The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-20

dangerous, and direct infringement of the
| CONSTITUTIONS and evil in time annihilate
the best interests of the Northern people.
The circular Insists upon an amendment
to the Constitution, " which shall secure to
the Northern States their due weight and
influence in our national councils"
"The Northern States" continues the circu-
lar, " acceded to the representation of slaves
as a matter of compromise, upon the express
stipulation in the Constitution that they should
| be protected in the enjoyment of their com
mercial rights. These stipulations have been
| repeatedly violated; and it cannot be expected
| that the Northern States should be willing to
bear their proportion of the burthens of the
Federal Government without enjoying the ben.
ehts stipulated"
What the States of New England then
demanded was "protection to commercial
interests" Capital and industry driven by
the war into manufacturing enterprise, de-
manded afterwards the protection of manu-
featuring industry. To these demands the
South and West opposed uncompromisiDg
hostility.
The question of slavery had not then be-
come an issue in party politics; the South
had not then felt the need of protection.
The South was strong in its alliances
New England almost alone, and out of
power.
The Hartford Convention proposed an
amendment to the Constitution, which
would secure to New England veto powe
on the admission of new States and on
this subject its report remarks
| At the adoption OF the Constitution certain
f. balance of power among the original States
was considered to exist, and there was at that
time, and yet is among those parties. strong
affinity between their great and general in.
terests. By the admission of these States, that
balance has been materially affected, and
unless the practice be modified must ultimately
be destroyed. The Southern States will first
avail themselves of their new cOnfederates to
govern the east. and finally the Western States,
multiplied in number ard augmented in pOpu.
latiOn will contest the interests of the whole.
Thus, for the sake of present power, the
Southern States will be common sufferers with
the East, in the loss of permanent advantages.
None of the old States can find an interest in
creating permanently an overwhelming western
influence.
The Hartford Convention predicted just
what has happened. The balance of power
is already in the West. The Western
States decide the fate of the nation; and
New England now, and not the South, is
allied with the West
The able men OF the Hartford Conyen-
ton desired above all things, compromise
between the interests of the South and East;
aud on this subject say in their report:
reformation of public opinion resulting
from dear bought experience, in the Southern
Atlantic States, at least is not to be despaired
Of They will have felt that the Eastern States
cannot be made exclusively the victims of
capricOus and impassiOned policy. They
will have seen that the great and essential in
teresls OF the people are common to the South
and to the East. They may
and recognize the benefits of practical pol>
icy.-Indcatons of this desirable revolution
of opinion among our brethren of those States
are already manifested. While hope remains
of its ultimate completion, its progress should
not be retarded or stopped by exciting fears
that must check their favorable tendencies,
and Illustrate the efforts of the wisest and best
men in those States to accelerate this prOpi.
tOus change.
In this immediate connection the report
goes on to speculate on the probable neces-
sity Of dissolution of the Union by "delibe-
rate consent" and says:
Some new form of confederacy should be
substituted among those states which shall in.
tend TO maintain federal relation to each 9TH
er. Events may prove that the cause of our
calamities are deep and permanent. They
may be found to proceed not merely from the
blindness of prejudice, pride of opinion, preva-
lence OF parry SPIRIT or the confusion of the
times: but they may be traced to implacable
com binat tons of individuals or of States, to
monOpolize power and Office and to trample
without reason upon the rights of commercial
sections of the Union.
Whenever it shall appear that these causes
are radical and permanent separation by
equta BILE arrangement will be preferable to an
alliance by cOnstraint among nominal friends
but real enemies, inf1amed by mutual hate and
jealousy, and inviting by Intestine divisions,
contempt and aggression.
10 these admonitions the South and the
Democratic party, replied with invective;
continuing to rejoice in the possession of
power, as if it were to last forever.
There is no human power so persuaded
of its strength and stability, so unrelenting,
so uncompromising as a popular majority.