The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-21
that the slave is, OF right, absolutely a free

that the slave is, OF right, absolutely free
man. In Maine and Vermont he is free
the moment he puts his foot on the soil.
Other States virtually render void the law
in various ways. Besides this, large por-
tion Of the Republican party make war
directly on the existence of the institution.
They are for breaking it down by all
methods. They endorsed John Brown.
On the other hand, not only the juries
but the federal judges in South Carolina
have defeated the laws against the slave
trade. Cargoes Of slaves have been landed
at various times in the south, and the
community tolerates their purchase and
presence on the cotton plantations. South
Carolina also, though the smallest sufferer,
has been steadily attempting to dismember
the Union for thirty years. The extreme
south also instituted the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, and carried through the
Ubiquitous transactions in Kansas. They
then admitted Oregon, but would not admit
Kansas. .-r.. ,,,.. .,-..ro. ,a. a .i.r.,0o a.;
The position of Mr.. Lincoln, the actual
head OF the Republican party, is clearly
with the more conservative element of that
organization. He is explicitly for the nom
interference with slavery where it exists.
He is opposed to the abolition of slavery
in the District of Columbia, unless a ma
jority of the people wish it abolished, and
compensation is made to the owners. He
would consent to the admission of slave
state. He is in favor of an efficient fugitive
slave law. He is against negro suffrage.
He recognizes the impossibility of abolish.
ing slavery except by natural causes and
the lapse of time. This is the President of
the United States. The other departments
of the government are with the south-the
Senate, the House of Representatives, and
the Judiciary. zar I'D as.s .;....:9L
What folly then to talk about dissolving
the Union on account of this election The
conservative element could have carried it..
A united Democratic party could have
succeeded. Instead of efscting a solid
opposition, they put two candidates in the
field. -. II ,+t,.~r ,.-... ..'.
1t is admitted, too, that the Adminstra-
ton of Buchanan has been singularly unfor-
tunate. 1t has excited the displeasure of
all parties and of all honest men. Its un-
paralleled corruption, apart from the slavery
question, had arrayed against it an un-
doubted majority Of the American people.
1t is, therefore, true that thousands of voters
sustained Mr.. Lincoln from mere dissatis-
faction with the Democratic administration.
The Republican vote was made up, in a
large proportion, not of sympathisers with
Mr.. Seward, but of enemies of James
Buchanan. $3.50 f0' .-.
Considering the whole thing, we are for
the Union. The attitude of South Caro-
lima is not to be regarded for a moment.
The present election is not the cause with
South Carolina; it is merely the OCCASION.
MIR. Yancey and his party are merely Selling
the opportunity to push matters as rapidly
as possible. All we want is time. In the
language of distinguished Southern
scholar, let but the educated mind of South
ern society be fully awakened to the magni-
tude Of its responsibilities, and thoroughly
instructed in the duties of its mission; let it
meet the falsifcations of history, and the
perversion Of philosophy and corruptions
of religion, in the varied forms of wise and
temperate discussion let it catch the spirit
of Milton, when he was content so lose his
sight in writing for the defence of the liber-
ties of England, and inspired by yet deeper
enthusiasm in a cause upon which may
depend the liberties and civil zation of the
whole earth, now in common peril from a
universal licentiousness OF opinion, unseal
all its fountains of wit, eloquence and logic;
and there would soon set out from our
southern coast great moral gulf stream
able to penetrate and warm all currents of
opposing thought-although they come in
the strength and volume of the ocean tide.
:',R ..... VIRG1NIUS.