davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
The Position Of Virginia.

The action of the Virginia Convention,
will, in all probability, determine the policy
to be pursued by the other Southern States.
1t derives great Importance on this ground.
In the Convention, on Monday last, Mr..
PRESTON, conservative member, offered a
resolution, supposed to have been occasioned
by the late war mo vements, declaring that
the government has no power to subjugate
a Southern State, protesting against any
such coercive policy, and authorizing the
appointment Of committee of delegates
to wait on the President, present him these
resolutions, and report to the Convention
the policy the government intends to pur-
sue. The resolution was adopted.
On Tuesday, Gov. WISE offered resolu-
ton, recognizing on the part of Virginia,
the independence OF the seeded States, and
demanding that measures be taken for q
peaceful separation. The resolution was
adopted by the decisive vote of l28 yeas to
20 nays. This of course commits Virginia
unreservedly against any attempt at coer-
ciOn.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
Minnesota Wheat Crop Of 1860.

The Commissioner of Statistics has all
lowed US to CLEAN from the mass of material
in his Office some interesting information
relative to the maximum and average weld
of wheat for the year 1860, from every
locality in the State. These statistics come
from sources perfectly reliable, and in most
instances from those who threshed out the
crop, between whom no collision for the
purpose of exaggeration could possibly have
taken place.
1t is proper to state also that the maxi
mum yields set down are not often from a
single acre, but run from five to sixty acres,
and are made up from actual measurement
and weight.
From all the means of information in the
Statistical Bureau, the Commissioner esti-
mates the average crop of wheat for the
whole State, at TWENTY. THREE BUSHELS PER
ACRE, for the year 1860, an amount far
exceeding that of any other State in the
Union. The crop OF 1859, as will be seen
by the following table, showed the decided
superiority of Minnesota as wheat pro.
ducing State over the best wheat States:
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
California U. 8. senatorship.


We have some details of this election.
Breckenridge and portion of the Douglas
Democrats nominated JOHN NuGENr on the
night preceding the election, over WELLER
and DENVER. After the nomination, Mr..
NUGENr was called upon and made an indis-
Greet speech on the secession question, which
caused some Douglas men in the caucus to
refuse to abide by the nomination. The
Republican members of the Legislature who
had previously declined to support any
douglas Democrat now resolved to vote for
any Union man to defeat NUGENT. On the
hrst ballot the vote stood-NUGENT As,
MCDouGAL 30, and the Republican candi-
date FL. On the third ballot, the Presi-
dent declared McDoUGAL elected, he having
received Sc out of Ill votes. 1t was sub.
sequently ascertained that 1l3 votes were
cast, two scattering votes not having been
counted. A Joint Committee of the Le-
gislature, appointed to investigate the SUBJ
Ject, have reported that no election has
taken place. Mr.. MCDoUGAL is reported
as willing to abide the result of another
Convention.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
Douglas and Crittenden.

DoUaLAs was in Baltimore the other day.
he was of course giving his attention to
movements for the salvation of the Union.
His plan in the border States seems to be
public meetings, which shall stimulate the
Union sentiment, so that there shall be no
secession by any of those States until the
Northern people shall have an opportunity
of passing upon questions Of adjustment and
compromise which shall be mutually salts
factory. A correspondent at Baltimore of
one of the New York papers has seen the
draft of call, in DOUGLAS own hand writ
ing, for such Union meetings, in the follow
ing words:
All who are opposed to secession and in ia.
yor of the restoration and preservation of the
| Union by such amendments to the cOnstitu-
ton as will insure the domestic tranquility,
safety and equality of all the States, and there
| by preserve the peace of the country and per-
petuate the Union of the States, are requested
| to meet, &c.
While DOUGLAS is thus operating in Ma
ryland and Virginia, and while the patriot
ic CRrrTENDEN is operating in the same
behalf in Kentucky and other western
border States, what leading Republican is
raising finger in any quarter for the saliva
| ton of the Union?
But for CR1TTENDEN and DOUGLAS the
border States would now be out of the Un~
ion. 1t has been their voices that have
sustained and animated the Union feeling
there. The worst obstacle they have had
to overcome has been, not the secession
feeling there, but the apprehension by the
people that they have nothing to hope in
the way of compromise from the LINCOLN
administration and pretty much every
act of the Administration has served to
strengthen that apprehension.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
Rhode Island Election.

