The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-10-07
The DemOcrat--Its position Oh Caucus
es-Its Editorial Corps, &C., &c.

The Democrat, Of this city, published an
editorial, Thursday evening, on the subject
of Conventions which commenced with a
falsehood, was built up with impertinences,
and ended with braggadocio. 1t began
with copying a call, signed a. VAN ErrEN,
Chairman Wig. Conn.," and states that it
was taken from the PIONEER, of Yesterday"
(the 4th.) The call, as printed, never ap-
peared in the PIONEER of any date, and the
assertion is consequently falsehood.
1t contained illusions personal to ourself
and others, entirely unwarranted, which
were impertinent in themselves, and doubly
impndent in consideration of their source.
1t closed with confident prophecy as to
the action of the people, which, under the
circumstances of the case, was the very
height Of braggadocio.
Following the course adopted by the
upholders of the railroad swindle through
out the Territory, the Democrat attempts.
by casting discredit upon the, call to which
hundreds of honest men and Democrats res
ponded on Thursday night, to break up the
organization Of the Democracy, and prevent
its further separate and independent action.
The call under which the Democracy con-
vened, was in all respects fair and legiti-
mate. Democrats, in the first instance,
everywhere, feel themselves bound to follow
the direction of their appointed officers,
when these act strictly in the line of duty
con6ded them. For the purpose of en-
surfing promptitude and regularity in their
Conventions, persons are selected and char
ged with the duty of calling together the
members Of the party in primary conven-
ton. When these persons perform their
duty, all true Democrats feel bound to res
pond to their call. But when these agents
neglect or refuse to perform the functions of
their appointment, that neglect or refusal is
a virtual defamation of their trusts, and the
power which had been delegated to them,
results back to the body Of the party. The
persons selected by the Democracy of this
Council District, to convene their pri-
mary Convention, have, at least some of
them, neglected their duty. Up to within
five days of an important election, no means
had been taken to secure the presentation
of candidates before the people, for their
suffrages. The mass of the Democracy,
feeling a deep interest in the election,
waited until the latest reasonable limit of
time when, finding that no action was
likely to be taken by those to whom they
had confded the duty Of calling them to-
gether, they met under the call to which
the Democrat takes especial exception
They placed tho stamp Of regularity upon
it by the generality Of their presence, and
the enthusiasm Of their action.
1t has been a matter of surprise that a
paper professedly Democratic, should pro
test against Democratic organization. But
the thing is past marvel, when you look at
the politics of its conductors. Its nominas
editor, Mr.. EMERSON is not now, and never
has been a Democrat An open, avowed,
and active Wing before he came to Mime
sofa. he remained SO here, until the political
exigencies of, the man who owns him, re-
quired different profession. Those exigen-
cies happened to point towards the Demo
cratic party, and hence Mr.. EMEasox is q
Democrat. He would have remained q
Wing, or become, instead, an Abolitionist, or