The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-07-13
Glorious Democratic Meeting at St.
Cloud -. Northern Minnesota All
Right. +|

0xs OAVCOS July az, AOVVs
A meeting to ratify the nomination Of
Douglas and johnson, was held at Wilson's
Hall, St. Cloud, on the evening of Satur-
day, June 30th. Notwithstanding rain had
fallen during the day, and the frowning
heavens threatened more, large concourse
of the friends of the Little Giant, who has
so nobly fought foes without, and PREACHER
GUS, pretended friends within, gathered to
express their approval of the course pur-
sued by the National Democratic Conven-
ton at Baltimore, in presenting the name of
Stephen A. Douglas-the hearty choice of
the great mass of the Democracy-for their
standard bearer.
The hall. the largest in St. Cloud, was
filled to its utmost capacity, and many could
not obtain admittance. A salute by the
St. Cloud Guards, on the square formed by
the junction of Washington and st. Ger
maine streets, was followed by the sponta-
neous cheering of hundreds of enthusiastic
and loyal Democrats.
The meeting was organized by the choice
of james q. Shepley, President, and the
following gentlemen were chosen Vice Pres.
idents John L. Wilson, J. w. Tenvoorde,
Joseph Broker, Asa Libbey, H. J. Fowler,
Joseph Edelbrook, Peter Brady, Philip
Beaupre. Secretaries-J. S. Bradford and
Charles Ketchum.
The President made brief but telling
and concise speech, in which the positions
of the four parties, or, rather one party and
three factions, were presented and described.
The Bell and Everett few were character.
lied as those who are always in opposition
to everybody else, and propose to do noth>
ing themselves. They would stand shouting
"Union," while the Union was being shat
tered by the extremists at the North and
South. But they would do nothing but
shout, and vote for men whom they know
they cannot elect. The Republican party
of the North, and the Secession party at the
South, both sectional, stand upon the same
ground, that of Congressional Intervention
in the Territories. One, in fact, denying
all rights of northern citizen there, and
the other, with equal audacity, denying the
rights of the citizen from the south.
But, rising far above them all, the expo
nent of Truth, and Right, and sound policy,
stands the National Democratic party.
The principle of Popular Sovereignty, which
all parts of the Republic, and perfect equal.
ity to all the people of the Territories, is
that upon which the Democratic party
stands, and Stephen A. Douglas, the ear
nest, faithful and powerful advocate and
defender of that principle, had been chosen
our leader in the contest of right with fac
ton. Could any one hesitate in an emer>
gency like this, which of the four leaders he
would fight under.
1t is not possible 10 give full report of
Mr.. Shepley's able speech, and have only
given few of the many ideas advanced by
that earnest and concise speaker. His re-
marks were frequently greeted with ap-
plause both by the audience in the hall and
the crowd listening outside at the windows,
and from neighboring piazzas and ba lconies.
At the conclusion of the Presidents re-
marks, the meeting was adjourned to the
square outside, in order to give all better
opportunity to hear.
Mr.. Andrews was loudly called for, and
appeared amid general applause. His re-
marks were in forcible, argumentative style,
and were loudly cheered. He said they had
met to ratify the regular Democratic nomi-
nations. They had met to reafirm vene-
rated principle of Democracy, that the will
of the majority, regularly expressed, should
prevail. Here in the northern extremity
of the wide imperial valley of the Missis.
sippi, they would set in motion the tide of
enthusiasm for the regular nominees that
would gain might at every stage, till it
reached the rock>bound coast of the Allan
tic. In nominating Douglas, the convention
yielded to the will of the people in spite of
the dictation of politicians. The nominal
tions should be supported more on account
of the principles of the platform than the
men, great and heroic though they were,
who stood upon it. The convention sitting
at Charleston fairly adopted a platform
embracing the principles and faith which
the National Democracy had, in "a and
SO, agreed to abide by. Delegates from
some of the slaveholding States having been
instructed to insist upon adopting the prin-
ciple of congressional Intervention in terri
tories on the subject of slavery, then with
drew. Here was a minority attamntinp to
dictate to the majority. They attempted to
coerce the majority. Their course was not
only undemocratic, but it was reproach
and an outrage on the principles of popular
government.
Time and reason are the means of estab-
fishing new theories and principles, not CO.
ercion and force.
At Baltimore the secessionists applied
for admission to the convention, but so far
as be had seen, without any proposition for
concession. He thought therefore the con.
vention acted right in not admitting them.
An opposite course, though itmight be ad-
vocated on certain grounds of expediency,
or as Mr.. Webster derisively said, that far
reaching doctrine of availibility--would have
been timid and time serving. The regular
convention therefore deserved to be cordially
supported.
Mr.. Andrews then spoke of the right of
the people Of territories to legislate on the
subject of slavery. 1t was right dear to
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