The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-15
IMPORTANT COMHIUNICATION-T
OPPOsERs OF ENROLMENT AND
DRAFTING WILL BE PUNISHED.
PATRIOTIC POSITION OF BISHOP GRACE,

DRAFTING WILL BE PUNISHED.
PATRIOTIC POSITION OF BISHOP GRACE,
We have received the following letter
from Colonel D. A. ROBERTSON, but instead
of merely using the facts stated, editorial
", which seems to have been the design of
the Colonel, we take the liberty Of publish
ing bis letter entire:
ST.. PAUL, August IL, 1862.
Capt. EARL 8. Goodrich;
NY DEAR SIR 1T is fact we'll known
among intelligent citizens Of this State, that
quite large number of our population is
avowedly hostile to the existing necessary
measures of the Government, which all
loyal men should applaud, for the suppress.
sion of the Southern rebellion.
It is not essential, at this time, to refer
more specifically to this class of erring citi-
zens, than whom none are more indebted to
our muni6cent institutions for the great
privileges and advantages they enjoy than
whom none should be more ready to defend
on the battlefield, our imperilled national.
ity and among whose countrymen those
now in the war have Won imperishable glo.
~, setting them noble example.
Their conduct is really inexplicable.
There must be some hidden influence opera.
ting on their minds some strange infatua.
ton, which seems to extinguish in their
hearts every spark of true patriotism. Yet
cannot believe they mean to be disloyal.
10 any cause in which they engage with
heart, no people are Drawer or more cbival-
rous and they have hitherto enjoyed the
reputation of sincere devotion to American
institutions. And yet, from them alone,
(if we except few rabid secessionists in our
midst, who are now silent as the gravel do
we hear of threats OF resistance to the laws
and authority of the Government refu.
sal to submit to a draft of refusal to
give their names or those of their friends
and relatives to the Assessors for the ENROLL
ment of the militia. Such conduct cannot
and will not be tolerated. 1 say this be-
cause have this day been informed by As.
SCISSORS that in consequence of such conduct
they will need my official aid to enforce the
full enrolment of the militia of this county.
address to you this communication for
the purpose of advising you of these facts
and to request that you will exert
the influence of your journal for
the enligh eminent of these misguided
citizens, and thus kindly remedy this evil.
l desire you, also, to state emphaticsly that
any further attempt in this county, to resist
or prevent the enrolment of all persons
liable to military duty, will be Immediately
followed by the arrest and punishment of
every one so violating the law and that l
will, as authorized by the statute, employ
all necessary force to vindicate this decla.
ration.
This is not time to hesitate in the dis
charge of duty, or trihe with traitors, seces-
sion sympathizers, or res sting populations,
in the midst of communities now being de-
pleted by the enlistment of patriotic citizens.
deem it proper, 10 this connection, to
say to you, for such use as you may think
expedient, that the imputation or suspicion,
which l have heard of in various parts of
the State, that Bishop Grace, of this city,
sympatbizes with hostility to the Govern
ment, or is in any way tolerant of its mani
festation in our midst, is utterly nnfounded,
and unquali6edly unjust to that distinguished
gentlemen.
l can assure you that more truly loyal
and patriotic citizen does not live among US.
Although by birth South Carolnian, and
undoubtedly supporter, at the time of their
agitation, of the compromise measures,
devised by many patriotic citizens, with the
hope OF averting rebellion, be has been,
since the agitation has progressed beyond
compromise, as always before, true Union
man in bis views feelings and expressions.
l know this fact from others, upon whom !
can impI citly rely, as we'll as from CONVEX.
sation with that gentleman
AS late as yesterday morning I called
upon the Right Reverend Bishop. who is
confined to his room by illness, and stated
to him that l had lately visited several
counties in the State and found the opinion,
or rather impression, to be wide spread
among the protestant population that the
influence Of bis presumed views among the
Catholics of this State is unfavorable to
the Union cause an imputa.ion which l
know to be unjust, and which have every
where sought to remove. The Bishop said
in reply, that be took no part in public at
fairs, but that he had always encouraged
any of his people who spoke to him on the
subject to support the Government and
cheerfully obey the laws, to submit to the
draft, and encouraged all to volunteer who
spoke to him on that subject, mentioning
cases of which had been previously in
formed.
He authorized me to state publicly in my
discretion, bis sentimrnts in this regard, and
said-U wrote down in bis presence the
following words OF his conversation, which
he uttered with emphasis and emotiop):
"lhe saddest day for humanity ever
known would be that on which the Ameri-
Can Union would be destroyed.
"Whenever spoken to on the subject, I
have always encouraged my people to en-
list in defence of their country. l have dis.
couraged them from trying to avoid draft
and that any of them have thought of
doing so, know only from rumor-and
have always told them that they have en-.
joyed the protection of the Government and
nuuht IN no roodu Of oil timf q tn dafond II -