The Providence Post concludes its enthu.
slastlc announcement of the glorious result
of the election, as follows
Democrats Conservatives Friends of
the Union in Rhode Island i! We congra-
tulate you upon your glorious victory. You
have done noble work, and its fruits will
be pleasant. Your voice will be heard in
the remotest corner of the Union. The
Union men of the Border States, especially,
Will re]olce over your victory abolitionism
all over New England all through the
North and West, will feel the shock.
You have washed your hands of the terrible
work which fanaticism has done and is
doing for your country. Let your hearts
rejoice and let this glorious victory
strengthen your attachment to conservative
principles, your devotion to the Union.
your faith in the people.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19

A New POINT AGAINST THE MORRILL,
TAR1FF.-A number of protests have been
filed in New York, against the MORRILL,
Tariff, by importing merchants, on the
ground that the duties charged, at New
York, on the goods imported are not levied
and collected in the ports of the seeding
States, and that by the Constitution of the
United States it is expressly declared that
"all duties, imposts and excuses shall be
uniform throughout the United states;"
and that "no preference shall be given by
any regulation of commerce or revenue to
the ports of one State over those of another"
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
Contemplated Attack ON Washington.

The dispatches from Washington show
that the Administration is in possession of
information that leads them to apprehend
an attack on the National Capital. The
regular troops, with the exception of two
or three companies, we believe have been
withdrawn, which leaves the Government
dependent, in case of sudden attack, on
the rather questionable loyalty Of the Dis
trict militia, some of whom have already
refused to take the required oath to support
the Government, while others have done so
and been mustered into service. We have
always regarded the National Capital as
peculiarly exposed to danger from a sudden
onslaught of desperate men from contiguous
cities, but can hardly believe that the Con-
federate Cabinet or any authorities of the
seeded States would seriously mediate an
act that would Immediately fire the North
ern heart, and unite all parties as one man
to repel and avenge.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
A Commission from Virginia.

The Virginia Convention on the 9th,
adopted the following preamble and resolu.
tion--ayes IS, nays 63:
Whereas, In the opinion of this Convention,
the uncertainty which prevails in the public
mind as to the policy the Government intends
pursuing toward the seeded States is ex.
tremely injurious to the commercial and indus.
trial interests of the country, and tends to
keep up an excitement which is unfavorable
to an adjustment of the pending difficulties,
and threatens the disturbance Of the public
peace therefore, ............. - -
Resolved, That committee of delegates be
appointed to wait on the President and re.
spectfully ask him to communicate to the Con.
vention the policy the Government intends to
pursue. . 's4-'-t 40 aJ1aa-loGi9 tit
BALLARD PRESTON, Conservative, A. H.
STUART, Unionist, Gro. w. RANDOLPH,
Secessionist, were appointed Commission
ers, and arrived at Washington yesterday,
the 18th. s5 ..1.-I now 81 u di-nl9l.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
A Very Plain Proposition.

We believe the radical wing of the
Republican party, desire permanent
dissolution of the Union. They have got
rid of the Cotton States, and they now seek
to drive off the Border States. To accom-
plish this object, civil war is to be inaugu-
rated upon gigantic scale. If there was
any desire or design, on the part of the
Radicals, to save the Union, the Border
States would be conciliated, by the adoption
of peace policy towards the seeding
States, and the appointment of Union men
to Office from the South. But no appoint
ments have been taken from the Union men
of the Border States, of any consequence;
violent Abolitionists have been called to
high stations; the whole Government has
been organized upon free State basis, and
steps are now to be taken toward the Cotton
States that the Border States have protested
against from the beginning, as certain to
lead to united South against the General
Government. We believe with Senator
DOUGLAS that there are Disunionists North,
as well as South; and that the desire to form
a free State Confederacy, to be ruled over
by New England and the Middle States, is
at the bottom of the coercive policy, which,
it appears, the Federal Administration has
at last initiated.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
STATISTICS OF THE SYRIAN MASSACRE

