The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-08-02
From the Galena Advertiser.
Lfnceln On Disunisn.

|
Hon. Abram Lincoln hits the nail on the
head every time, and in this instance it win
| be seen. he has driven itentirely outof sight,
If we succeed as.well as we anticipate in
Reproducing from memory his argument in
relation to "Disunion."
Mr.. Lincoln was addressing himself to the
opponents of Fremont and the Republican
party, and had referred to the charge of "sec-
tionalism," and then spoke something as
follows in relation to another charge, and
said:
"You further charge US with being Dis
unionsts If you mean that it is our aim TO
dissolve the Union, for myself answer, that
! is untrue; for those who act with me l an
swer, that it is untrue. Have you heard us
assert that as our aim? Do you really be-
leve that such is our aim? Do you find it
in our platform, our speeches, our converse
ton, or anywhere If not, withdraw the
charge.
"But, you may say, that though it is not
your aim, it will be the result if we succeed,
and that we are therefore Disunionists in
fact. This is grave charge youmake against
US, and we certainly have right to demand
that you specify in what way we are to dis
solve the Union. How then are We to effect
this?
s'The only specification offered is volun-
teered by Mr.. Fillmore, in his Albany speech.
His charge is, that if we elect President
and Vice President both from the F. States,
it will dissolve the Union. This is open fol-
ly. The Constitution provides, that the Pres
ident and Vice President ofthe United States
shall be of different States; but says nothing
as to the latitude and longitude of those
States. In 1928, Andrew jackson of Tenn
and John c.. Calhoun of South Carolina,
were elected President and Vice President,
both from Slave States; but no one thought
of dissolving the Union then, on that account.
In 1910, Harrison of Ohio, and Tyler fVa.,
were elected. In l84l, Harrison died, and
John Tyler succeeded to the Presidency, and
William r. King, of Alabama, was elected
Acting Vice President by the Senate /; but
no one supposed that the Union was in dan
ger. In fact, at the very time MIR. Fillmore
uttered this idle charge, the state Of things
in the United States disproved it. Pierce Of
New Hampshire, and Bright of Indiana
both from the Free States-are President
and Vice President; and the Union stands,
and acM stand You do not contend that it
ought to dissolve the Union, and the facts
show that it won'1 therefore, the charge
may be dismissed without further consider
alton.
ssNo other specification is made, and the
on'y one that could be made is, that the res
toration of the restriction of '97, making the
United States Territory free Territory, would
dissolve the Union. Gentlemen, it will re-
quire decided majority to pass such an act
We the majority, being able Constitutionally
to do all that we purpose, would have no de-
sire to dissolve the Union, Do yousay that
such restriction of Slavery would be uncon-
Istitutional and that some of the States would
not submit to it's enftrcement2 Igrant you
that an unconstitutional act is not law
but do not ask, and will not take your con-
struction of the Constitution. The Supreme
Court of the United States is the tribunal to
decide such questions, and we will submit to
it's decisions; and if you do also, there will
be an end to the matter. Will you? If
not, who are the Disunionists, you or we?-
We, the majority, would not strive to dis
solve the Union; and if any attempt is made
it must be by yoa, who SO loudly stigmatize us
as Disunonists. But the Union, in any
event, won't be dissolved. We don't want 10
dissolve it, and if you attempt it, zoe 0oat let
you. With the purse and sword, the army,
and navy, and treasury in our hands and at
our command, you couldn't oft. The Cow
eminent would be very weak, indeed, if
majority, with disciplined army and navy,
and well-filled treasury, could not preserve
itself, when attacked by an unarmed, undis-
ciplined, unorganized minority.
GAIL this talk about the dissolution Of the
Union is humbug-nothing but folly. Ne
WON'T dissolve the Union, and you sHAN'T.
WE find the following letter from Mr..
Knox in Boston paper. It was written in
reply to friend who doubted the statement
he saw in the papers, that Mr.. K. was on
the stump for Fremont and Dayton
Rock ISLAND, July 7.
Dear Sir: Yes, am the veritable 10.
Knox, from Worcester county, Mass, to
whom you and the Atlas allude.
wish only to correct one statement of
the Atlas, which is that l was Pierce
Elector in 1852" For the preservation of
my own and my children's reputation,
wish it understood that cast that vote for
Pierce's Democratic platform-not for
Pierce the doughfaced traitor to his party,
who, to secure Southern slavery votes,
(which, thank God, he did rot secure,) be-
came Northern Tory--an Arnold in the
army of freedom.
On Friday last, (July 4th, } at Princeton,
in our State, l addressed for two hours, a
meeting ofatleast ten thousand, whose cheers
for Fremont and freedom rocked the great
grove in which they were assembled.
This mighty West is now trembling under
the tread of countless hosts of determined
men, and next November will give you the
proud results of their battles for Freedoms
Rights.
Ever and truly yonr friend,
JOSEPH KNOX.
e The n. Y. Times has private let
ter from Kentucky, detailing the discovery
of new and extensive passage in the Nam
moth Cave, The writer says a party of
three students and the guide, while wander
ing in the Cave discovered heretofore
entirely unknown passage, of some two or
three miles in length. By this discovery the
Cave is found to extend eleven miles instead
of nine, as has been hitherto thought. The
party penetrated to chamber SURPRISING all
those already known both in yastpess and
M ,gnifcence."
TIE Chicago Democratic Press of the 10th
inst, says: Yesterday, nine brothers, by
E+bo ro,,,o of f1,;c az H.,