The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-03

SLOE0 pCdC0, uoppluOco ouu uoe0AuAVy w UuAo
country. When all propositions OF peace
fail, there is but one course left to the pa.
triot, and that is to rally under that flag
which has waved over the capitol from the
days of Washington, and around the gov.
ernment established by Washington, Jefer-
son, Hamilton and their compeers. Great
cheering.]
What is the alleged cause for this inva-
sion of the rights and authority of the gov
ernment of the United States? The cause
alleged is that the institutions of the South.
ern States are not safe under the Federal
Government. What evidence has been pre-
sented that they are insecure? l appeal to
every man within the sound of my voice to
tell me at what period, from the time that
Washington was inaugurated, down to this
hour, have the rights of the Southern
States-the rights of the Shareholders
been more secure than they are at this time?
When in the whole history of this govern
ment have they stood on so firm basis +?
For the first time in the history of this re-
public there is no restriction by act of
Congress upon the institution of slavery
any where within the limits of the United
States. Then it cannot be the territorial
question that has given them cause. When
was the fugitive slave law executed with
more fidelity than since the Inauguration of
the present incumbent of the presidential
Office? Much applause. Let the people
of Chicago speak and tell US when were the
laws of the land executed with as much
firmness and fidelity, so far as fugitive slaves
were concerned, as they are now? Can any
man tell me of any one act OF aggression
that has been committed or attempted since
the last presidential election, that justi6es
this disruption OF the Federal Union?
ask you to reflect and then point out
any one act that has been done any one
duty that has been omitted to be done, of
which any one of these disunionists can
justly complain. Yet we are told, simply
because one party has succeeded in presi-
dental election, therefore they choose to
consider that their liberties are not safe, and
therefore they will break up the govern
ment.
I had supposed that it was cardinal
and fundamental principle of our system of
government that the decision of the people
at the ballot box, without fraud, accord.
ing to the forms of the Constitution, was
to command the explicit obedienceo of every
good citizen. Loud applause. If their
defeat at Presidential election is to justify
the minority, or any portion of the minor
ity, in raising the traitorous hand of rebel
lion against the constituted authorities, you
will find the future history Of the United
States written in the history of Mexico.
According to my reading of Mexican his
tory, there never has been one Presidential
term from the time of the revolution of
1920 down to the day when the candidate
elected by the people ever served his four
years. In every instance, either the de-
feated candidate has seized upon the Pres
idential chair by the use of the bayonet, or
he has turned out the duly elected candi-
date before bis term expired. Are we to
inaugurate this Mexican system in the Uni
ted States of America? No, never
Suppose the case to be reversed. Suppose
the disunion candidate had been elected by
any means-I care not what, if by any
means in accordance with the forms of the
Constitutional the last Presidential elec
tion. Then, suppose the Republicans had
raised rebellion against his authority. In
that case you would have found me tender
ing my best efforts and energies to John g..
Breokinridge to put down the Republican
rebels. Tremendous applause. And if
you had attempted such rebellion, 1 would
have called forth all the power and energies
of this country to have crushed you out.
[Continued applause.
The first duty OF an American citizen, or
of citizen of any constitutional govern
ment, is obedience to the constitution and
laws Of his country. [Applause.l l have
no apprehension that any man in Illinois or
beyond the limits of our own beloved State,
will misconstrue or misunderstood my mo-
tive. So far as any of the partisan ques-
tions are corcerned, stand in equal, eternal
and undying opposition to the Republicans
and the secessionists. Applause. You all
know that am good partisan fighter in
partisan times. Laughter and cheers. And
you will find me equally as good patriot
when the country is in danger. Cheers.
Now permit me to say to the assembled
Representatives and Senators of our good
old State, composed of men of both politi-
cal parties, in my opinion it is your duty
to lay aside your party creeds and party
platforms; tolay aside your party organi-
cations and partisan appeals to forget that
you were divided until you have rescued
the government and the country from their
assailanls. Then resume your partisan po-
sitions, according to your wishes. Give me
a country first, that my children may live
in peace, then we will have theatre for
our party organizations to operate upon.
We are called upon to fold our arms,
allow the national capitol to be seized by a
military force under a foreign revoluntion-
ary flag; to see the archives of the govern
ment in the hands of people who affect to
despise the flag and government of the
! United States. l am unwilling to fly from