The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-09


dates before thepeople Of the United 6tatss,
this fall, for Presidential houors. Alter The
Democrats and the Republicans have nom
mated, the political fossils Who have recently
Organized themselves into = Constitutional
Union party" propose to hold convention.
at Philadelphia, to nominate candidate and
organize for the campaign. These alarm
ing facts are set forth in an address recently
issued by Senator CR1rrENDEN, RlvEs of
Virginia, Hunt of New York, GRAHAM Of
North Carolina, and others, comprising the
very respectable members Of what promises
to be very select party. The cardinal
principles of this party are declared, in the
aforesaid address, to be-
To remove the subject Of slavery from the
arena Of party politics, and leave it to the in
dependent control of the States in which it
exists, and to the unbiased action of the judi.
ciary; to remove all obstacles from the due
and faithful execution of the provisions for the
rendition of fugitive slaves; to guard and en-
force the supremacy of the laws by an impair
tial and strict administration of the powers
granted by the Constitution; to respect the
rights and reverence the Union of the States as
the vital source of present peace and prosper
ity, and the surest guarantee of future power
and happiness.
This movement promises to be something
like the FILLMORE episode, in the campaign
of 1856; but we do not believe, except in
very remote contingency, that it will attract
to its candidate the numerical strength given
to Mr.. FILLMORE. If the Charleston con-
vention should be controlled by fre-eaters
and BUCHANAN adherents, and we do not
regard such an occurrence as at all probable,
then the third party, with national plat
form and an available candidate, might
possibly amount to something.
There is evidently an irrepressible
conflict going on in the Republican ranks,
for the Chicago nomination, between the
conservative end radical wings of the party.
SEWARD, the representative of the SIRE
pressible idea, has been ruled out of the
"ring," by the New York Tribune, except
in the event of DOUGLAS defeat at Charles
ton, and the adoption of Buchanan Davis
platform. In that contingency, the saga
cious GREELEY thinks SEWARD will do
The Tribune, as matters now stand, ia
vors the nomination of EDWARD BATES of
Mo-, for President, and CAMERON OF READ
of Pennsylvania, for Vice President. Mr..
BATES position on political questions has
become matter of general interest, and is
thus set forth for northern readers, in late
article in the Missouri Democrat:
Since the dissolution. of the Wing party.
Judge Bates has been identified with no politi,
cal organization, but, nevertheless, he has not
withheld the public expression of his opinion
on each of the questions which have been de-
bated since that event. He was free.soil
prescribed as such in this State. Were it not
for his undisguised antislavery opinions, he
would in all human probability have been one
of the Representatives of Missouri in the Uni.
ted States Senate for years.
He is welded to the cause of free labor, both
in opinion and practice. He denies that the
Constitution extends slavery over the Terrific
RES: he declares that slavery shall not be per
mitted to enter any Territory which was free
soil when acquired by the United States or
which became free at any period subsequent to
its acquisition; that no power but Congress
can plant slavery on such soil; and that the
bred Scott decisi0n merely defines the Cen THU
tion0l status of the negro, the discursive essays
of the Justices which accompanied the render.
ing of that decision, being, in his opinion, mere
leather and pranella, possessing no intrinsic
weight, and entitled to no extraordinary con-
sideration, either legally or politically.
He is q protectionist; in favor of the i'm
provement Of lake and river navigation by the
general government; emphatcally in favor of
railroad to the Pacific, on any route which
Congress may choose; opposed to the consoli-
dalton of the mongrel populations of Spanish
America with the people Of the United States;
and in favor Of governing our International re-
lations by the principles Of public law, not by
the code Of pirates. He has all the horror of
slavery agitation, and all that devotion to the
Union which distinguish old Wings who have
not turned National Democrats.
Mr.. BATES also repudiates the doctrine of
" no more slave States" and as be justi6es
the bred Scott decision, in SO far as it holds
that negroes cannot become citizens of the
United States, his nomination will be BIT
ter pill for the earnest and jealous Repub-
licans. But the hope of the spoils will set
matters right in "the ranks Of freedom"
BATES will be strong candidate, even if
nominated by the Republicans he sup
ported the compromise measures Of 1850,
and voted for FILLMoRE in opposition to
FREMONT, in 1856. Against any other
man, than Northwestern Democrat, be
would poll q large vote which has hereto
fore never been given for Republican or
Abolition candidate. His nomination, like
the withdrawal of SHERMAN, would demon
strate, however, that the Republicans have
been compelled" to roost lower"
SIMON OAMERoN has secured the entire
delegation from Pennsylvania to the Chi
cago Convention. But his notorious cor
ruption and dishonesty, will in all probabili,
ty, prejudice his prospects, even in Repub-
lican Convention. L1xcoLN, CHASE, and
BANKs are talked Of but they all hold as
extreme opinions as SEWARD, without bis
TALENT The -Tribafne IL right. when it