Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-08-06
Letter No. 4....To tho Foreign.Born
Citizens OF Minnesota.

Like the poor cat / the adage"
Eslloac- Citizens:
The right of suffrage means something or
means nothing. Properly employed it b
comes an implement of advancement to II
voter and of benefit to the country In
properly used, 1t is a mere form Of liberty
the tool of demagogues and the instrument {
tyranny. You, fellow citizens, though Dor
in other lands, are, by our laws, Americans
You have no interest that is not identifies
with the interest of this country. Yo
should have no aim but to ascertain the right
pursue the right and sustain the right. Tn
majority of mankind mean well they err
when they do err, through inattention or lacl
of information.
The crisis that now hangs over our politica
affairs is imminent and deadly. Southern
States, such as Mississippi are openly prepar
ing for war Southern Conventions make tn,
supremacy of Slavery over Liberty, the illim
liable extension of that institution and tn,
reopening of the African Slave Trade, the
condition of the Union. There is no avoiding
these issues. We must either fall upon ouI
backs and submit supinely to everything, to
the re-awakened horrors Of Darbarism, to the
destruction of our liberties, to the dissolution
face the shock; face it, not with desperate
measures, but with that calm devotion to
right and justice which have marked the his
tory Of our free Institutions face it, not with
novel and unusual principles, but with an un-
alterable devotion to those time honored prin-
cipleS upon which our nationality is grounded.
War, darkness, barbarism and wrong are
on the one side. Peace, liberty, patience,
justice and prosperity, are on the other side.
Which side will our foreign born citizens
choose? Will they fight with the old age or
the new? With Liberty Or with Slavery?
have been called a foreigner. Belt So
Although born on American soil, shall not
shrink from the imputation. l shall never
eek to rise by disappearing my ancestors
can die in my tracks, but not succomb to
unjust prejudices. did not join the Repub-
lican party for success alone. could have
found that among the Democracy, by whom
| was hrnored with the offer of high offices.
] became Republican upon sober, solemn,
honest conviction. l saw before me two
paths: One led along the line defined by the
founders Of the Government it was rough
ant stormy, but it pointed to the perpetuity
of freedom and the safety of our institutions.
The other lay before me broad and crowded,
and full of prosperity, but it went downward
to darkness and ultimate disaster to the coun-
try. l chose the rough and stormy path. l
proclaimed myself Republican in the midst
Of the most Democratic County in our State.
laid myself open, without one expectation
of reward, to the Misrepresentation of ene-
mics, the misrepresentation of friends. Do
those who know me think that the honorary
office for which am nominated will make or
break my faith. Though may be defeated,
utterly and ignobly defeated, shall still be
found, strong and mistaken, in the Republi-
can faith. The truth is higher than all Off
ces, and unaiterable devotion to the right no
bier than States applause.
became Republican while writing edito-
rails, during the great Fremont contest, for
the leading BUCHANAN paper of Pennsylvania.
The more was compelled by my position to
study the intentions and purposes of the two
parties, the more did perceive that | stood
in the fag-end Of degenerating organization
That the Democratic party, the memory of
whose past honored, had ceased to be iden-
titled with the cause OF freedom, the welfare
of the country, or the advancement of the
masses, That we were upon the turning
point of a new political era. That new day
was dawning Thomas JEFFERSON, in 1926,
speaking of Slavery, said The revolution
in public opinion which this requires, is not to
be expected in day, or perhaps in an age
But time, which outlives all things, will out
live this evil also" felt then that Time was
claiming his own. That the dark incompati-
bty which lay slumbering in the context Of
our early organization was arousing ITSELF
That the two powerful antagonists of our
Government were assuming their POSITION
That the great fight had commenced upon
which the sun should never set until one or
the other went down in utter determination
| said to myself: "There is no neutrality here.
This struggle demands all the children of our
country. | must take sides. Shall |, for
temporary prosperity, for the applause of
friends, for devotion to name, turn my back
upon the lights and teachings of the past, and
aid to extinguish the liberties of my native
land aid to spread barbarism over freedom
aid to poison and pollute and subvert our dis
tinctive institutions Or shall l array my.
self with that party which, even if it hangs
thick with errors, foles or imperfections, is
yet thrilled by the right sentiments, and de-
voted to the right cause and which must by
the mere force of the live, strong sentiment
within 1t, work itself eventually right on all
questions? Rising from amid the wreck Of
parties and the confusion of new events, i,
cannot but be rough and crude, but will i,
not, with tue evolvement of time, round it.
self down to shape and symmetry, and en-
body finally in itself all the fairness, all thu
progress, all the freedam-loving sentiment o
our great people"
l made my choice. "Give me-" as sait
JEFFERSON, " the dangers resulting from to-
much liberty, rather than the dangers result
ing from too little"
And now, fellow citizens, natives of othe
,ands, | come to you and say: "Have faitl
in our great party. Do not believe this scat
tering rear of an emasculated organization
called Democracy, when it tells you that tn
friends of the slave are per Sc the enemies {
the white man. That the body of the INTEL
gent people of the free States are opposed