The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-21
Political Issues and Controversies.
NUMBER ONE.

To the Editors of The Pioneer and Democrat:
The theory, now prevalent to some extent
in the United States, of the absolute right
of the majority to rule is no less odious
than that of the Divine Right of Kings, of
the Stuarts, the original contract of Sid
ney and Locke, or the unanimous consent
theory of Rousseau, as developed in his
text book of Revolution-the social COM
pact. Our government is one Of concurrent
majorities, of compromise based upon pub
lie opinion. 1t was the only mode for the
establishment of a constitutional govern
ment, and it is only in the spirit of compro-
mise, mutual concession and forbearance
that it can ever be pespetuated.
Since the election of Lincoln we have
been speaking carefully, and thinking calm
ly. We felt ourselves so irritated by the
sectional attitude and numerical tyranny of
the North, that we have at moments re-
joiced in the fury of South Carolina, and
said to ourselves, let the storm gather-let
US appeal to the sword We have, how
ever, attempted to disabuse our minds Of
preconceived opinions, to take ourselves out
of the present environment, and to look
from distance with the calmness of spec
tator upon the events now Transporting.
If we commence at Massachusetts, we
find the anti-slavery feeling strongest, the
Republican party most violent. (Even here
we thank the Lord for the recent conserva>
tive demonstration at Boston) In New
York there is a perceptible moderation 10
the feeling. Pennsylvania and New Jersey
are comparatively conservative. In Mary
land we find new opinion as regards
slavery. The people are not pro-slavery
and they are not anti-slavery. They have
the institution, and they accept it as they
find it. Still there is a Republican element;
we find man like Henry Winter Davis.
We next reach Virginia. The feeling there
may be said to be positive in favor of slavery,
but the State is divided into two great
geographical divisions-the Fast and West
possessing diversity Of population, cli-
mate, and soil, and therefore much divided
upon the basis of representation. The State
is decidedly for the Union, and abiding the
result of the Presidential election. In South
Carolina and Alabama, where we find more
slaves, we encounter the most rabid pro-
slavery sentiment. The African slave trade
laws are nuliied. They desire dissolution
of the Union on account of the territorial
question Of slavery. i-y .aJi' 09V'29-1 e-"
Now we have followed breadth of
country of two thousand miles, and the SEN
timent on the slavery question shades off
with the precision and regularity of tempe
nature. Give the latitude, and you can
give the figure at which the negrometer
stands. An opinion on slavery is not an
Intelligent judgment; it is prejudice. 1t
is idle for Mr.. Seward to say, he knows he
is right. They each form their opinions
according to the range of the thermometer,
and the thermometer cannot settle accu-
rately moral question. Even in Virginia
the sentiment is graduated by the number
OF slaves in county. One county in the
East is very decided for the Institution
another in the West gives respectable
vote for Lincoln. Even on the Gulf Lou
Ao'"u" az euC uOuIu VI tuC u1LSSlSSlUUl3 ID lOl
the Union. 81 aa4 .-s.s,-. - '''..a re-
Who then is right, the Republican or the
fire eater !? Is the idea of coercing a seced.
ing State to remain in the Union, or the
idea OF destroying the Constitution and
Government because Lincoln has been
eonstaut'onally elected-the right idea9
Shall South Carolina be coerced for nullify-
ing and going out of the Union, and Massa-
chusetts be allowed to nullify and remain
in the Union? Massachusetts is in state
OF notification to-day. She has declared a
law OF Congress null and voida If the
President sends the army Of the Republic
to the former State, it should also be sent
to the latter. .a -.....-... ......
The Republicans, even from northern
standpoint, cannot stand excused. Look
at the notification Of the fugitive slave
siaw. Here is patent and indefen-
slble wrong. New Hampshire declares