The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-07-28
For the Minnesotian.
Measure ., Not Men.


~m Measures, NOT Men.
In view of the approaching contest, 1t be-
comes every one of rs, not only as citizens o.
Minnesota. but as toestern men, to examine
carefully into the nature Of the issues which
are at stake. The election of a Delegate from
our Territory is a matter which deeply con-
Germs MS all. He represents the general char
acter of our Territory abroad, and the princ'-
niles which be ADVOCATES are presumed to be
such as arc sustained by the majority of our
people, His character therefore, politically, is
our cbaracterl This being the case, it would
be the supremest folly to allew even personal
prediction to compromise our reputation be-
fore the world. "Who our Delegate" shall be.
is of Insignificant Importance, compared with
the great principles of which he is selected to
be the champion! A few worthless dema-
gogues, eager to promote their own interests,
are always placing themselves in conspicuous
positions in order to manufacture capital for
this man, or to heap calumny upon that! !
Brainless fools may heed such selfish inccndia
ries; but men of sense despise both them and
their work. Their extravagant praises and de
nunciations alike show the looseness of their
principles, and the hollowness OF their minds
send forth only harmless sounds. Words have
no force, except when backed by reason and
| by sense. These qualities wanting, one cannot
but laugh at the innocence of these scribblers,
who think they have created candidate here
! bu a puff or extinguishcd one there by squib!
When we see a man industriously engaged in
detracting from his neighbours reputation, We
naturally suspect he must have some malicious
| object in view. This suspicion takes from the
calumny all power, and hurls it back with
double force upon its author. "Ihis man
wants that mans office" we say, and there we
| stop, and waste no more words upon the mat.
ter We make these remarks, because so much
is said nowadays about personal merits and
| dement's, and so little about great principles |!
| 1t makes. but little difference to US, what man
may be chosen as our representative, SO long
as he is honest and capable. and Jealous TO carry
out the principles and wishes of those whom he
is sent to represent. 1t requires but a small
degree of sagacity to interpret rightly the sig
nifcant signs of the times. Western men,
though not abolitionists, are true friends of
liberty and human right. They are opposed to
the extension of Slave Territory. They are de-
sirous to- restrain the malady of Slavery within
| its present limits; and more than this, they are
determined to do SO The great West has been
settled since the passage of the act called the
Missouri Compromise" Each pioneer who
has come to this magnificent region to End a
free home, has come here under that solemn
guarantee Of Liberty. which so recently has
| been repudiated by an unjust and selfish ad-
minstration! Why does immigration flow ex-
clusively to the Vorth-west-why does it not
flow equally into the more genial regions of the
'baln,y SOUTH" The answer forces itself at
once upon the mind. Immigrants can tolerate
for time the Inconvenience of an Indian
neigh6orhood, but they cannot aid will not set
tie in country that is under the dominion OF
Slavery! Introduce this institution into the
free West, and immigration would Immediately
be checked. The development of the country
would be retarded and put back thousand
interest of every aceStern man (whatever his
politics may beg to oppose every measure,
which may tend to introduce Slavery into free
dom's Territory!
The "Kansas and Nebraska act'' was an act
conceived in sin and brought forth in inaui-
ty." 1t was intended as dainty morsel for
the South. and was sugared over with an i'm
mortal and universally acknowledged princi-
pie, in order possible to qualify it to the taste
of northern freemen. Every man who voted
for this Infamous breach, of trust, although in
| expectancy of the Presidency. or at least of a
foreign mission, would find it now difficult to
be even elected to respectable Coasta6leship'
Demagogues may laugh aud sneer, but truth
will bear any amount of such warfare, and treat
it and its authors with true. contempt! Who
ever our next Delegate may be-; it is, think,
quite sure that he will not be among the sym.
pathizers and abettors of scheme for extend
ing the limits of Slavery. We do not want q
fanatic, and do not hold men of this class in much
esteem-but we want an honest mana man
who would pay his note. even if it had been
d,a,on on Sunday" without endeavorng to
sl.irk responsibility, on the ground of uncon-
ttitutionalty or illegality.
,. b.. A DEMOCRAT.
Answer to the Democrats Winona Correspou-