The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-29

ern Confederation the advantage of their
schemes. Ihe s6outherners care for Euro
pean recognition chiefly, as We have said, in
order to divert the military power of the
North. Although there Is no likelihood Of
such recognition taking place, the North
nevertheless dissipates its strength, a.
though anxious to evince its power by ex.
tending the number of its enemies. They
might make sure that we shall not recog
nize the South, that still less shall we attack
the North, and therefore that the only enc.
mics they nave to contend with are those
already before them.
A MINISTERIAL VIEW OF THE MATTER.
The Duke of Argyll recently made a
speech at Inverary, in which he discussed
American affairs in q just and liberal spirit:
see, he said, that there has been some
fear expressed lately that the inconvenience
which is likely to arise in this country from
the contest in America is so great that
there will be pressure put upon the govern
ment to interfere in that contest, or at least
to take some steps which may ultimately in.
volve US in it. have too high an opinion
OF the good sense and of the public principle
OF the people of this country to believe that
any such pressure will be put upon the go-
vernment and / must add that / have too
great confidence in the frmness and public
principle of the government and Parliament
of this country to believe that they will be
willing to submit to such pressure, if it
were put upon them. 1t is our absolute
duty, l need hardly tell you, to remain en-.
tirely neutral in that contest, applause1
and not only is it our duty to remain neu-
trail, as regards action. but think it is to
a very great extent our duty to abstain even
from Offering advice, though it might be
conceived in kind and friendly spirit.
In fairness to our American friends we
ought to admit that no more tremendous
issues were ever submitted to the dread ar
bitrament of war than those which are now
submitted to it on the American continent.
| do not care whether we look at it from
the northern or from the southern point of
view. Take the mere question of what is
called the right of secession. I know of
no government which has ever existed in
the world which could possibly have ad.
mitted the right OF secession from its own
allegiance. There is curious animal in
Loeb Fyne which have sometimes dredg
ed up from the bottom OF the sea, and
which performs the most extraordinary and
destruction. 1t is peculiar kind OF star.
fish, which, when brought up from the bot.
tom of the water, and when any attempt is
made to take hold of it, Immediately throws
off all its arms. its very centre breaks up,
and nothing remains Of one of the most
beautiful forms in nature but a thousand
wriggling fragments. Such undoubtedly
would have been the fate of the American
Union if Its Government had admitted
what is called the right of secession.
Gentlemen, / think we ought to admit,
in fairness to the Americans, that there are
some things worth fighting for, and that
national existence is one OF these. Cheers.
REBEL. AGENTS BUYING ENGLISH SYMPATHY.
From the London Start
1t is matter of notoriety that there has
been for some time past in England Con-
federate emissary, who has been striving to
gain adherents to the cause of his employ
ers by other agencies than simple argument.
How far he has succeeded we know not;
but bis activity has been ceaseess, and there
are always some who are ready to run into
the trap in which there is a golden bait.
But by far the greater number of those who
have been either openly advocating or sug-
costing by crafty inuendo the breaking of
the blockade have been simply animated by
bitter hatred for democratic institutions.
Their antipathy to liberal principles nat.
uraIIy induces them to ally themselves with
those who would build their new nationality
upon the basis of an aristocracy OF color,
and, moreover, they well know that their
vaunts concerning the bursting of the Re-
publican bubble can only be verified by the
forcible retention of Slavery as Federal
institution. But their hopes are vain, for
the firm and laudable declaration of Earl
Russell has proved that the Government
will not be duped by their specious argu.
ments. The game is played out, leaving
the plotters with the contempt OF their
countrymen for their sole reward.