The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-02-21

1oe 8ebobaseaWo ~ Aoo0 Wsosovs
A Republican caucus was held at the Capt.
tol the Other evening, to nominate delegates to
attend The preliminary Nai,cna! Convention Of
that party. which Is to be held in Pittsbwsh,
Pennsylvania. On the 21d Of the present month.
The principal object 81 the meeting, however,,
ard Of the speakers, appears TO have beento
glorify Mr. BAsEs, the successful candidate Tor
the Speakership Of the House. Among the
speakers was Mr.. Moz1ox 8. wnxixsos, q
gentleman whose attachment TO freedom and
prohibition failed to secure him . sat in the
Council, las, fall, when the people Of St. Paul
we're called 90 to pass upon his principles, and
those Of his party In the report Of Mr.. WIZ
xISsox-s speech in the Times, we find the fol-
lowing paragraphs. among other rhetorical
jewels - S
IN. YES pe,ssi 70 ana The Kns~ Nothing. hal voted
the Demoersts for had been one of the grsatest
cans being connected with the Knov Noshings-bs,
ihe recent vote In Congress clearly proved that secret
Undertaking existed between the Democracy and
Ksov Nethings-
.Ths Kssw -Sothinsx received severe easusaiion At
the hsods u The speaks and be clearly demonstrated
hos knowSothngs were elected 10 Congress q anti
Nebraska msa and had made coalition with Nsbfssks
Democrats"
A studied silence in reference to facts known
to oil intelligent men, gross pererions Of the
truth, and most unblushing impotence, are the
main features Of the portion Of Mr.. WmKIs'
soy address We quote. Mr.. W.does not state
openly, yet by implication be seeks to convey
the impression, that the Democratic members
Of Congress sympathze with the Know-Noth
ings in their principles. and coalesce with them
in their political action. What Is equally as
tonishing, Is the orators attempt to place the
great Republican party in opposition to
know-Nothingism, or rather presenting the
Republicans as the opponents Of the allied
Dcmocratsand Americans Republican elitors
too, in Minnesota, are pursuing the same tactics
aud VIC have recently read in some Of their pa
pers appeals to foreigners to beware Of the
Democratic party as the ally Of the Know. n 9th
ing organization.
We most emphatically repudiate aud deny
all such statements and limitations, whether
put forth by CALLED political aspirants, or un
/ scrnpalous presses. The Democratic party
does not now, nor has it ever, sought assistance
from any political organization, at the sacrifice
of long-cherishcd principles. And we assert
without fear Of an attempt even, at contradic
tion. that the political history Of the country
will show the Democratic party TO have been
the consistent and untiring opponent Of al!
schemes designed to abridge the rights and
privileges Of forcign-born citizens, from the
memorable era Of President ADAMS alien and
sedition law, down to the birth Of Know n 9th
ingism, the latest offspring Of political intoler
ance and religious bigotry. The conduct Of The
Democratic members Of the National House o.
Representatives, to which Mr.. WILKINSON par
ticularly refers, is without bIemish, and stand.
out in bold relief, when compared to the courss
ofpolcy pursued BY the Northern Fusion party
The Democratic members had II in their power
to secure the choice Of one oftheir own number
as Speaker Of the House, by the smallest con
cession--no sacrifice Of principle was asked
But all overtures were refused. and the Dem
ocracy of the House entered into the con
test for the Spcakership, the only party in
that Hall which had the courage or disposition
to announce in unmistakable language, its hos
tility TO the proscriptive measures Of the Know
Nothngs. Nor was that position abandoned
for moment no candidate received the vote
OF single Democrat, during the long series
Of ballotings, who did not heartily endore the
platform laid down at the commencement Of
the struggle, which repudiated al sympathy
with the Americans. These facts, Mr.. WnKIy-
SON should have remembered; and also, that no
Democratic State Legislature, Democratic
Convention, State, County or Precinct, or Dem.
ocratic press, recognized as such. has ever BY
word or deed, expressed any feeling bu, that oil
determined hostility to that party. so much
for the position Of the Democratic party on
this question and now let us examine the Re.
publican record and see Il It will hear equal
scrutiny.
This Mr.. NArnANIEL f. BANKS, OF Massa
chusetts, who has Just been elected Speaker
and about whose success our Minnesota Re.
publicans are 40 jubilaut, is an out and out
Know NOTHING. He was the candidate Of the
midnight lodges in his district for Congress.
and as such was elected. This same Mr.. BANKS,
took solemn oath that he would prosecute
Catholics, and prescribe foreigners from the en-
joyment Of all political rights, II he had
not subscribed to this disgracefal oath. he
would not now I've in Congress And vet, in
the face OF thcSc facts, which he very well
knew, Mr.. WILKINSON mpudently intimaies
the Democrats and Know Nothings are iusiug.
Nor is this all lone half Of the so called Re-
publicans, in Congress. are Know Nothings,
and have taken solemn oaths to prescribe and
prosecute the foreign born. CAMPBELL Of Ohio,
whom the Republicansfrst supporteifor Speak.
er, is high prizes, in the order; 20 is CoLrAx
Of Indiana and Of the New England delega-
ton in the House, the only man who Is not
Republican and Know Nothing. Is Mr.. FriaER
Democrat, Of Maine. From Pennsylvania.
majority Of the supporters Of BAsxs, belong
TO the dark lantern order
We have instanced sufficient number how
ever. to indicate the truth Of our position. In
all the speeches which have been made since
the opening Of Congress by the Republicans.
we have not seen reported, a single sentence