The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-15
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT
Tho "Press" and tho Peace Con.
ference

(orenC0s
The organ of the disunionists and radicals
of the Minnesota Legislature, has not one
word of reproof for the discourteous and
disgraceful action of the Senate and House,
in the consideration of the proposition to
send Commissioners to the Peace Congress.
But to relieve its party friends of the odium
which already attaches to them, it seeks to
create the impression that the sending of
Commissioners would have been an endorse
ment, by the Republicans of Minnesota, of
the CR1rrENDEN compromise. After quoting
the Virginia resolution, setting forth the
CR1rrENDEN compromise as a proper basis,
in the estimation OF Virginia, for an adjust
ment, it cries QUITO awaken the partizan Bit
terness of its readers
This resolution emphatically EXCLUDES from
the "TirginiG Conference" all who are not will
ing to insert an article in the United States
Constitution establishing and protecting slave.
~ in all present and prospective territories
south of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes.
Let us review the action of Virginia. In
the first place, she adopts resolution, invi-
ting " all such States, whether slaveboldipg
" or non-slaveholding, as are willing to unite
"with Virginia in an earnest effort to adjust
" the present unhappy controversies, in the
esprit in which the Constitution was ori.
"ginally formed, and consistently with its
principles" to send Commissioners, &c.
This is the invitation. Virginia, then. as
the aggrieved party, submits the CR1rTEN-
DEN compromise to the Peace Conference,
not as an ultimatua, but as a measure,
which, in her view, "will adjust the present
unhappy controversies" This does not
preclude any other compromise from being
adopted. 1t does not shut out the Border
State compromise, or that proposed by Mr..
CoRw1N, or Mr.. DOUGLAS, or Mr.. KELLOGG.
This is shown by the language of the fourth
of the series of Virginia resolutions, which
is as follows:
Resolved, That if said Commissioners, after
full and free conference, SHALL AGREE
UPON ANY PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT re.
quiring amendments of the Federal Constitu-
ton, for the further security of the rights of
the people of the slaveholding States, they be
requested to communicate the proposed
amendments to Congress for the purpose of
having the same submitted by that body, &C.
cording to the forms of the Constitution, to the
several States for ratification.
"If the Commissioners" says Virginia
out of her love and reverence for the Union,
s'sHALL AGREE UPON ANY PLAN OF ADJUST
MENT," then it is recommended that it shall
be presented to Congress, with view to
its ratification, in legal manner, as part
of the Constitution. "ANY PLAN OF AID.
JusrMENT !' mark the words. And yet the
Press, in the spirit Of the vilest partnership,
and to prevent the adoption of any "pIan
of adjustment" falsifes the position of Vir>
ginia, and says her resolutions inviting the
conference, exclude from its deliberations
call who are not willing to insert an article
" in the United States Constitution, estab-
fishing and protecting slavery in all pres
: ent and prospective territories south of SO
degrees 80 minutes!"
And further according to the Press the
DRY, CHASE and EWING, of Ohio; DUDLEY
FIELD, and MOVES, of New York; POLLOCK
and WILMoT, of Pennsylvania f; Smith, of
Indiana Gov. HALL, of Vermont; WOOD,
LOGAN, TURNER, and PALMER, of Illinois
all Republican of unimpeachable back bone
by accepting seats in the Conference, have
pledged themselves to measure "establish>
" ing and protecting slavery in all present
" and prospective territory, south of 36 deg.
$50 min." If we had not shown, by the
official record of the action of Virginia,
that the statement of the Press is a mean
and wilfully contrived lie, to create preju.
dice against noble and patriotic State, for
its endeavors to preserve the Union, and
avert civil war, the reference to the action
of Governor CHASE and his associates,
would demonstrate it, beyond the possibility
of successful denial.