The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-10-04

PATRIOTIC AND ELOQUENT LETTER FROM
THE HON. BENZ. F. HALLETT.

The Democratic State Convention to which
you are delegate, will meet at Worcester,
on the 18th, under judicious call of the
State Committee, which l am glad to see
unites all Democrats. But as l shall not
be present, l desire to suggest for the can
did reflection of the delegates some reasons
that satisfy me that it is the highest duty
and the best policy for the convention to
make no nomination for party candidates
for the fall election. tits not required that
the party should be disbanded, or its organ
izatlon broken up, but that its action as to
party nominations should be suspended un.
til the War comes to an end for there is
no possible practical question now but
War;" lhe South has gone beyond re-
bellion and personal treason, into organized
revolution, and is wagiDg war against the
United States to usurp and overthrow the
supreme government in twelve States. The
government is carrying on war, under the
" war making power OF the constitution, to
uphold and restore its constitutional su.
premacy all over the Union. The simple
issue is, the overthrow or the support
of government in this whole Union and
while that is the issue, aE not for oppos'
ing or obstructing any measure or policy OF
the administration, honestly designed to
carry on this war for its great end, VIZ, the
re-estabLlShment of the supreme government
of The Union m all the States and Terrific
ries. Until that is done, or it is fully de-
monstrated that it cannot be done by force
OF arms, belong to no party but the cOun.
try. And until one OF these results arrive,
the Dtmocratic party, in my Judgment, has
no higher present duty than TO uphold the
government The mission of that great
historical party OF the Union is not ended,
and never can be ended while republican
government exists, or the Union is to be
restored; but the people have placed the
flag in other hands, and now the mission OF
Democracy is the old one to follow it to
victory. THIS as the grand tradition Of the
Democratic patty; On the land, on TIE sea,
JoiiOv the flag Whereuer 1t a0aues N support
of the Union.
In this Spirit The Democratic party did
not hesitate an Instant alter the fire on Sump-
ter, to commit itself to this "War" to the
utmost OF its means and its good faith. No
victory has been or can be achieved, and no
defeat suffered but with the Outpou.ing of
the best blood OF Democrats. The Demo-
cratic party Fever was and never can be a
peace party in war nor War party in peace.
When their country is in peril, when their
country Is at war, right or wrong, they are
for their country and against its enemies.
They will not turn their backs upon the
national standard, let who may bear it up !;
nor will they, in the midst of the conflict,
endanger the field by party contest for the
command.
Hence the only present question being,
shall we push on the War Tor the Union ?
all other issues should give way until we
conquer peace in the Union; for me must
not now talk OF failure or concession. 1t
is manifest that to keep the Union together
we must put down the two only disturbing
elements that have upheaved this volcano Of
civil war" AboldtOa" and "Secession !"
But it is % Secession that is now in arms
against the Union, and that Must be met
and conquered with arms and after the
bullets have done their work with Secession,
the ballot will put down abolition. For if
the country can, by war or by recOnstruc.
ton, escape now from permanent descrip-
ton of the Union, after the bloody lesson
they are learning, the people will never
allow either OF those demons of discOrd
again to stir up strife into civil war. 1t
will then be the time for Democrats to re-,
sumo their old claim to the administration
OF government, after we settle this terrible
question whether we are to have any gov
eminent TO administer!
But now the Democratic party of Massa-
chusetts Is not only In Its normal minority in
the State and It's occasional minority in the
Union, but has sent thousands of its most
active voters to the war; and who of us can
talk of rally at the polls here for impos.
sible candidates, while they are fighting for
the Stars and stripes in Virginia?
Sound discretion, therefore, as we'll as
patriotism, would seem to point to no IONS
Ination as the true policy when such nom.
ination must exhibit only the weakness and
not the fair strength of the party.
But the paramount reason against a
present nominatlOu appears to me to be this
that a party nomination can do no good to
the country and may DO harm. 'ihe Demo.
cratic party certainly does mean to support
the general and State administration in
carrying on this war for Government and
for Union, under the constitution. In this
we do not support the President or Gov
ernor because they are Republicans, but
because they are placed by the people at
the head OF the constituted authorities to
uphold government. We cannot change
President or Governor by any action we
can now take and to oppose them in the
midst OF the battle for the lie of the nation,
is, so far, to weaken their hands in the
prosecution of this war for the Union, and
give COMFORT to the public enemy
The Democratic party has always mains
tanned good faith. The pre:ent trial is q
great test OF that good laith Our first
position (when pens and tongues, and not
swords ana rifles, We're the DOLLY weapons),
was "give the South equal rights in the
Union, and there will be no disunion -
But the restless spirits of the South, who
believed that the co operation of the Demo
cratic party 10 the North could no longer
give them power in the general government,
would not take "equal rights" aud stay 10
the Union. They divided US on an cab
straction" at Charleston, and let in the
consequent success of the Republicans,
which they Immediately seized upon as the