The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-06-15
COND RTICLE.

We gave, last week, sketch Of the SEN
atorial career of Hon. HENRY M. RICE, so
far as it was connected with the Democratic
doctrine of Popular Sovereignty, or Con-
gressional Non-Intervention and suggested
the character of the influences which had
operated upon him to betray the principles
of the party at the behest of the Federal
Administration. 1t remains for US now to
present the record which demonstrates his
apostacy. And, in doing this, it will be
unnecessary to reproduce the Cincinnati
platform, or to review the antecedent legisla-
ton by Congress through which the Demo-
cratic party became committed to the doc
trines embodied in those articles of political
faith. These have been already so fully and
frequently discussed in our columns, that
no intelligent reader can be in doubt as to
their history and import. We, therefore,
confne the present article to review of the
position assumed by the Democracy of Min.
nesota, in the canvass which resulted in the
election of Mr.. RICE to the Senate, to the
reiteration of that position since his Sena.
torial term began, and to the shameless
apostacy of the Senator in bis official en-
dorsement of doctrines utterly inconsistent
with these, and abhorrent to the political
and moral sense of bis entire constituency.
The canvass of 1857 was conducted strict
ly CD National issues. The Democracy of
Minnesota, fully approaching that the result
of that contest would affect the stability of
principles Of which, from the long experience
of the people in territorial condition, they
were best fitted to judge, deliberately planted
themselves on the platform of Congressional
Non>Intervention and the Sovereignty of
the People, in opposition to the Republican
dogma of Congressional Intervention, and
Congressional Sovereignty. In no State of
the Union had the Democracy occupied
more unequivocal and determined ground
in support of popular rights, than was taken
by the party in Minnesota at the outset of
their existence as State organization. The
resolutions adopted at the first State Con-
vention, of September, 1857, after endorsing
the Cincinnati platform, proclaimed the de-
votion of the party "to the sovereignty of
the people and the rights of the States"
and pledged "their best exertions to continue
the ascendency of these great cardinal prin.
ciples in the State and Nation" The same
convention, in order to place the principles
aof the party beyond the reach of miscon>
struction, further elaborated their position
in respect to the question of slavery, in the
following resolution
RESOLVED, That the Union of the States is
now exposed to danger by the introduction of
slavery into National politics and to avert
that danger, and thereby to secure future tri-
umphs OF Democratic principles, the, DemOcra-
cy of Minnesota avow the following grounds
of CO operation with their fellow.citizens of all
the States:
First-Tha, the subject of slavery shall be
wholly withdrawn from Congress, and shall
cease to be agtated by propositions in Demo-
cratic National Conventions, whether for or
against the institution;
secOnd-NOn Intervention with slavery in
the States where it exists, and q strict obser-
vance of all constitutional obligations to the
citizens of Southern as well as Northern States;
Third-That the people of the Territories,
through their legislative assemblies and con.
stitutional conventions, shall have and exer.
else full and exclusive power to legislate upon
all domestic questions, including the relation of
master and servant.
To the platform and candidates of the
Democracy in that canvass, Mr.. RICE gave
his hearty acquiescence and support. He
was regarded, among all our prominent
Democrats, as the most sincere, devoted ad-
vocate Of the Popular Sovereignty principle,
in its largest Specification. The platform
itself was drafted by gentleman who then
enjoyed Mr.. R1cE's confidence, and who is
now the recipient of federal appointment,
creditable alike to his talents, and Senator
RIoc's friendship.