The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-21

SuOOT01m0g1On
of War; Also of the First Minnesota
War; Also of Woman's Mission; and
then Of Donkeys.
1.-THE following communication from our
whilom correspondent, MISTRESS BETsEY TRoT.
WOOD, comes to US dated almost month back,
from the somewhat Connecticutish locality of
Nutmeg Hollow. Albeit MISTRESS TRoTwOoD
-woman-like-doesn not hold in sufficient rev.
erence the military law of unquestioning obe-
dience. and even frowns upon the war. with a
mistiness quite diplomatic, but very discreet,
we gladly publish her epistle.]
To ye Right Loya, and Patriotic Earle S. Goodrich,
Editor cf the Pioneer and Democrat:
Unfamiliar with the customary forms of
editorial correspondence, entertain great
fears of making some as egregious blunder
as your First Minnesota Regiment and its
"young American" Colonel have done in
military matters but as they had somewhat
on their minds, and independent as Brother
Jonathan ever is, expressed it, so fancy l
shall feel easier for saying my say; and if
my whilom acquaintance is aught annoyed
at this epistle, be must remember that there
is sometimes a retribution for little things
as well as great and bear in mind an old
letter, which, without Mistress Betsey's
knowledge or favor, he feloniously obtained
from feminine correspondent, and inserted,
along with literary articles, in the columns
OF his paper. The idea of bringing out"
Betsey Trotwood with the "blue stocking"
sisterhood! She has never quite forgiven
you, and So" a Roland for your Oliver"
But what has Betsey to say of military
blunders, or rather of editorial comments
upon them for it seems to be that at which
she is aiming. Only this much-setting
aside Army Regulations, Articles of War,
Diplomatic Forms, and Constitutional
Questions and Quibbes, and descending to
substratum principles, she opines that ye
truly loyal Earle is making three strides,
and long ones too, towards an arbitrary and
unrepublican rule, while the equally patri-
otto First" and their Colonel are taking
one step towards insubordination and mu-
tiny.
Let US see where they stand. "We have q
Government which must be maintained ,and
determined rebels are threatening its over
throw" That, 1 believe, is the most the
North asserts. Admit it. The conse-
quence is that the true patriots of the land
are summoned to leave their families, their
professions, their farms and shops, and to
grasp their arms like their Revolutionary
sires, and hasten to the protection of those
civil rights and liberties which were pur-
chased at the cost of such priceless treasure
of blood. And what is the response? The
newspapers say there in Nutmeg Hollow
we do not see much of what is going on,)
but the newspapers say, such another glori-
Gus uprising of freemen the world never
saw. Gubernatorial chairs are vacated !;
goods from farthest Ind lie neglected by
our merchant princes lawyers and parsons,
farmers and artizans, the high and low, the
rich and poor, the wise and foolish, in one
strong, Simultaneous shout, answer" Rea-
dy, aye ready; all anxious, eager, deter
mined to strike the first blow at the sedi
tious traitors.
But are all these hosts of freemen, the
flower of Northern chivalry," who have
thus risen to quel an insurrection, to be
transformed into the dumb machinery of a
regular army? By this patriotic response
do they lose all the prerogatives of citizen
ship? Under any circumstances, under any
administrative policy, let our unhappy
country suffer as it may from the folly or
selishness of their leaders-for it is vain, at
the commencement of "a civil war, to predict
who will be their leaders, or what will be
the existing state of affairs ere the term of
their service has expired, be the exigencies
of the times what they may, are the highest
officers of the Sovereign States and the pa
triot citizen troops they lead, in every con-
tingency, to wholly lose the right of remon-
STRANGE with, or to censure or praise their
superiors in command? Are they already
indicted into the speeches. discipline Of
that formidable engine that, and that alone,
guards the despotisms of the Old WOrld-a
standing army which Americans have
ever proudly declared unnecessary for the
support of free republic? Is any Com
mander- in. Chief to be invested with
such dictatorial powers in the depressing
of a sedition that be may cause men who
never contemplated military life, but are
ready on an emergency to strike blow at
rebellion, to be sent against their express
wishes to three years residence, if it please
him, among the pine woods of Pembina ;
and their gallant officers, who never volun-
teered for any such service, not to have the
privilege, without mourning stigma of dis.
grace, If not charge of mutiny, of saying,
we are ready to lift our arms in our coun-
trys defense but as for pemican and mos
quitoes in those isolated frontier posts, let
those idly eat the one and be eaten by the
other, who shall be enlisted for that express
purpose, or who for years have received pay
for doing that very kind of service. Is our
President and Commander in Chief of the
Federal forces, until this insurrection is
quelled, and the South not only restored to
us but SO tranquilized that fleets and armies
are no longer necessary to insure her future
hah ka