The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
- The Forts, the Revenue, and the Re-
cogniti0n OF tho Southern COnfed.

cognition OF the Southern COnfed-
eracy.''
Under this heading the other day, we
gave the Press, at its urgent solicitation,
our views on the above questions. They
were, in brief, that if the North rejects all
measures of compromise, for the restoration
and preservation of the Union, which the
Southern States demand as essential to
their domestic tranquility, safety, and equal
ity in the Confederacy, then peaceful sepa-
ration is preferable to war for the subju,
cation and military occupation of the
Southern States. We have arrived at this
opinion by slow degrees. But, not being
of a sanguinary disposition, we confess our
inability to perceive how the expenditure Of
oceans of blood, millions of treasure, and the
consequent prostration of all the CONNER
cial and manufacturing interests of the
country, by civil war, can be tortured into
remedy for our political Affections. We
think that the North and South, after,
FIVE years war, would entertain far less
cordiality for each other than they do at
present, and that the North would then be
heartily rejoiced to terminate hostilities
by recognition of the independence of the
Confederate States.
A careful perusal of Senator DOUGLAS
speeches, at the special session of the Sen
ate, has aided US in arriving at this con-
clusion. They are upon the very points at
issue, and we commend them to our readers.
The st. Paul Press has also warmly eulo-
gized these speeches. So much so, indeed,
that, as we quote the following extracts for
the purpose of demolshing the coercive and
civil war policy advocated by the Press and
its allies, we cannot forbear reproducing the
Press testimonial as to their patriotism,
truth, and power
From the st. faul Pres.
DOUGLAS AND LINCoLN.-It is truly gratifying
to notice that Senator Douglas has, since the
Inauguration of Mr.. Lincoln, risen above the
level of partisan prejudices that he is dspos-
ed to join the President in his patriotic efforts
to advance the interests of the country, pro-
mote the peace of The nation, and secure the
continuance of the National Government.
There is a patriotism and grandeur in the man.
ner in which Mr.. Douglas has deported himself
since the Inauguration of the President, which
should commend him to the favorable consid.
Grafton of all true patriots. He has risen SUI
perior to himself-and, best of all, has eman-
cipated himself from the trammels of partisan
intrigue and partisan prejudice.
1t is certainly most worthy of remark, that
Douglas and Lincoln should now, sitter their
fierce contest for the Senatorship which the
former now fills, stand together as friends and
co-workers in this hour of our national peril,
without single admixture of the base element
of partisanshp.
Mr.. Douglas has for once Invested
himself entirely of partisan feeling, and taken
a patriotic view of the momentous issues be.
fore him.
Now, after this Republican endorsement,
we invite the careful attention of our read.
ers to the annexed powerful arguments
COLLECTION OF THE REVENUE.
:. In the first place, the President has no
power, under the existing laws, to collect
the revenue on ship board, as is suggested
by the partizan press. By the laws OF the
land, the revenue must be collected at the
ports of entry, and in the custom houses
designated by law, and cannot be collected
anywhere else, except in specific cases pro-
vided in the law itself. By reference to the
act of the I'd of March, 1899, it will be
be seen that South Carolina is divided into
three collection districts that three ports
of entry are established at Georgetown,
one at Charleston, and one at Beaufort; and
a collector, surveyor and naval officer are
to be appointed "to reside at Charleston"
The custom house officers are required to
reside at the ports of entry designated in
the law. So it is with all the collection
districts in all the other states. Another
section-section eighteenth the law makes
it unlawful to enter goods or collect revenue
elsewhere than the sports of entry" designa>
ted in the law. 1t expressly prohibits the
collection of revenue or the entry Of goods
at any other place. Then, subsequent
section-section eighty-fve of the same law
makes one exception to this rule; and
that is, in case vessel is prevented by ice
from approaching the pier or wharf at the
port of entry, the captain, on application
to the collector, may receive permit to
land the goods, and pay the duties at any
other place in the district designated in the
permit. The only case then where revenue
can lawfully be collected, or goods lawfully
be entered, at any other point than the port
of entry designated in the law, is where the
vessel is obstructed by ice from approach
ing the wharf at such port. Such being
the case, no revenue can be collected at
Charleston, Savannah, Mobile or New Or
leans, or any other of those ports which are
now in the possession OF the Confederate"
States.
1t has been suggested, and the people of
the country, north and south, have been led
to believe that it is the purpose of this ad
ministration, without authority OF law, to
order revenue cutters down to those south.
ern norris and tO COLLECT revpnnp IN hoo ri