The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-23

JEFFERSON.
Another Republican Meeting-Exposure Of Republican
Speakers-Baker a Good Criminal Lawyer-Colfax
on the Negro.
Correspondence the Pioneer and Democrat.
ST. CLOUD, September II, 1859.
The attempt to get up Republican
meeting here yesterday afternoon proved a
failure. A few gathered in about an hour
after tie time fixed for the speaking to
commence, but it was very cold and dull
affair. Baker and Colfax were present
but Baker considered himself too much of
star to perform before so small meeting,
Mr.. Colfax, of Indiana, spent few minutes
in exhortation on the slavery question,
which he said was the great and paramount
question. He made the monstrous and
shameful statement that the United States
occupied an inferior and disgraced position
among foreign powers on account of South
ern slavery. He claimed that the States of
Europe naming France and other coun-
tries ruled by despotic governments, were
freer than this country. He claimed that
the Republican party would remove the
evil of slavery.
In the evening there was large attend
ance, it having been announced that Carl
Schurz would speak. But Mr.. Schurz had
not arrived, and there was evident disap-
pointment in the audience. Then came
Jim Baker, the distinguished Ohio fnancier.
He tried at first to shed few tears on the
subject of taxation; charged the Demo-
cratic party with being responsible for all
the appropriations passed by the last Leg
stature; (of course, he omitted to mention
that the Republicans voted for the appro-
priations.) He said the Democracy did
not want to build the railroads, but wanted
taxation in order to enhance the value of
the bonds which they held in their posses
sion. Here he related the old ham story, of
the jury which acquitted the ham thief be-
cause they had some of the stolen hams.
Of course, he did not inform his hearers
that the bonds already issued were princi-
pally in the hands of Republicans, and that
the railroads were equally Or mainly under
the charge Of Republicans. Mr.. Baker
next related the story of the boy who went
after the COWS, and scattered after he had
got down to the end of the lane. He thought
he could scatter and hit the Democrats eve
rywhere. Of course, and they may be
little more numerous than he thinks.
He said the Democrats held the doctrine
in the LIE Clerc letter-that our flag could
afford no protection to foreign born citizens
when they went abroad. Mr. Baker elabor-
ated this scandalous lie with GOODNESS, such
as only confirmed plunderer and scoundrel
could command. 1t was amazing to see his
unblushing disregard of truth Hell knew that
the LIE Clerc letter had merely been written
by clerk in the State Department as
business note, and that as soon as the sub
ject of the jurisdiction of foreign States
over American naturalized citizens, was
brought to the attention of General Cass, he
Immediately issued his able circular to our
Minister at Berlin, claiming that foreign
State could not be permitted to enforce
demand for service from naturalized citi-
zen, which had arisen or been incurred sub.
sequent to his leaving such foreign State.
Baker knew that this was the same doctrine
held by Secretary Marcy, in his celebrated
Koszta letter, and had been uniformly en-
forced and adhered to by the Democracy,
and still he persisted in the wilful misre-
presentation that our party disregarded the
rights Of naturalzed citizens.
Baker also showed his dishonesty, in hold
ing the Democratic party responsible for
the failure of some of the banks. He well
knew that the Banking Law was most
earnestly supported by Republicans, an d
if censure was deserved by either party bis
own party deserved the greatest share. No
allusion whatever was made to the firm
position taken By Gov. Sibley, in regard to
first mortgage bonds, but all the Democrats
were denounced as corrupt and dishonest.
Mr.. Baker asserted that the Democrats
are opposed to the interests of the laboring
man. His proof was their opposition to the
donation of land for Agricultural Colleges
He detailed the advantages of learning men
to farm, and said, I" Your Democratic par
" is against this noble measure they are
against the honest toll of the country !'
The sophistry and dishonesty of this state
ment corresponded with the most of his re.
marks. The principle of the Agricultural
College bill, Baker knew, or ought to have
known, is the same as that in the INDECENT
Insane bill, vetoed in 1854 by President
Pierce. That was humane measure, but
the Democracy hold it as a principle not to
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