Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-04-10

Ofthe Territorial Republican Conventiom, to the
PeOple of Minnesota.

We are together to deliberate on subjects vital
ly connected with the general welfare; and de-
cent regard to the opinions of those who with us
| are called to lay the foundations and mould the
institutions of another American State, prompts
the preparation and publication of this address.
The last twelve-mOnth has wrought remarkable
political revolution throughout the northern states
Old partizan combinations have been overthrown,
| and an energetic refOrmatory movement has meas
uraby succeeded in bringing the State Admins
tratiOn back to the control of those republican
principles which furnish foundation for the tenn
pie of our national liberty and greatness.
1t is true the Kansas Nebraska Act, which
threw open to Slavery an immense region long
consecrated to Freedom by solemn act of the
government, furnished the immediate occasion for
the sublime demonstrations of popular sentiment
at the last annual elections in the Free States
but the long continued evil workings and aggres-
sions of Slavery had not only prepared the way
for this outrage, but had also prepared the minds
of majority of northern men to take ground
against it. When the Slave Power in addition to
all its previous encrOachmentS, imperiouSly de-
manded access to all unoccuped territory as a
constitutional right, that demand, proved too
much for the over-tasked forbearance of north
ern freemen. And as the Wing leaders had hope
lessly shattered their party by endeavoring to har-
ness it into the Fugitive Slave Act, under the
pretense of &c saving the Union,"] SO that other
party, which VIGOROUSLY swept over the North at
the last Presidential election has been brought into
a helpless minority by the efforts of its leading
men to engraft upon it the policy of Slavery
propagandism, lunder pretence of 'spopular SOW
crignty.''1 The thunderbolt of an indignant poo
Plies rebuke has smitten down almost every North
ern Representative who cast vote repeating the
Missouri Compromises and every northern Sem
ator chosen for the past year is fully pledged to
carry out the principles Of Freedom.
But other causes besides opposition to Slavery
have helped to bring about this great change
For long time national and State politics have
festered with dcep-scated corruptions. Bad men
have borne rule, and the land has mourned be-
cause Of them. The elections have been controll-
cd by the shrewdnesS of their management; and
thus all the departments of government have been
perverted and made the mere machinery of selfish
partizans and greedy Office seekers. In dismiss
ing from public life the men who have proved
subseryient to the behess of Slavery. the people
have summoned into service men from among
themselves-men less contaminated by contact
with public corruption. 1t is no longer a proverb
that 4 man is too good to hold office" Under
the new order of things reliable integrity is de-
manded as first qualification.
Cooperating with the anti-slavery sentiment in
producing these results, has been the temperance
sentiment. No permanent political reform can be
hoped for, where thousands of grog shops in
full blast corrupting the morals and debluch-
ing the principles of large portion of society.
Hence there has been natural affinity between
the friends of Prohibitory Law, the friends of
Civil Liberty and the friends of Political Reform.
A majority of the Northern States, have given
their voices in favor of supprcssins that traffic
which is double curse both to individuals and
society while in the remaining states it is only
IN liter Of time.
The masses of freemcn who have separated
from their old party connections and thrown
themselves INFO this young and vigorous move
ment, have, in several of the States, assumed the
strong name of ''REPUBILcANs''-a name which
justly associates them with the earlier and purer
days OF the c0untry-a name suggestive of no.
bic Independence, and of the true nature of the
I'm rican Government. We believe the principle
which underes their movement is the same which
gave birth to the nation-tha same which mould.
ell the very language Of the immortal Declara-
tion-the same which furnishes basis for the
Constitution iself-eycn that righteous demo-
cratic prime. pie which recognizes the natural and
equal rights of all mankind, which constructs and
maintains governments for the maintenance and
security of those rights, and which cnacts and
enforccS laws with continuous and sacred re-
gard to justice, morality. political economy, and
the advancing welfare of the whole people.
We desire to SCI party controlling the dcsti-
MES of Minnesota, which shall firmly take its
stand on such q principle, and which shall en-
body in itself an honest purpose to apply that
principle to all the details and departments of
government. The danger that such II party, once
organized and successful, would soon become as
corrupt as its predecessors, is not a valid reason
against its organization: for whenever that de-
generacy takes place-whcncver the party aban-
dons its own principles--it will be the duty of
honest men to discard the party, and abide by the
principles. The downward tendency of all roliti-
cal parties makes these peaceful revolutions a
necessity and the only hope for the salvation of
the Republic is in that self-preserving instinct
which prompts the intelligent masses of the peo-
pie to refuse to follow their leaders, whenever it
becomes apparent that those leaders have turned
aside from The path of political virtue.
There strong reasons why such party
should nO,c be organized in this Territory. The
circumstance that we have as yet no voice in the
halls of Congress has not prevented the old par
ties from attempting an organization but there
has as yet been no organization which looked be-
yond the success of particular candidates, or be-
You'd party triumphs, and asserted the great end
for which governments should exist. Our cleo
tons have generally been mere squabbes for pet
ty office, paltry gain or sectional advantage and
each canvass, conducted without regard to prin-
ciple-without appeal to the higher feelings of
citzens-has but helped to degrade the public
sentiment, and rob the elective franchise of its
dignity. Parties we have had, but they have
brought us no blessings. Many good laws have
been passed, and some worthy men have been
placed in Office but the general course and
methods of legislation have been narrow, selfish
and unworthy Of Il Christian people and, in nu-
merOus instances, the robes of Office have been dis
honored and defled by men who sought to az
grandize themselves at the expense of those whose
trust they abused.
The extent and strength of the liquor influence,
already alarming, is On the increase. The posi-
tive prohibition of the injurious traffic has once
been commanded by direct vote of the people;
but so long as no party at the ballot-box insists
upon the election of men favorable prohibition,
we seem destined to go unprotected. And while
all the States south and east of us are taking e.
fectivc measures to close up their grog- Shops we
are peculiarly exposed to the Eruption of a class
of settlers whose presence among us no well-wish-
er to the prosperity of Minnesota can desire
No existing party is doing anything to prepare
the public mind for the adoption of State Con-
stituton which shall be conformed to the funda-
mental ideas of Republicanism nor to pave the
way for such a representation in Congress from
the future State of Minnesota as shall assure her
influence against the extension of Slavery and in
favor of universal liberty and equality. Wesub-
NIT that such preparatory work is important,
and furnishes weighty reason for an Immediate
and efficient organization.
No sing measure is a sufficient ground for the
organization of permanent political party. IL
should decide every public measure upon its own
merits, and should lend its influence and sanction
to the advancement of whatever can elevate and
dignity humanity always, however, keeping with
in the bounds assigned by the Constitution and
never encumbering the body polite with needless