The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-24
Personal.

his to close up any unfortunate controversy
in which he might be engaged with the old
Pioneer, by charges against the antecedent
political integrity of ourself as its editor
generally applying to us the epithet "apos-
tate abolitionist," and the like. And from
that day to this, the phrase has been kept
stored away for occasional use by the class of
editors over the State, who, on one ground
or other, choose to make US the subject of
unfavorable criticism. These charges have
been as plenty as blackberries during the
last three months; and one of these papers,
which devotes large share of its columns
to consideration of our personal and po-
litical qualities, prefers them, at last, in
shape quite definite and circumstantial. This
paper says that we were bred in tree-soil
Office in Buffalo -; that we were 4" the leader
of Birney faction in Sheboygan )" and
that, in st. Paul, our first political exploit
was an attempt to bolt the regular Demo-
cratic nomination by hosting the name of
Hon. DAVID OLMsrED, a wel-known aboli-
zionist" at the editorial head of our paper.
Now, we don't imagine that our political
history is of the least Importance to anybody
besides ourself and yet it may be an act of
charity to those who regard it of conse-
quence enough to talk about, to furnish them
with facts upon which they can talk the
truth, if they have capacity for uttering it
With this charitable purpose in view, our
readers will pardon this frst--as it will,
also, be the last--allusion, on our part, to
our personal or political antecedents.
And first, as to Buffalo. We lived in that
city a year and half, when boy-two-
thirds of the time in the employ of Demo.
cratic Office, and the balance of the time in
a Wing establishment We were working
for bread, in those days, and we have never
been able to distinguish any difference in
quality between that paid for by the wages
earned of Wing or Democratic employers.
Nor. inasmuch as our service in both offices
was purely mechanical, have we ever sup
posed that our political sentiments were in
fuenced or directed thereby.
Second, as to Sheboygan. We went to
Sheboygan in the spring of l848, at the age
of twenty. Sheboygan county at that date
was new, but rapidly filling up with popu-
lation, and without Democratic newspaper.
1t was presidential year, and, whatever in
fuences may have been exerted over US in
Buffalo, it is certain we were, at that time,
known as an ardent, enthusiastic young
Democrat. Quite too ardent and enthusiastic
for our own pecuniary good, as the result
proved. For this ardor induced US to invest
some three thousand dollars in newspaper
office, for the purpose of aiding the nomina.
tion and election of General CAss. This
office, in which we had placed nearly all our
means, was destroyed by fire, and without
insurance, within a month after the first
number of our paper was issued. Within
ohOehNh houou VIC udu duOOuCl OlllCC vi luG
spot, and the paper thus reinstated we edited
for a year and a sustaining, with
whatever ability and energy we possessed,
and on grounds of personal friendship, as
well as political sympathy, the election of
LEWIS CAss, and the success of the party he
represented. Before reaching twenty one,
therefore, we had invested some five thou>
sand dollars in the cause of Democracy, and
had given to it some hard, if not very eff
cient, labor. The Democracy of that county
testified their appreciation of our labors and
sacrifices, by rendering US, the ensuing fall
an unanimous nomination, and nearly an
unanimous election, to the best Office in their
gift; mark of their kindness, however,
from which we did not remain in the county
long enough afterwards to realize any ad-
vantage. If the editor who penned the libel
we are now reviewing, can present record
of greater labcrs rendered, or sacrifices suf-
fered, on account of Democratic men or
principles, before he had attained the legal
age to participate in political affairs, his
early Democracy will 60 unquestioned and
unrebuked before any tribunal.
Third, as to Saint Paul. Those of our
citizens who were acquainted with the tri.
angular contest of 1855, know that we were
not in the Territory from months time
before the congressional canvass opened
until within some twenty days of its close
Our friends know that we were during that
entire summer, some two thousand miles
distant from Minnesota, and no more re.
sponsible, in moral point of view, for the
course of the Pioneer, during that absence,
than we were for the course of either the
Minnesotian or Times. They know, further,
that, during such absence, the paper as
sumed position which, with knowledge
of the state of affairs, we could not have
sanctioned. And the public knows further,