STATISTICS OF THE SYRIAN MASSACRE
Authentic statements show that there has
been no exaggeration in the accounts here.
tofore published respecting the massacres
committed by the Druses in Syria. Accord
ing to document prepared by the Central
Committee of Assistance in London, from
information supplied by the Turks them
selves, the number of Christians who lost
their lives is 10000, including women and
children. The number of women and young
girls carried off and sold to the turks is
5000. The number of Christians of all
sects reduced to ruin by these events is H.
900. One hundred and fifty towns and
villages, with the churches, monasteries,
and schools attached to them, were pillaged,
burnt, or destroyed. The houses of the
Christians destroyed at Damascus are not
included in this return.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
Col. Harvey Brown.

The telegraph announces that Brevet
Col. HARVEY BROWN, U. s. A., is in COM
mand of the land forces of the expedition to
Charleston harbor. Col. BROWN graduated
at West Point in 1918, standing No. g."
in the class of that date. He is now up
wards of sixty years old, and is one of the
first officers in the service. He was first
commissioned July "a, 1918, as End Lieu
tenant of the Light Artillery. On the res
organization of the Army, June l, 1921, he
was retained as End Lieutenant, LIST Artil-
lery; he was transferred to the 4th Artillery
and promoted LIST Lieutenant, in August,
1921; was Aide-de- Camp to Major General
BROWN in 1824-25; be was Assistant
Quartermaster from 1926 to 1929; was
breveted as Captain in 1881, I" for faithful
service ten years in one grade -; was pro-
NOTED Captain, April 10, 1885; served as
Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of
Mounted Greek volunteers in the Florida
war; was Breveted Major, November 81,
1886 "for gallant conduct on several occa-
sions and general efficiency in the war
against the Florida Indians: was Breveted
Lieutenant Colonel, August 20, l847, "for
gallant and meritorious conduct in the
batteries of Contreras and Churubusco";
was Brevetted Colonel, September ID, l847,
"for gallantry in the batteries in the valley
of Mexico" 3D.
Such is the record of Col. BROWN. He
is now Senior Major of the I'd Artillery, and
is second in list for promotion to the rank
of Lieutenant Colonel, standing next above
Major w. w. MORRIS, who is at present in
command at Fort Ridgely, having been
brevetted four times tor faithful, gallant
and meritorious conduct" We may rest
assured that, should he live, through the
eventfal days at Charleston, he will bring
home fair account of himself and furnish
further proof that good things do come out
of that much abused State, New Jersey,
from which he halls. -~g. y.af
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
The Southern Army.

President DAVIS has called upon each of
the Confederate States, except Florida, for
$500 troops, and from Florida, he asks
1900. This will create an army of 22,5OO
men-a much larger force than President
LINCOLN has at his command. The Presi-
dent cannot increase the army, until author.
lied to do so by Congress. If coercion
has been determined upon, we cannot see
how an extra session can be avoided.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19

Who are Responsible.


The Press, in its boisterous outburst of
yesterday, attempts to create the impression,
as it has done on several occasions hereto
fore, that it is solely owing to the policy of
the last Administration, and of the Demo-
cratic party, that Mr.. LINCOLN has not at
his command the means of enforcing the
laws, holding the forts, and collecting the
revenue. When its two column article is
sifted down, this is the basis oft. How are
the facts:
In the last House of Representatives,
which was strongly Republican, PROPOSE
ton was introduced by member of that
party, giving the President authority to
collect the duties on ship-board. 1t was
universally known at the time, that unless
such law should be passed, it would not be
in the power of the Federal government to
enforce the revenue laws. Did the Repub-
licans in Congress come to the rescue of
their President? Not by any means. They
rejected the bill; and that Mr.. LINCOLN to-
day has not the power of collecting the
duties, is solely owing to the non action
(wise, we think) of his own party. Yet the
Press ignores this fact, and bowls about
FLOYD and THOMPSON, who were denounced
in the PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT for their
mal.administration before the Press had an
existence; and when its present war-like
editor was engaged in the peaceful occupa-
ton of tending bucolic herds.
Again Mr.. STANTON, of Ohio, intro
duced bill, and pressed it vigorously, in
the House, charging the powers of the
President, in calling out the militia, for the
enforcement of the laws. If the laws were
to be enforced and the Press blames US that
they are not-the passage of this measure
was absolutely necessary. But did the
Republicans of the House venture to entrust
their President with the power essential to
the performance of this duty? Oh, no They
talked great deal about doing it, but never
faced the music. The bill was rejected or
postponed, on the motion of Mr.. CoRw1N,
of Ohio, who has since been rewarded by
Mr.. LINCOLN, with q frst-class mission
abroad.
Yet in the face of these facts, which can
not be controverted, the Press filings at, and
charges us, with a responsibility for the
misdeeds of FLOYD & Go. The acts of that
enterprising firm were condemned in our
columns, when it had patronage to disburse,
to purchase even silence. But they now
belong to the past. A civil war appears to
be opening before US, fraught with the most
direful consequences to the American peoS
pie. How that great horror can best be
avoided, and the disunionists who advocate
it, frustrated, is the momentous question of
the present. To promote it's peaceful solu>
ton, we shall zealously labor, at the
risk of being styled "traitor," or even a
rattlesnake," by the canting and bypocrit-
ical demagogues who have brought the
present great evil upon the nation. This is
all the Press can induce US to say in per"
sonal vindication. The question of our pa
triotism is cheerfully referred to the public,
for a verdict.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19

