The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-22

whenever they become destructive to The
ends for which they were established. The
declared compact Of the Union, from which
we have withdrawn, was to establish Justice,
ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote the general well
fare, and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, and when in
the Judgment Of the sovereign states now.
comprising this confederacy, it has been
perverted from the purposes for which II
was ordained, and ceased to answer the
ends for which it was established, a
peaceful appeal to the ballot box
declared that so far as they were concerned, (
the government created by that compact
should cease to exist. 10 this they merely
asserted the right which the Declaration 0f
Independence Of 1776 defined to be inaliep-
able. OF the time and occasion of its ex-
ercise, they 1.-THE states) as sovereigns, were.
the final judges. each for itself. The im-
partial, enlightened verdict of mankind will
vindicate the rectitude of our conduct, and
He who knows the hearts of men will judge
of the sincerity with which we labored to
preserve the government Of our fathers IN
its spirit.
The right, solemnly proclaimed at The
birth of the original states, and which has
been affirmed and reafirmed in the bills Of
rights Of the states subsequently admitted
into the unionof 1879, incidentally recogni-
zes in the people the power to resume the
authority delegated for the purpose of gov
eminent. Thus the sovereign states here
represented proceeded to form this coDfedef-
acy, and it is by the abuse of languagethat
their act has been denominated revolution.
They formed o new alliance, but then il
each state its government has been retained.
Rights of property have not been disturbed.
The agent through whom they communities
led with foreign nations is changed, but this
does not necessarily interrupt their interna-
tional relations. Sustained by the conscious
ness that the transition from the former
Union to the present coniederacy has not
proceeded from a disregard on our part of
our just obligations, or any failure to per-
form every constitutional duty--moved by
no interest or passion to invade the rights
of others anxious to cultivate peace and
commerce with all nations--if we may not
hope to avoid war, we may at least expect
that posterity will acquit us of having need
lessly engaged in it. Doubly justified by
the absence of wrong on our part, and by
wanton aggression on the part of others,
there can be no cause to doubt that the
courage and patriotism of the people Of the
confederated states will be found eqal to any
measures of defence which their security
may require.
An agricultural people, whose chief in-
terest is the export of commodity re-
quired ln every manufacturing country,
our true policy is peace, and the most free
commerce which our necessities viii permit.
1t is alike our interest, and that Of all those
from whom We would buy, that there should
be the fewest practicable restrictions upon
the interchange Of commodities. There
can be but little rivalry between ours and
any manufacturing or navigating commu-,
nifty, such as the free states of the American
Union. It must therefore follow therefrom,
that mutual interest would invite good viii
and kind offices. II, however, passion or
lust of dominion should cloud the judgment,
or infame the ambition of those states, we
must prepare to meet the emergency and
maintain by the final arbitrament of the
sword, the positions which we have assumed
among the nations OF the earth. We
have entered upon a career of indepen-
dence which must be iuhexibly pur-
sued. Through many years Of coutro-
versy our late associates. and northern
states may have vainly endeavored I'd secure
tranquility and obtain respect for the rights
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