The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-04
Democrats should now forget they ever

OlucrcuO ' .tNs 81 .f To t4f
/. After the election of President Lincoln,
The Democrats and the Union men went for
compromise and against coercion, in order
to retain, at least, all the Border States.
Their position has uniformly been that the
Union could be kept together only by com
promise. But the people had elected rulers
who were not for compromise; and that adj
ministration, after survey OF the held, and
the sustaining action of an extra session Of
Congress, has assumed the full responsibility
of the position that the Union can be MAIN
tanned and restored by force OF arms by
"war." And now there is " war" for the
existence of republican government-and
that is the great experiment which is Icing
tried before the world. So that it is plain
that we can now do nothing with compro-
mise. and we must either surrender the
Union or fight for it. How long the war
is to last, or how it will end, are not press
ent, but postponed, issues.
Such is the " situation" and is it not the
plain duty of Democrats to accept that
situation" as the test of patriotism, and
prove their good faith by throwing no posi-
BILE obstacle in the way Of its fair and most
energetic trial?
We are not responsible for the policy of
the government in taking the position of
maintaining the Union by war but having
come up to that war after it was begun by
the fire on Sumpter, and filled the ranks of
our armies engaged in that war with Demo.
cratic soldiers and officers, we owe it to
them, and, above them, to our country, to
- cbor nd vnccihlQ nv
giving to it all the moral, as we have all the
physical and fiscal aid ia our power. And
would not the moral influence be potent for
good which must arise from the magnani-
NOUS action of the Democratic party in
Massachusetts still reaffirming all its old
nationality, but taking no party action
whatever during this absorbing peril of the
country-and leaving to the people, without
party, if they see fit, to take the nominations
into their own hands?
Let massachusetts, be a unit, an support d
the Union, and let there be no divlsion as to
men in this election.
| have no desire to influence the fixed
convictions of my political friends, if, in
their judgment, party nomination is ne
cessary; but after having been strict par
ty man all my life long, and never failed to
deposit the whole ticket of my party in any
election, can see in this greatest of all
perils of my country, duty SO much higher
than party, that it is easy TO forget | ever
belonged to any party. And in that light
it does appear very clear to my best per-
ceptions that while present nomination
for State officers could result only in exhib'
iting the seeming weakness of the Demos
racy by the few votes it could rally in No
vember, without single distinct party cry
it would give high tone of patriotism
and an honorable position to the whole
party, but above all, a great moral aid to
the whole country, if the Worchester con-
vention, in their sound discretion, should &C
no farther than to continue its State Com
mittee for future organization when neces
sary, plant itself firmly and rightly in.sup
| port OF the " War" for Union under the
constitution, and make no nomination.
Most truly yours, B. F. HALLET.