The New York Herald of the 9Th, gives
list of the number of vessels, either in
commission, or under orders for the South.
and all of whom are ready for active service
at this date. The feet is in command of
Commodore STRINaHAM, who replaces Com
modore PRENDERGAsT, Southern man. 1t
is presumed that this feet will require up
ward of $500 men. 1t must not be sup.
posed, however, that any Of this force would
be available for land demonstrations of any
character, as their services would be re-
quired to operate the guns of the several
ships. The following is list of the fleet {:
Name. Captain. Guns.
Steam frigate Roanoke. 40
Steam frigate Minnesota. C. ]. Van Brunt. 40
Steam frigate wabash. =. 40
Steam frigate Merrimack. 49,. 40
Frigate Sabine. A Adams so
SlOOp.ot-war CumberlandJoh Marston. "a
Sloop.Of-war st. Louis. C. H. Poor. 20
Steam sloop Brooklyn. w. s. Walker. >. rs
Steam slOOp Mississippi. 49,. IL
Steam sloop POwhattan s.. Mercer. ...... IL
Steam sloop Pawnee ....S. G. Rowan.
Steam sloOp Poca hontasS. F. Hazard. -.
Steam sloOp Wyandotte. go. s
Steam slOop Mohawk. >. .Lieuten't Strong.
Steam sloop Crusader. Lieut.. Craven... 8
6Brig n1eIry:..'.......... go. 6
Brig Dolphin. ........... &C..
Cutter Harriet Lane. ohm Faunce.. S
OtedMer VdteI WlIcH...
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19

A MONTGOMERY correspondent writes the
Charleston Courier, on the 25th, that be full
amount of the five million loan desired has
been rendered, though the bonds have not
yet been issued. One gentleman-a Mis-
sissippian-placed $4,000 subject to the
draft of the Treasurer of the Confederacy
Another offered 100000, and another
$4,000 to Mr.. MemmiDger, requiring no
interest for their loans.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
ono Dutch Need Apply.n

The statement that Mr.. Excl, one of the
proprietors of the Minnesota Zeitung, had
been appointed Deputy Collector at this
port, is denied. Mr.. GEORGE W. MOORE
has been gazetted for the Office. "Our Ger
man friends" are decidedly at discount.
1t was happy thought, however, to report
that Mr.. Excl had been appointed, just be-
fore the city election. But it didn't win.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
How Exceeding Valiant they Grow.


