The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-16
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT
What the Rebellion Means.

In some comments upon the battle at Bull
Run, the Mobile Neaos inadvertently be-
trays the real motive and purpose of the
rebellion at the South. 1t says:
We know of no circumstance which pre-.
vents this contest from being regarded as a
fair test of the two people who are struggling
for dominion.
The N. Y. Commercial appropriately says
of this declaration, that we could not have des
sired fuller Endorsement of the view we have
always taken of the rebellion at the South,
its causes, motives and designs. The men
of the South are in revolt, not because of
any grievances or injustice they have suf-
fered at the hands of the North, but only
because they have lost the supremacy, the
power in the government, practically the
dominion, they have exercised over the re-
public. They had become the minority,
no longer able to elect President who
should bestow upon them the patronage of
the government, the posts of honor and en-
oument in the army and navy, in the judi
cary and diplomacy, and in civil life. The
supremacy or dominion in the federal gov
eminent which they had lost by ballots,
they wickedly determined to regain by bull
lets, if possible. With them it is "strug-
gle for DOMINION" their own journals pro-
claiming the fact. 1t is rot war for in
dependence or for the right Of secession, ex-
cept as either may be a stepping stone to
dominion and if they were to succeed in
establishing the independence of the states
that claim to have seeded, in as short a
time as they could recover from the effects
of that struggle and collect the means to
recommence warlike operations they would
be found in arms to make their Copfeder-
acy the supreme power On this continent.
"They are struggling for dominion"
This, then, on the secessonists' own show
ing, is the issue before US, and we have no
alternative but to accept it. II is poiti-
cal necessity, that we oppose the DONNA
ton of the minority over the majority. Our
liberties, our institutions, nay, the very ex-
istence OF constitutional government, i'm
perativey demand that we meet this issue
and put down at all costs this attempt of a
minority to dominate over the majority.
When such purpose is avowed there is
nothing left for US but either to subdue or
be subdued Such a declaration on the
part of the rebels laughs to scorn all at
tempts at compromise, all talk of peace
There can be no compromise of such an is.
sue. 1t is a vitat point. There can be no
terms Of peace with a rebellious minority
persistiDg in an armed struggle for domin-
ion over the majority, for then popular
government would be at an end, and des-
potism be substituted in its place. The
only basis of peace that people loyal to
constitutional government can offer or re-
ceive is the full and unqualified recognition
of the constitution unabridged and unim.
paired, of the President as the lawful head
of the government, and of the laws passed
by Congress as of paramount and unques
toned authority.
Where should we stand among the ma.
tions of the world, it, with rebel minority
in this attitude, we talked of compromise
and propose or accepted peace? Especial
ly when the rebels, pointing to Bull Run
say, There is the scene OF our struggle fol
dominion, and we repulsed the consti'
tutionalists." To compromise now, te
listen to overtures of peace, without the
full surrender of the rebels, would be to con
TESS to the world that we, with greater mum.
bers and immensely greater resources, dare
not or cannot resist the domination Of the
South that it is for them to dominate and
for us TO submit; and such confession
would be to provoke contempt which We
do not mean and cannot afford that The
world shall ever feel for us.