The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-11-25
About InstructiOns,', and What is
Meant by the Term.

A large number of the Democratic papers
of the State have taken issue with US on the
question of instructing the delegates to the
Charleston Convention, in favor of any can
didate for the Presidency. In doing so,
they have all attributed to US sentiments
which we have neither entertained nor ex-
pressed. They argue against instructions,
and against our advocacy of that course, as
if such proceeding would bind the delega-
ton to the support OF single man through
out the Convention, and of him only, under
any and all circumstances, and without re-
gard to whether his nomination should prove
to be polite and practicable, or not. In
arguing the question upon this basis, they
have done US the greatest injustice, and not
only misconceived, but utterly perverted,
the sentiments which we have expressed
This perverson has been so gross, that we
must believe it to have been Intentional.
We have no reply to make to attacks Of
such nat ure. Those who indulge in them
place themselves, by such course, beyond
the pale of controversial courtesy.
We do not reply, therefore: to these
papers or to their arguments. If it is their
pleasure to fight windmills of their own
creation, we shall leave them to the undis-
turbed enjoyment of their sport. But it may
be due to the party, and to the integrity of
our position, that we should remind our
fir lends of the Interpretation which we have
placed upon thedoctrineof instructions, and
of the limits within which we have advo-
Gated its adoption by our State Convention.
In our first article on this subject, we
stated that, inasmuch as the selection of
delegates furnished the masses of the party
the only chance they would have to express
directly their wishes in regard to the adop-
tion of national platform, and the selection
of a Presidential candidate, it became both
their right and their duty to express their
preference upon both of these points freely
and fully" and to select delegates who
would be certain to carry such preference
into effect, if that were practicable. In a
subsequent article upon the same subject,
we stated that we desired the delegates 10
be instructed specifically to support Sena-
tor DOUGLAS as the FIRST choice of the De-
mocracy of Minnesota" And, in all cases,
we have hedged our recommendations in
favor of instructions, within the limits
above expressed.
We have never advocated the instruction
of delegates to the unconditional support of
any man. This is the BUCHANAN style of
instruction, but not ours. The only in.
stance in which we ever knew instructions
to be given without reserve, was in the &C.
ton of the Pennsylvania Democracy when
they sent delegates to the Cincinnati Con-
vention, in 1856. Those delegates were
" instructed to present the name of JAMES
BUCHANAN to the Democratic National
Convention, for the Presidential nomination
as the first, last and only choice of the
Democracy of Pennsylvania" These are
BUCHANAN instructions, but they are not
such as we advocate, or would support.
We ask simply and only this : that, if the
Democracy of Minnesota cherish any de6n-
lite notions in regard to National Platform,
and any certain preference in regard to a
Presidential candidate, they shall express
both in temperate, dignifed, unmis-
takeable manner, for the guidance Of their
delegates to the Charleston Convention, so
far as circumstances shall reasonably per-
NIT. With this we are satisfied the party
will be content. We don't belve the party
will be content with anything less.