong as the
Nebraska Bill, and that the expression of that
wrong, emanating from the people, will have its
influence at Washington. Because we are aliens
by oar territorial position,' is no reason why we
should sit quietly down and suck our thumbs when
the country is being torn in twain by political Jug
glers. 'sCannot make our voice hcardr' Why
not? Arc we no body, but the mere cats paw of
Douglas & Co? This is paying high compli-
ment to the Intelligence Of our people and one
which We fear they will fail to appreciate. No
sir; this is wrong,-we hare influence, and the
very men who have played the game of selling
their souls to the South, for Office are looking to
Minnesota, when she becomes State, for pOtl-
Cd prefcrment. Mark that. And it has been the
hope Of these and the prayer of those who
pretend TO guide public opinion here, that nothing
should be said whereby the people could be arous-
cd and onvinced of the dastardly wrong heaped
upon them. A voice should 90 up from every
hamlet in the land, from one end of the country
to the other prcclaiming in tones of thunder that
the PEOPLE will not sanction the consummation
of the Nebraska fraud, and then politicians will
begin to learn that they cannot set at defiance the
wishes of those from whom they derive their po-
sition and their power.
The Pioneer closes its article with the remark
that it can find other matters on which to devote
its "energy and capacity, without con suming time
upon subjects at once proitless and distasteful."
The Nebraska question may be ''proftless and
distasteful' to the editor, because he is on the
wrong side, but even this shall not prevent the
Times from condemning the acts of those, who,
to promote their interests are willing to sac
rifce solemn compacts, compromises, in fact any
and every agreement which may stand in the way
of their success. We are not surprised that the
Pioneer considers the subject distastcful. 1t
has pursued Il funny course anu justly earned
the title of the 8" funny paper"
LAND OrrIcE ArroINrMENT.-We learn that Mr..
Odds, of the firm of Rosser & Olds, lawyers, has
been appointed Register of the Land Office at
Minneapolis. His appointment has been confirm
ed. 1t is good selection.
We also learn that John II. Mckinney has been
appointed Receiver at tho Root River Land Dis
trict at Brownsville and John R. Bennett, Regis
ter. Also, Roswell p. Russell Receiver at the
N:,no,po1;, District