The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-03

Some of the Democratic papers of this
State, which exerted their little utmost,
before our State Convention, to prevent an
expression of the party in favor of DOUGLAS,
are now engaged in showing their disregard
of such expression, by bringing forward the
name of General JOE LANE, of Oregon, as
the best and most available candidate for
the Presidency.
Whether or not he is so, depends entirely
on what President should be, and what he
should represent. If President should be
man of general erudition as we'll as of spe-
cial experience in the affairs of statesman
ship--if he should represent in himself
the intellect, culture, grace and strength of
the better type of the American character
we know of no worse selection that could
be made out of the whole list of Democratic
politicians for that high position. Probably
JOE LANE is the most illiterate man who is
now, or has ever been, prominently engaged
in the politics of the country. A man who,
in his official dispatches as general officer,
habitually spelled barracks" "ba-rr-a-1,"
and who still, in common correspondence,
demonstrates his heathenish unfamiliarity
with Divinity, by rendering GoD" with
little "j"-does not impress us either as the
best or most available man to set up before
the country and the world as a fair embodi-
ment of American intelligence.
If, on the contrary, a President should be,
simply, an energetic, strong-willed man, and
should merely represent the resolute courage
and physical force of our people, then JOE
LANE would answer very good purpose.
But even in these respects he does not stand
pre- eminent. There are men of equal
courage with LANE, and of far greater brute
force. HBENAN, the Benicia Boy" would
take the palm over LANE, on these two
grounds combined, in any fair field of COM
petition. HEENAN is man of undoubted
and proved resolute courage, fully LANES
equal. As specimen of physical strength,
he is LANES superior. We suppose HEENAN
could whip LANE out of bis boots in two
minutes, by the watch, at the first round
and so thoroughly, that LANE would find it
very inconvenient, if not impracticable, to
come to time when called for the second.
If HEENAN should happen to win the belt
from SAVERS, the English champion, in his
coming contest, his superiority over LANE,
in respect of will and force, would become
indisputable, beyond the influence or pro-
priety of argument.
We have no desire to disparage General
LANE within any reasonable sphere of action
or ambition. He is man of great energy,
and is largely endowed with what is called
strong horse-sense." He is entitled to
great credit for having, through the exercise
of such energy and sense, raised himself to
his present position; and we gladly award
him all the praise be legitimately deserves.
Within the range of his capacity ana expe-
rience, he is well enough. But he lacks the
very first element of craftsmanship. And to
place such man in nomination for the
Presidency, would disgrace the party which
brought him forward as it would also be
disgraceful to the country, in case accident
or Providence should conspire to compass
the result of his election.