The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-15

ST. PAUL, FEB. Z, 1861.
Hen. lgnatius Donnelly President of the Senate:
SIR: / have received dispatch from Sena-
tor Wilkinson, on behalf iof our delegation in
gates to the Peace Convention, now assembled
at Washington, at the instance Of the State of
Virginia.
have not hitherto anticipated such benef-
cial results from sending commissioners to this
Convention, as to induce me specially to re-
commend it; though I desire to give every as
sarance to the friends of the Constitution
everywhere of our sympathy and support.
But as cannot assume to decide the matter,
while the Legislature is in session, now re-
quest of the immediate representatives of the
people an early decision of the question wheth.
er or not the State will be represented in that
ISigned,l ALEX. RAMSEY.
In the Senate, proposition is proposed.
to send Commissioners, by appointment Of
the Governor, leaving to them reasonable
degree of discretion. But this does not
meet the views of the Abolitionists of the
party, and the dishonest Office seekers. The
Chicago platform is their..cry; or rather the
Constitution of the United States, as in
terpreted in the Chicago platform" Reso-
lutions are finally passed, authorizing the
Governor to appoint Commissioners, who
are instructed to peremptorily reject the
Virginia propositions, and to oppose any
settlement which will recognize the right of
the South to share in the common terrific
ry of the Union. "No more slave States" is
the only basis upon which Senator SMITH,
of st. Paul, and his associates, are disposed
to meet the South-not South Carolina, but
those Southern States which have resisted
disunion from the start. This is the greet
ing the Republicans of Minnesota send to
CR1rTENDEN, HICKS, CLEMENS, JOHNSON,
LETCHER and others. No more slave
States!" "The Constitution, as interpreted"
not by the Supreme Court, shut by the
Chicago platform !"
In the House of Representatives, the
peace propositions of Virginia, are treated
even more contemptuously than in the Sem
ate. By a vote of 80 ayes to 8 nays, the
House solemnly resolved mot to recognize
in any manner, the existence of the Peace
Convention" and therefore rejected the Sen
ate resolutions to send Commissioners.
During the debate, one of the members
said "the Southern people were maniacs 5"
another, suggested as q compromise, the
mild treatment usually applied to maniacs /;
while third would send Peace Commits
sioners expressly to prevent peace. In
fact, the scene and debate in the House
would have gladdened the heart of WEN.
DELL PHILLIPS, and made FRED. DOUGLAS
huzza for joy.
Yesterday the Senate again amended the
House resolutions, and sent them back, but
as yet there has been no action in that body.
We trust the whole subject may be dropped
In in its consideration, neither the House
or the Senate appear to have the ability
or patriotism to bring to its considera-
ton other arguments than those of tanatical
abolitionists.
We ask the conservative men of Mime.
sofa, to reflect upon the greeting the popu-
lar branch of our Legislature, sends to the
noble men engaged in earnest efforts to ad
just present unhappy controversies. The
legislature "refuses to recognize in any man
ner, the existence of the Peace Congress-"
1t is not laudable undertaking to preserve
the peace of the country, according to the
Republican Representatives. They throw
down the challenge Of civil war-at dis
tance-and seek to embarrass the men who
are striving to maintain the Union. When
the dread hour of reckoning arrives, may
those who are guilty of such criminal folly
who are disunionists in action and thought
--be the first to suffer the bitter fruits of
their ill-considered and fanatical action.