The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-08

| yet be RECONSTRUCTED and preserved, and
the historian, ID referring to this crisis in
our national history, might date from this
point the time when the republic really be-
gan its career of greatness and glory. ,c =, F,
The Railroad Convention and the
/ .taa4fa e'1 Crisis. ro'C no0 BIO ol
| div % 81 b.log WASHINGTON, Jan. a.
Herald Correspondence. The Railroad
Convention, at their meeting last night, ap
pointed the, following committee to report
resolutions expressing the sentiment OF the
convention in regard to the political differ,
ences now agitating the country ~, Ed.
gar Thompson, of the Pennsylvania Cen.
trail road Erastus Corning, Of the New
York Central road; Nathaniel Marsh, OF
the New York and Erie road Mr.. Garrett,
of the Baltimore and Ohio road ); and s. s.
l.. Hommedieu, of the Cincinnati, Hamil>
ton and Dayton Railroad. This committee
reported the following resolutions to the
convention this morning, which were unani-
mously adopted 49, -o4a % 4Lo-.a oa
Resolved That the plan embodied in the re.
solutions submitted to the Senate of the United
the difficulties now threatening the existence of
the Union meets with our appreciation.
Resolved, That with very full opportunities
of ascertaining the sentiments of the people in
the extensive districts traversed by the roads
here represented, we do not hesitate to express
our conviction that such an adjustment would
meet with the decided approval of very large
majority of them. ." lD'-,
Resolved, That from our conversation, we
believe the people of the North desire and
would be satisfied with such settlement of the
slavery controversy as will forever Danish the
slavery question from the halls of Congress
and the arena of federal politics.
Mr.Vibbard, secretary of the convention,
was instructed to furnish copy to MIR.
Crittenden, of the Senate, and MIR. COrwin,
of the House, and ask to have them pre-,
scented to those bodies. a- -.i- e. 49, !
The convention then ii adjourned, and
called in person upon the President of the
United States. ed, .t..-,-.....
Mr.. FELTON,, the chairman, 10 introducing
the members OF the convention, said that at
a regular business meeting of the four great
trunk lines, aud of their connections, repre-
senting nearly three hundred millions OF
capital, and represented by men of all shades
of political opinion from nearly all the
Northern States, after the termination OF
their business they had naturally discussed
the crisis through which the government
was now passing, and it was found that
there was sterling unanimity of opinion
as to the necessity OF settlement OF the
slavery question in the territories upon any
basis that would preserve the government,
and they had accordingly adopted the
above resolutions, which were read to the
President.
The President was very much affected.
He said that the question was now in the
hands of this Congress, who alone had
power to preserve the government; that il
it was destroyed by its inaction or neglect
to offer to the south proper measures Of
protection to slaves as property in territory
south of thirty-six thirty, a country in
which slavery is established by law, the fu-
ture historian will be compelled to say that
the greatest and best government ever
known to free people was destroyed by a
miserable abstraction. He endorsed the
resolutions, and said that he had just re.
ceived from ex- President Tyler a correct
COPY of the resolutions of the Legislature
of Virginia, accrediting Mr.. Tyler as COM
missioner to visit him, and urge the avoid
ance of collision with South Carolina
ard expressed his earnest hope that the
appointment of similar commissioners to
South Carolina would result lin preventing
any act of war on the part of that State,
as an attack on Fort Sumter would be,
which, under the conviction of duty on the
government, would be defended. He trusted
that these efforts of Virginia would prove
useful in the maintenance of peace. He
said, in conclusion, that he had never be,
fore known of meeting representing so
4 large an amount OF capital; tina. be approved
most heartily of the resolutions OF the con-
vention, that they concerned to his views as
| expressed to Congress, as well as to those
of the Virginia Legislature; that he had no
doubt that the views of the convention, as
expressed in the resolutions, would receive
/ the support OF a large majority of the peo-
pie 10 all the northern states.
After few other remarks the members
of the convention retired. Each and every
one of the members did not hesitate to ex.
press themselves as decidedly opposed to
coercion. - -- a,as
In the opinion of many eminent men. the
action 10 behalf of Union of, the Railroad
Convention. representing such vast and
widely extended interests, should be hailed
with Joy all over the country, and as peace
measure it is regarded as likely to produce
profound impression 10 ell regions where
the iron sinews of the country have pene-
trated