The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-10-24
To the ssMinnesotian,, Public.

To the hMinneSOttan'' Public.
After the absence Of ten years from the
editorial desk, circumstances once more call
me to resume the favorite labors of my
younger days, as the editor of free public
press.
In taking Mr.. Owens place, in the edito-
rial conduct of the .NinnesOtian, hope to be
able to keep the paper up to the high char
acter of representing the ''very body, press
ure and spirit of the times" which it was so
emnently his faculty to confer upon its col
umns-at all events, will do as Col Miller
said be would do at Lundy's Lane battle
Il will try"
Having resided in the Territory of Mime
sofa since the proclamation of its organiza-
ton, on the lst of June, 1S49, and having
par, icipated more or less in shaping its early
history, hope it will not be thought AFRO
CATION too much for myself, in saying that
Minnesota politics, Minnesota public men,
Minnesota topography and Minnesota re-
sources, are somewhat familiar to me, and
anticipate that the knowledge and expe-
rieace thus acquired by long residence in the
Tersitorv. will be some aid in giving the ne
ssary interest AMI point to the paper.
in ppIitics, the principles advocated by the
Innesotian will remain unchanged My
own creed is summed up in the scriptural
text: "Of one blood God hath made all the
nations Of the earth;" and on this Higher
Law Platform plant myself, believing that
it incucates the doctrine of " Liberty, Equal
itv and Fraternity amongst and for man.
kind, without regard to their Nationalities or
their Creeds or their Colors or their Power
tv o. their Wealth-that it incuicates, that Po-
litically all men should be equal, as brothers
are equal and that Socially, all men ought to
aim to elevate themselves to an equality, by
educating themselves and others up-not
down in any case-to the standard of the
highest developement Of intellect, tue high
est cultivation of manners, the highest re-
inements of true taste, the highest purity
OF lille and morals, and up to that highest or
der of religion, which, while paying the tithes
of mint and ani5e and commin, does not
omit the weightier matters of Brotherly
Love, Mercy in Judgment, Honesty in Ac-
ton, Faith in God, and Charity for Men.
To Human Slavery, as an institution, I am
opposed, in all its phases. A mans right to
himself is God-given right-a right born
with him-inherent and inalenable, except
for crime and no robbery from a man, of
himself can ever be made legal or right,
though thousand years may have elapsed,
and a thousand generations lived and died in
Slavery, since the original robbery and man.
stealing was first perpetrated. The title
deeds of freedom from God himself are still
the highest and best title, though all the
Courts and all the Judges in the world, de-
eide differently, and though all the Legisla-
lures in the world should make laws to legal
ize the robbery, and though all the Demo-
cratic parties in the world should take sides
with the oppressors. For myself 1 trust new
er to be so lost to a sense of what is right
and just, as to shrink from siding with the
Oppressed against Power, in whatever shape
arrayed-against ignorant prejudice in what
ever guise presented.
But, whilst maintaining these positions,
am in favor Of that policy in action, which
shall prudentIy and wariiy and cautiously
attain the greatest amount of popular con-
cessons in their favor, which the age, the
people, and all the circumstances with which
we are surrounded, will admit of. l am not
''for making spoon or spelling horn" II
can get half | seek, at the present time,
am for seizins hold of that much, and with
the step upward thus secured, use it as a point
OF vantage, 10 press the holders of the castle
of power, to a still further and more com.
plete defeat. In this view, am not !or any
rash course of policy, which by seeking
to grasp more than our age and generation, is
ready 20 give, looses all on single cast oil
the die. Fes,ina Lente, is an Italian motto
which is is also mine. In accordance will,
it, am for ''making haste, slowly but, |
think, not the less surely.
Words, however, are but breath-the
readers of The .Miunesotian and the Repub
lican Party will Judge by the actions-and
so TO the future refer them.
THOMAS FOSTER.