Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-09-24

James Buchanan was not the Government of
the United States, neither were the creatures
of his power but that it lay in the hands Of
the voters of the country, and called upon each
one before him capable of making use of the
elective franchise, to do his duty, by voting in
the right way, towards keeping the corrupt
leaders Of the Democratic party out of power.
He thanked God from the Utmost depths Of
his soul that the voters of this country were
its kings and rulers, and hoped that all, after
going home, would ponder we'll this glorious
truth.
The speaker next touched upon the subject
of slavery, and showed conclusively that it
was the earnest desire and heartfelt wish of
the trainers of the Constitution, that this
blighting curse might cease to exist in our
land. He showed clearly that the policy of
the /" fathers" tended to bring about the ul-
innate extinction of slavery, and contrasted
that policy with the actions of the Democratic
party under the Administrations of Pierce and
Buchanan,-al of which had tended directly
to foster and encourage the peculiar institu-
ton"
He alluded to the bred Scott decision, and
said that it virtually, in declaring that "ne-
groes have no rights which white men are
bound to respect" carried the whitening curse
of slavery not only into territory now free, but
also into the Free States themselves.
He gave Senator Douglas recent article in
Harpers Magazine searching review, and
said that he was very much surprised, indeed,
to find it claimed in that production, that the
actions of the Democratic party Of the present
day, in reference to the subject of slavery,
were the same as the actions of our forefathers
of the revolution in regard to the same ques-
ton, when in reality there was so much differ
ence then as there was between darkness and
light, or between the doctrine of the Prince of
Peoce and those of the Evil One. Such a
document, he remarked, did not need to be
answered-it carried it's own refutation upon
its face.
The speaker contrasted free and slave la
Dor, and showed that while the former de-
velopes and strengthens all the noble traits of
humanity, the latter degrades both master
and slave as well as the poor white laborer.-
He said there was not candid white man in
the whole South but what would infinitely
prefer the first.
He administered scathing rebuke to that
class Of persons at the North who are so sem
sitive upon the subject of slavery, and so
much opposed to bringing the influence of the
pulpit to bear against it. Such persons, he
observed, were perfectly willing for their min
lister to preach about the iniquity of the Jews,
the meanness of the Philistines, the wicked
ness of the Corinthians, and the sins of the
Ephesians, but when he raises his voice
against the crying sin of the age, American
Slavery, then they lift up their hands in pious
horror, and denounce him in bitter terms for
desecrating the sacred desk and prostitutng
his high calling He called upon the minis
tiers of the gospel, in language which should
be needed throughout the land, to rise in their
might and cleanse the Church from all con-
nection and sympathy with the "sum of all
villainies"
In the course of his speech, which has only
been very poorly portrayed in the foregoing
sketch, Senator Hale paid merited compi-
ment to the future of Minnesota, which met
with hearty response from all present. The
closing portion of his speech was eloquent and
sublime, and to make an effort to describe it
would be doing the distinguished Senator in
justice, and, therefore, refrain from the at
tempt
After the conclusion of this speech, at the
request of the audience, Senator Hale showed
from the record the course of Messrs. Rice
and Shields upon the Homestead Bill. He
proved to the satisfaction of every candid per-
son, that Rice and Shields, instead of being
friends to that measure, helped to bring about
its defeat in the United States Senate, by vo
ting to take up the Cuba Appropriation Bill
when they knew, and every one in the Senate
knew, that in doing so they voted to defeat the
Homestead Bill for years to come.
NJ. S. Wilkinson, from Mankato, was th.n
called out, and made a telling speech upon
the issues now before the people of this State
He demonstrated that the State Government
is under the control of the Banking, Railroad
and Indian trading elements-all of which,
with the assistance of the Democratic party,
headed by Sibley & Co., are trying to perpet,
uate their power by every conceivable means,
and thereby ruin the State
Upon the conclusion of the speech of Mr.
Wilkinson, cheer after cheer went up for the
speakers and the cause, after which the Great
Western Band discoursed Emusic soft and
music sweet" and then the meeting quietly
and orderly dispersed.
The effect of this meeting, and others of a
similar kind, is beginning to be felt in this
community already; and plug-ugly Purdy,
of the Plaindealer, and his associates, are
looking forward to the future with "fear and
trembling" for they plainly see that the rot
ten and corrupt Democracy which they up
hoiu ohu SPiSSSiil, oiS uooLlCu W d IlOSI III
glorious and ignoble defeat at the coming cleo
ton
The honest portion of the Democratic party
are getting their eyes and ears opened to the
great principles of Repubcanism they are
beginning to let the better and more generous
impulses of their manhood triumph over mere
party considerations; and as a natural conse-
quence, will soon bid farewell forever to that
party, ard range themselves upon the side of
Freedom, Free Labor, and the Inalienable
Rights of Man. That this result may speedi
ly be brought about, and our State and Ma
ton be redeemed from the influence of the
rotten, corrupt, and degenerate Democracy, is
the earnest and sincere prayer of
Yours truly,
MINNEwAwA.