The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-28

"a speculative opinion may be
upright geographical interest opposed
to another is always knave The trivial
geography of q president, sufficiently de-
monstrates that Congress would be a bad
guardian Of state rights, even with the as
sistance of the federal courts"
Those words of wisdom, quantity, yet
forcibly expressed, are full OF instruction
for this crisis in our affairs. The slavery
question is local, geographical and specula-
tive !; and cannot, therefore, be safely en-
trusted to Congress. 1t must cease to form
plank in political platforms, and this can
be done by an amendment to the Constitu-
ton. When Congress has no more power
over slavery-when inhibited by the Con-
stitution-than over religion, it will cease
to be a national question, but not before.
If sectarian religion were an open legisla-
tive question, it might soon become, even in
this country, a political question. and be eX-
allied into fearful irrepressible conflict be-
tween opposing sects. 1t is the Constitution
only that prevents this; and it is only by
an amendment of the Constitution that the
subject of slavery can be withdrawn from
national poitics,and thereby, may accord be
restored between the North and the South,
and the Union will be saved.
To accomplish this grand desideratum
speedily, seems to require the formation of
a new party, in order to unite men of all
parties. who prefer the perpetuity of the
Union to the longer agitation of the slavery
question.
There is no other way to avoid anarchy
and civil war, which must inevitably result
from any attempt either at peaceable disso-
luton or coercion to preserve or restore the
Union. Remove the cause and the disease
will disappear-but not otherwise.
Our glorious Union is the soul of the
Republic, the life of the nation, the vitaliz.
ing principle of all its parts. The first
serious attempt, which is now made, to
effect its dissolution, must soon teach the
whole American people what they never
comprehended or appreciated before, that
this federation of States is so complete ia
itself, that not one of the stars can be
stricken from its blue field, without pro-
ducing chaotic destruction among them all.
Geographically considered, with reference
to differences of climate, products, and labor
systems, the several parts of the federation
are held together like systems of nature in
a nice balance of opposing forces-held
together by an equilibrium of repellipg
geographical prejudices, and attracting
material interests.
The slave labor and cotton fields of the
States of the South; the iron, the coal, man.
utactures and shipping of the North Attain
tic States; the copper and lead mines and
the grain and grass fields of the Upper
Mississippi, with the silver and gold of the
Pacific States, create an Incompatible
variety in unity, a combination of recipro.
cal interest, which dissolution would expose
to all the destructive violence of our geo.
graphical prejudices, which nothing but
| constitutional Inhibition can neutralize.
This danger renders dissolution, without
destruction, almost physical improbability.
Aye, even makes dissolution itself impossi-
BILE, unless the people of this country con-
sent to be guided by madmen, or bad men.
There is some consolation in our present
financial disasters. 1t is thus, men are CON-
PEELED to learn the laws of God and nature.
At such time it is moral treason to in
dulge in considerations of party ambition,
or rhetorical invective, which only inhame
and mislead the people, and hasten the
catastrophe which all good citizens should
strive to avert.
The fierce spirit Of party, even n>w so
erect amidst the appalling dangers which
threaten the extinction of our national
glores, ought to stand back silenced and
abashed before the monster ofdiscord, which
has been evoked by the low ambitions of
its aspiring leaders.
1t must be apparent to all calm observ-
ers, that the alarming condition of the
country demand in the high councils of the
nation the profoundest wisdom and most
disinterested patriotism, with an entire me-
cation of self, and absolute reputation of
party; but unhappily, there seems to be too
much reason for the common impression,
that large majority of the men, whom
geographical animosities, Infatuated by par
tisan contention, have elevated to the great
dignity of American statesmen, are incapa-
BILE of rising above their natural level of
mere local politicians.
This is not to be wondered at, for these
men were elevated t. place and power only
on account of their qualifications for the
party prize ring, and not to guide the des-
TIMES of nation, in the days of its great
est peril. Is it therefore marvel, that
when called upon to save the Union, a work
so much above their capacity, for which
their education and habits disqualify them,
that they should either shrink into silence
or indulge in the invective mode of argument
with sneers and recrimination, defiance, and
threats of coercion.
Their manifest incapacity or unwilling
ness to agree upon the means necessary to
save the Republic from dissolution, indi-
Gates to all patriotic citizens, that it has
become their duty, without regard to old
party distractions, to unite and take the
conduct Of our national affairs out of the
hands of these incompetent and refractory
politicians.
The personal pride of position, and the
vain glory of consistency which character
ize some of the most able and distinguished
of these political champions, evidently dis.
qualify them, in this sudden emergency, for
the performance of any useful service to
the State.
The people should therefore rise in their
majesty, and appeal from the politicians to
themselves