The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-07-13
Ine Democracy OF Hennepin County
moving in behalf OF stephen A.
Douglas. 1A'

The Democracy Of Hennepin Countv
moving in behalf OF stephen A.
Douglas. '
On Saturday evening last, it having been
suggested by few Democrats to have an
informal business meeting preliminary to the
organization of Douglas Clubs in the city
of St. Anthony, an unexpected and enthu,
siastic collection of many of the best citizens
assembled at the fremont House, and tenn.
porarily organized by calling the Hon. J.
W. TALBOT to the Chair, and appointing E,
ORTMAN, ESQ.,, Secretary.
The object of the meeting was stated by
JAS. B. GILBERT, Esq, to be the organiza~
ton of Douglas Democratic Clubs. 1t was
then resolved, unanimously, to meet on Tues
day the 10th, at ~ o'clock at Stanchfeld's
Hall, for that purpose, then and there to
name prominent officers, and to do such
other business as the interest and welfare of
the party may require.
This first step towards permanent Or
ganization having been taken, Judge MEEK
Elk, of that city, was loudly called for, when
that gentleman arose, and in nervous and
eloquent speech of about thirty minutes,
kindled afresh the old fires of our party, and
inspired all present with a confidence and
enthusiasm which, if generally diffased, must
result in triumph and success, He began
by stating that the present distracted and
dangerous condition of the country was
brought about by reckless and mercenary
politicians, availing themselves of the
apathy and indifference of the people to
look after their own most vital interests.
and to watch, with jealous eye, their
treacherous and faithless agents. That our
government, like all other popular govern
ments, rested on the integrity as we'll as
vigilance of the citizen, and that honesty
without watchfulness, and watchfulness with
out honesty, were equally criminal and ia
tai That the time had arrived when the
people, in their primary capacity, must
move to reclaim their government from the
trained bands of venality and corruption
from an ungrateful and heartless despotssm,
armed with the peoples own money, to defy
and defeat the people and tie peoples
choice. That as between two factions now
distracting the country, and which were
equally removed from true democracy, the
disunion or administration party, and the
abolition or republican party, there was no
difference in effect, both resulting in ceaseIess
agitation, alienation and eventual dissolution
of the confederacy, as both claimed and in
sisted on intervention by Congress in regard
to slavery in the Territories. That it was
revolving to just and fair-minded men in
every portion of the union, when within
year past it was asserted for the first time
in the American Senate, to be the duty of
Congress to intervene to carry and keep sla-
very in the Territories. But it was an ex-
ercise of the same stretch of power also, to
intervene to prohibit its going there if the
people wished it. If one insulted the north,
the other was just as much calculated to
offend the south.
Non>intervention, continued Judge Meek
er, was the only principle upon which we
can ever have peace--the only basis upon
which national party can be preserved in
our midst. 1t is just and fair to all sections,
and for that reason, all would eventually &C
quiesce in it. This was the great principle
the CHIEF plank in the national platform on
which Mr.. Buchanan was elected, and that
made Mr.. Pierce so popular with the South,
who supported him for denomination at Cin>
cinnati in 1856. This great national prin-
ciple was reaffirmed by an overwhelming
majority both at Charleston and Baltimore
and led to the nomination of the Illinois
Senator, its great author and ablest cham
pion. On this he stands like adamant, and
the people also stand NTH him. against this
just and healing measure now stands a re.
creant and reckless President, strengthened
by the purse and patronage of the govern
ment, and followed in bis unhallowed warfare
against principle and the people, by as We
nal and corrupt crew as ever disgraced the
form OF man or the cause of free institutions.
Judge Meeker next proceeded to show the
fairness and nationality OF the nomination of
Mr.. Douglas at Baltimore, contrasting it
with great power and effect with the abor-
tive results of the boilers and disunion con.
vention, that had no sanction from the peo-
pie or any other legitimate source. How
could the efforts of the Republicans and the
Presidents folks (who have again coalesed,)
impose on the people Breckenridge and Lane
as the national nominees, they having re-
ceived less than one-third of the votes, and
outside of the convention at that He spoke
of the enthusiasm every where with which
the nomination of Douglas was received
among the masses and the total failure of
the Jugglers and Demagogues at Washing
ton, to force their disunion craft into conf.
dence and power:
This first gathering of the Democracy of
st. Anthony argues well for the cause in
Hennepin county.
Judge McCALEB, of the United States
Circuit Court of New Orleans, has had
before him the case of the two Mexican
steamers - the General Miramon" and