The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-06-08


The full extent of this treachery, however,
he did not, at first, reveal. He sustained
the Administration, as matter of party
policy, and as means to save his friends
from decapitation, while he privately pre-
tended to sympathize still with the princi>
pies on which he had been elected, and
with DOUGLAS, who had become the victim
of an unnatural and unhallowed hate. This
equivocal position was soon understood by
the Administra ton, and be was again in
danger of losing his hold upon the govern
ment patronage. Driven to this extremity,
he assumed decided position, and in that
remarkable document, known as The
Ship of State Letter." he announced his
unqualified adhesion to the Administration.
Following, at convenient interval, the
publication of this letter which is at once
the warrant of his shame and the token of
his apostacy-he returned to Minnesota on a
visit to his constituency. His reception
was very cold, and his stay was very brief.
1t was long enough, though, to convince
him that he had outraged the confidence of
the party, and that he had purchased the
control of the federal patronage at dear
and disgraceful cost. He returned to
Washington, for the session of 1859, i'm.
pressed with this truth, and determined to
palliate the effects of it, at the first oppor-
tunity which should offer. This opportuni-
ty occurred, when, in obedience to the
demands of the President that DOUGLAS
should be personally disgraced, the latter
was removed from the craftsmanship of the
Territorial Committee.
No one can forget the indignation which
this miserable act of petty malice excited
throughout the country. 1t was an act
unprecedented in the history Of the Senate.
The courtesies of that body had always
permitted Senators to hold their place upon
committees during their own pleasure, and
had forbidden the promotion of one Senator
over another, in derogation of this conceded
privilege. But, while the action of the
Senate was thus universally denounced, it
received special reprobation throughout
the West. DOUGLAS had occupied all the
period of his manhood in studying the
wants, character and resources of the West,
and had devoted his long Congressional life
in successful labors for their supply, eleva-
tien, and development. Through his posi-
ton as chairman of the Territorial Com
mittee, Senator DOUGLAS had become con,
nected with every measure which had been
adopted to vindicate Western rights, or
redress Western wrongs. His name was,
therefore, household word in every cabin
as we'll as mansion over all the West, and
the indignity which was put upon him at
the behest of the Administration, was felt
as a personal insult by every honorable
Western man.
The political gossip of the time connected
Senator RICE with those Democrats who, in
caucus, had voted to trample on the estab-
lished courtesies of the Senate, for the pur-
pose of gratifying the malice of treacherous
administration. This gossip went the rounds
of the papers, and received very general en-
dorsement. We did not credit its truth
for, however lightly the preceding events
had taught US to think of Senator R1cE's
integrity, we were not prepared to regard
him foolish as we'll as false. His public
disavowal of anticipation in this act of
injustice, therefore, was received with plea
sure and especially so, as it was regarded
as an indication, that, to whatever length
he might be driven in outward support of
the administration, for the purpose of COM
trolling patronage, he was yet sound at heart
in regard to the great statesman who was
looked upon by the Democracy of Minneso-
ia as their most faithful interpreter.
We will do Senator RICE the credit to
say that we believe he would have justified
this general expectation in his acts, had it
not been for new and unappeasable demands
which were made upon him by the Admin
istration. For, the President has proved
himself to be hard task-master. The man
of Romance, who sold himself to the Devil,
had an easy time in fulfilling his contract,
compared with those luckless politicians
who have entered into bonds with JAMES
BUCHANAN. Submission the most slavish,
and the sacrifice of all honor and free-will,
were the only terms on which the unholy
alliance could be entered into and main
tanned. These terms were acceded to by
the Senator, and they have been carried out
by him in good faith. So, when it was de-
handed of Senator RICE that the delegation
from Minnesota to Charleston should be
composed of men antagonistic to DOUGLAS,
he gave the required pledge, however dis.
tasteful it might have been. We think he
would gladly have relieved himself from any
attempt at its redemption. if it could have
been done without prejudice to his standing
at Washington, and to the current and
prospective political speculations of his own