St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-01-31

This is very polite-very like q 1ner-
chant who has new stock of goods ON
hand aud it may be that it all belongs to
higher state Of civilization than wo are
able to comprehend; but to tell the truth
we like the talk Of the Cottonites the best
Of the two. We can understand it; but
we cannot understand how Mr.. Seward the
announcer Of the "Irrepressiblo Conflict"
has suddenly come to the conclusion that
"the different forms of labor" in the Of
Tended and offending States, off slavery
were not perverted to purposes Of political
ambition, need not constitute an element
Of strife in the Confederacy" Pity he
did not mention that saving if in his 9TH
sr announcement. In that 1rrepressible
Conflict speech he certainly took ground
that the strife was inherent in the two sys-
tens, or forms of labor. Now it is in the
perversion of one of them. We think this
a very "libcral concession" to be made by
an "opposing force confident of its own
right and its own strength" and should
think more Of the courage of the concedcr
if it had been made some place else than
in the face Of "a force with its guns in
battery"
1t appears to US that Mr.. Seward in
playing coon might have stayed quietly in
his tree until Captain Scott examined his
powder to see if it were dry We do not
believe the Captains gun will go off after
all-bavc an idea the cap is not waterproof
think the gun dropped in Charleston
harbor, and that the barrel is rusty, the
lock full of sand and that it will certainly
miss fire in spite Of the skill of the gallant
Captaiu-think Mr.. Seward should have
given him chance to pull the triggeronce,
before coming down.
On the subject Of slavery in the terrific
ries, we cannot tell whether Mr.. Seward is
in favor Of maintaining tie Chicago plat
form, or Mr.. Adams proposition to divide
it, giving slavery one half and letting tree
dom take her chance for the other. We
have read what he says about it three times
but are doubtful Of understanding him.
So, VIC copy the passage in hopes our read
ers may be clearer headed.
Thirdly. While think that Congress has
exclusive and sovereign authority to legislate
on all subjects whatever in the common Terri
tories of the United States, and while GER
tainly shall never, directly or indirectly, give
my vote to sanction or establish slavery in
such Territories, or anywhere else in the world
yet the question what constitutional laws shall
at any time be passed in regard to the Terri
tories is, like every other question, to be deter
mined on practical grounds. voted for ena-
bling acts in the case of Oregon, Minnesota,
and Kansas, without being able to secure in
them such provisions as would have prefer
red and yet voted wisely. So, now l am
we'll satisfied that, under existing circumstan-
ces, a happy and satisfactory solution Of the
difficulties in the remaining Territories would
be obtained by similar laws, providing for the
organization, if such organization werc other
wise practicable. If, therefore, Kansas were
admitted rs n State under the Wyandot Con-
stitution, rs think she ought to be, and if the
organic laws of all the other Territories could
be repealed, could vote to authorize the or
ganization and admission Of two new States
which should include them. reserving the right
to effect subdivisions Of them, whenever ncces-
sary, into several convenient States but do
not find that such reservation could be consti-
tutionally made. Without them, the Interior
embarrassments which would result from the
hasty incorporation of States Of such vast ex-
tent and various interests and character would
outweigh all the immediate advantages of such
a measure. But if the measure were practical
BILE, should prefer different course, namely:
when the eccentric movements of secession and
disunion shall have ended, in whatever form
that end may come, and the angry exctements
Of the hodr. shall have subsidized, and calmness
once more shall have resumed its accustomed
sway over the public mind, then, and not until
then-one, two, or three years he,ce-1 should
cheerfully advise convention Of the people,
to be assembled in pursuance of the COnstitu-
ton, to consider and decide whether any and
what amendments Of the organic national law
ought to be made. A Republican now-as
have heretofore been a member of other parties
existing in my day. nevertheless hold and
cherish, as have always done, the principle
that this government exists in its present form
only by the consent Of the governed, and that
it is as necesessary rs it is wise to resort to
the people for revision of the canic law when
the troubles ana dangers of the State certainly
transcend the powers delegated by it to the
public authorities. Nor ought the suggestion
to excite surprise. Government, in any form,
is q machine; this is the most complex one
that the mind Of man has ever invented, or the
hand of man has ever framed. Perfect rs it
is, it ought to be expected that it will. as often
as once in q century, require some modification
TO adapt it to the change of society and altera-
tons of empire.
We do wish Senator Wade or Thaddeus
Stephens, or some one else of that ilk would
Translate this whole speech into good ,.plain
Anglo Saxon. No doubt they understand