The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-27
Cause and Effect Explained by an Inn
partial Review of our Political
HistOry, ...

partial Review of our Political
History.
SUBJECT CoNTINUED-NUMBER 6.
The immediate cause of the difference
between loyalty and treason is often some
trifing circumstance. At the commence
ment of the American Revolution, it was
three pence per pound on tea.
Had the war of 1872 been much prolong.
ed, some circumstance quite as trifing
might have precipitated the States of New
England into actual rebellion; changing
men who had been patriots into traitors-a
transformation by no means uncommon in
the history of popular governments.
About the time of the Hartford Conven.
ton, the people OF New England were aps
parently as ripe for rebellion, as were their
predecessors at the time of the great Bos-
ton Tea Party"
An impartial review Of our political his
tory may offend individuals of all parties and
sections some of whom may designate the
statement juet made as slanderous while
others, believing it to be true, may depre-
cate, as unnecessary, perhaps as mischiev-
Gus, all reference to that subject.
An impartial reviewer is not influenced
by such opinions or criticisms.
The people of this country are inherently
loyal to the Union. Treason to the Union,
whether contemplated or actual, is the un-
natural energy Of excited passions, and how.
ever destructive to life and property, must
be ephemeral /; and in its leading purposes,
wholly impotent. This is what an impair
tial review of our political history, aud es>
pecially that portion relating to the disloy-
al period of New England politics, must
teach every unprejudiced enquirer after the
truth.
The disloyaIty of New England was
championed by the leaders of the Federalist
party, many of whom had been distinguish
ed patriots during the American Revolu-
tion and among the warmest supporters of
Washington's Administration. But they
had been banished from power for their all
legged political crimes, among which, in the
presentment against them, the Alien and
Sedition Laws, figured prominently.
The party which had decreed their BAN
ishment from all participation or influence
in the national service, was in power, exult-
ant, insulting ; holding them up day by day
as examples of political per6dy; as mon
archists and traitors in disguise, to be OBJ
served with wakeful suspicion, and opposed
with unceasing energy, by all men who
truly loved their country.
The New England Federalists bayed at
thus, looked scornfully, spiteiully, and with
undisguised contempt, upon the party which
had driven them from power regarded by
them as party of political fanatics and
demagogues, whose origin and only parallel
and example, were to be found in the wild
democracy of the French Revolution
party, as they believed, under whose bane.
full rule, the Republic was prematurely and
rapidly approaching its final dissolution
party increased in numbers by every direct
assault made upon its distinctive principles;
party, the continuance of which in power,
would compel the New England States to
observe the supreme law of selfpreserva.
tion, and to separate by equitable arrange
ment," if possible; and by force, if "an alb
solute necessity" from the National Union,
which they had been foremost in forming !;
and among its early defenders, the most de-
voted and steadfast. Their party name, Fed>
eralist, meant union and they undoubtedly
desired to preserve the Union. They were
loyal to the Constitution as they understood
it and, to the government administered
accordingly, but they preferred disunion to
continued submission to what they regarded
as the expressions and usurpations of the
Democratic party.
The human nature of Adam is stereo.
typed in all his posterity. 1t is only neces-
sity that compels submission to adverse
power. The difference between rebels and
loyallsts is chiefly accidental. The right or
wrong side of the case, in the estimation of
the parties, depends, as in the fable, upon
whose OK it was that did the goring. The
case reversed, and the Federalists contin-
ued in power, Virginia, as the premonitory
indications made evident, and not Massa~
chusetts, would have headed the first con-
| spiracy against the National Government.