The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-16

WEED stood at that time. In respect to
that movement, we used, on the 4th of Jan.
uary, the following language:
From the Pioneer and Democrat, January 4, 1861.
We hold that the present condition of things
is lamertable, in every point of view and
that reconciliation of the opposing sections.
is an object worthy the best wishes and eff.
forts of all men. But we also hold, that dur.
ing the progress of this work of reconciliation.
as well as at all other times, it Is essential thai
the supremacy of the government be main.
tanned, even, if it must be, at the risk of de.
feating such reconciliation. We hope for a
restoration of fraternal feeling between the
North and the South we demand, however.
over and above all this, and if necessary. in
spite of it, that the government sustain its au.
thority and enforce its laws.
During February, March, and the first
half OF April, we were absent from the
State, and from the fact of such absence
had not the personal supervision and con-
troll of the paper. During that period, ar
ticles appeared of a contrary tenor to those
which we have quoted from our own pen.
We state this in no spirit of censure to-
wards Mr.. MILLS, who was left in charge ::
for we have always borne cheerful testi.
mony to his talents and fidelity. But he
took different view of the question from
ourself, and at times unwittingly wrote
what we could not have endorsed then, and
do not now. But it is from the paper dur
ing this period that the Press selects its
extracts to convict US of inconsistency. 1t
does this with a knowledge of the fact that
neither the language nor the sentiments
were ours; but that they were in direct
opposition to what We had written and
published, before and since. 1t is possible
that the Press may be able to aid its party
movement by course thus manifestly un-
just; but it counts lightly on the intelli-
gence and integrity of the public when it
makes the attempt.
From the fall of Sumter to the present,
the Press does not arraign our consistency.
But, by the favor of our readers, we will
make up the record from that to this on our
own account. When our Governor issued
his proclamation in response to the Presi-
dents for volunteers, we said:
From the Pioneer and Democrat, April II, 1861,
The highest duty of the patriot is, when all
peaceful means have failed, or have been re-
jected, and the plain alternative is presented
of national dishOnor or civil war, to choose the
latter, even though it shall array father against
son, and brother against brother. The ties of
kinship, and all fraternal sympathies are but
dust IN the balance against the weightier obli-
cations which the patriot owes to his country.
Policies and parties sink into insignificance, at
an hour like this, when the State, whose affairs
they are instituted to administer, is itself in
danger.
We have sought, feebly but earnestly, to do
what in US lay to temper the minds of the peo.
pie to peace. Those whom they have invested
with power. and its responsibilities, have
chosen otherwise and it remains only for the
loyal citizen to sustain his government and its
legal representatives. If there are wrongs OF
administration, the time for redressng those
wrongs is after the conflict, which is to deter.
be ended. Till then, while we all join in the
Christians prayer, "Our Country May it ever
be right let US, also, unite in the Patriots
VOW. of Fright or Wrong, our Country"
That we might be in a position to act
fully in accordance with the sentiments ex-
pressed above, without such acts being inn
pugned by reason of technical connection
with the old Democracy, we resigned on
the third of May, the position held for the
past two years, as Chairman of the Dem
ocratic Central Committee the duties oil
which, however, we had not performed since
the October previous. In publishing such
we said:
From the Pioneer and Democrat, May T. 1861.
From this, until the Federal Government
shall be re-established upon its old foundation
of strength and order, we will acknowledge no
party whose platform is less broad than the
Constitution of our land-whOse purposes are
less limited than the reunion of all the States
nor whose success can be used to weaken
the hands of the Administration in its lawful
efforts to maintain the government and to con-
quer an honorable peace. Until all that shall
be done, we shall deprecate any attempt to
einstate political divisions among us, which,
hppily for the hopes of the country, are now
Temporarily destroyed. Until this strife shall
be ended, the action of the North in all that con-
and harmonious. Personal ambition should
hold itself in allegiance, until the honor of the
country is first restored. Those who are to
administer our public affairs should be chosen
without private dissent or public opposition.
The spectacle of great people thus ignoring
all their personal and partisan differences, and
cordially uniting together to sustain their gov
eminent and to promote good will towards
each other. would be worth to the cause of the
North and the Union more than a score of sue.
cessful battles.
From this forth, then. let our politicians rise
to the level of the patriotism of the people.
Letjhem aid in cementing together in indisso
luble bonds the great masses on whom the
country must rely for safety, and who are now
joined in patriotic accord for the common de-
fence and welfare.
The Government is first in its demands upon
our support: let Party be last. Party is or
ganized to administer Government; let us first
make sure we have a Government to admins
ter.
There, we think that will do for the pres
ent, and for all time to come. We owe an
apology to our leaders for occupying so
r. space with matter of but little conse-.
qu.4 Ee to US, and of none to them. But
we confess to some degree of pride in our
record on this question from its inception
in the winter of '57-'58, to the present
rnnment We knOpv wp have hpon riohf