The opponents of the Democracy seem
to grow in courage, and now, for the first
time in the history of the country, they ad-
vocate war policy on the part of the Fed
eral Government. They vehemently oppos-
ed the war of 1912, and threatened disunion
as remedy for the real and fancied grievs
ances it entailed upon them. In the Hart
ford Convention proceedings, were first
developed the identical arguments used to
day, by the secessionists of the South, in
justification of their action. The war with
Mexico, found no more violent opponents in
the country, than LINCOLN, SEWARD, Cor.
WIN, and the mass of those who now com.
pose the Republican party. CoRw1N would
welcome the Americans to hospitable
graves with bloody hands," LINCOLN
voted against supplies for our suffering sol
diers, who were defending the honor of
their country in foreign land. The 1fi.
bune, and kindred sheets, furnished "aid and
comfort " to the enemy so much SO indeed,
that the Mexican government had their
articles circulated, to encourage the droop-
ing spirits of their own soldiery, and create
discomfort in the American army. Every
war undertaken by the Government, in
vindication of its honor and the protection
of the lives and property of its citizens, has
been opposed by the class who are now so
clamorous that the throat-cutting business
should be Immediately commenced at the
South. These Peace Society gentry have all
at once become great swaggerers-"jealous
in honor and sudden and quick in quarrel"
They are eager for the fray. They speak
the radicals we mean-as if the conquest or
determination of the people of the Southern
States, will prove nothing but holiday
job. They will listen to no terms of con-
ciliation or compromise. "Men never COM
promise" They are clamorous for blood.
In our foreign wars, it is true, they were
gentle as cooling doves, and begged and
prayed for peace. They would consent to
any compromise--to any plan of paci6ca-
lion-to conciliate England, Spain, or
Mexico, but not jot will they yield to the
South. "The Constitution as interpreted
in the Chicago platform" are the only terms
proffered. The alternative is war! War
between kindred and friends War between
people Boosting a common ancestry A
war to cram down the threats of two.thirds
Of the people of the Union, the political
dogmas held by one.third! A cruel,
bloody, unnecessary war that will not and
cannot secure any practicable advantage
unattainable by peace policy.
This is the feast to which the Press
writer-the Abolitionist NoURsE-invites
the conservative people of Minnesota; and
be cries "shame on the man" who will dare
neglect bis royal orders. Yet the removal
from, or appointment to an Office, would
CLOSE his mouth, or open it, in advocacy
of an opposite policy, as readily as the
Snowman works his puppets. "These be
our generals"
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19

There are two courses open to the gov
ernment-the adoption of the Crittenden
Compromise, which gives the South one.
fifth of the common territory which it and
the North own together or civil war,
which will bring untold misery and ruin
upon the country. We shall soon see
which the administration will take-the
compromise or the war. The people are
for compromise.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
Union Nominations in Chicago

The Union men of Chicago have nomin.
ated the following ticket for the Spring
election
Mayor-THoMAs B. BRYoN; Commits.
sioners of Public orks-PHn1P CoNLEY,
CHAs. M. GRAY, FRED. LETT; City Treas.
urer-CALv1N G. PARKS; City Collector
JOHN P. CHAPLIN City Attorney-G. G.
WALKER; City Surveyor-R1cHARD PoTr;
Clerk of the Police Court-W. D. HAw.
LEY.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
Kentucky Union Ticket for tn,
Border Conference.

The Louisville Democrat and Journal both
carry at the head of their columns the fol.
lowing ticket for delegates to the Border
State Conference to be held at Frankfort
on the Goth prox.:
For STATE AT LARGE.-John J. Crittenden,
James Guthrie.
DISTRICT DELEGATES.
First District, Rufus K. Williams.
Second District, Archie Dixon.
Third District, Francis NJ. Brstow.
Fourth District, Joshua F. Bell.
Fifth District, Charles A. Wickliffe.
Sixth District, George w. Dunlap.
Seventh District, Charles S. Morehead.
Eighth District, James F. Robinson.
Ninth District, John B. Huston.
Tenth District, Robert Richardson.
The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19

Rhode Island ElectiOn-State Ticket,
Legislative, and Congressmen Anti
Republican. tr
The result for Governor, in Rhode Island,
is as follows: SPRAaUB, Union, IL ,844 /;
SMITH, Rep, l0,2O0; scattering 16-ma-
jority, 1923. The vote for Congress, in
the Western District, stood BROWNE.
Union, 4,41l; BRAYToN, Rep. 1856.
Eastern District: SHEFF1ELD, Union, II, 461; ;
ROBINSON, Rep, 10,870. The Senate stand
II Union men, and 13 Republicans; and the
House As Union men, and rs Republicans.
Well done, gallant little Rhody.