St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-01-16

uOtIic, 0uu oS'a'to0 cay ~h'SA"HS v"
earth which 81 al take advantage of this
hour of ovr extremity to strike coward
blow at our National honor and existence.
/ trust that the impatiepce of our people
will soon be grati6ed by such an exhibition
Of National power, as will bring this rebel
lion to speedy conclusion and vindicate
the dignity Of the Government before the
nations Of the world.
CONVERSATION OF SLAVES AND OTHER
PROPERTY OF REBELS.
In this connection, deem it appropri-
ate to refer to specific topic. Severe
measures are in course of execution by
the rebels against the Union men of the
South: and the property of all who are
residents Of the loyal States. The opinion
is now general, that further forbearauce by
Congress in regard, to the property of reb-
els. will be the reverse of virtue. lndi-
viduals who are openly in arms against
the United States, have large interest in
Minnesota, and feel we'll assured that a
general Confscatien Act, now so distinct
ly demanded by public sentiment, will be
speedily passed, 50 framed as to furnish
adequate agencies for the seqnestration Of
all the property of rebels, wherever situa-
ted, including the reimbursement Of
slaves. Snch measure will be regarded
as in tho nature of a compensation, how
ever partial and inadequate, for the pccun-
larry contributions which every citizon
expects to make to the restoration of Ma.
tional authority.
MINNESOTA TO GREAT BRITAIN, GREET
| cannot close this communication with
out allusion to the remarkable disposition
manifested by Great Britain towards the
United States. Perhaps to no American
community is the ungenerous and unjust
bearing of the English press, (and I am
forced to add), Of the majority Of the
English people, so unwelcome and unex.
pccted as to the people Of Minnesota In
my Executive communications during the
Territorial period, and since the organiza-
ton of tie State, have often enlarged
upon the community of interest between
Minnesota and her neighbors, Of British
origin and connection, cordially anticipa-
ting no possible interruption to our inter-
change Of good Offices and friendly senti-
ments. On one subject only we have been
conscious Of meriting the rebuke of the
kindred communities on both continents,
who speak the English tongue. On the
subject of slavery, itself inflicted upon the
Western world by the INSCRIPTIONS greed
Of British merchants-we have admitted
the full extent of our national misfortune
and crime. Had we not reason to expect
under the circumstances, when the Repub-
lie was rent and torn BY the struggles of
the monster, slavery, that England, claim.
ing to be the exemplar and friend of
Emancipation, would at least have initiated
the Levite of the parable and passed by
on the other side. Not so, however,
With indecent haste tho rights of BEL
ligcrent power were conceded to an iLsur-
rection, whose leading idea is slavery,
and whose success would be the bloody res
toration of the slave trade over tropical
America; and it needed not the late ex-
plosion of English hostility and prejudice,
to convince the world that no considera-
tons of humanity, and civilization can
turn the scale of Great Britain's hatred of
republican institutions or her sordil devo-
ton at the shrine Of Memmon. Nations
alien to US in blood. in language, in insti-
tutions, observe just and honorable neu-
trality. Our conspicuos enemy in Europe
il that power with whom We had credulous-
ly hoped to cooperate in every stage of
the long struggle between freedom and op-
preston.
I do not choose to anticipate future COM
plications with Great Britain. Let us
rather turn every thought and energy to the
great duty enjoined by Providence upon
this generation, namely:to establish ifnec-
essary, by exertions and sacrifices such as
our fathers accepted in l776 and 1912,
the Republic, one and indivisible. Let
us save our children and children's child
rem, from innumerable wars with the worst
despctism known to human history, by the
total subjugation Of the oligarchy which
has precipitated this struggle; and by a
victory of the American Nation over sla-
very and treason, we shall secure a fresh
conservation of the soil long since dedica-
ted BY our fathers God to the rights of
man. This accomplished we shall have
ample means and opportunities to dis.
charge all our obligations, including every
lust retribuation as member of the fam
jly of nations.
ALEX. RAMSEY.
ST. PAUL, Jan. 8, 1862.
Mrs. DOUGLAS has pers,stently refused
10 entertain the proposition, forwarded by
special messenger and fac Of truce from