The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-03

taking the army of this department as a
specimen, the northern people have not,
to-day, half so much respect for those
rights in the negro as the rebels and slave
holders have. Unquestionably the negroes
have been treated far worse by the soldiers
here than they ever were by their late
owners who felt some interest in them
as property at least, and used them
with nearly as much gentleness as thew
did their other live stock. 1t is idle to
say that the negroes escape from slavery,
at least by coming or staying within our
| lines. large part Of our sOldiery seem
to take mean pride in lording it over
them as slaves, and to think they cannot
duly mark their own superiority but by
heaping the grossest Outraees upon them.
And who should need to be told, that of
all the hateful parts of tyranny, its insults
and contumelles are the hatefullest and the
hardest to bear? What, then. can be
clearer than that, if the people are still to
be treated as slaves, they must naturally
prefer to be with their old masters, where
some kindly affections have grown up to
mitigate the wrongs and indignties of bon
dage: And such, [ am confident. is the
feeling that prevails among them at this
time. | have it from a good source. that
the heroic gentleman (for he is a gentle
NAM who lately brought the gunboat Plan
ter away from Charleston, said in noble
agony OF disappointment and grief at the
cruel usage put upon him, that the people
OF Charleston always treated him with far
more respect than he had met with here:
and that he had made up his mind to leave
the country forever as he despaired Of ever
finding home where he could live in hon
est peace and freedom in this Gland of the
free and home OF the brave"
This is indeed fearful record against us.
but | believe it to be strictly true. And.
in view Of I'LL this, while must needs
grleve much. as a man. for the unhappy
negroes who have here sought refuge under
our flag: at the same time | must needs
grleve far more, as an American, for my
country, thus dishonored jy her unnatural
sons who go forth with the voice of free
dom on their tongues, and nothing but the
venom Of slavery in their hearts Surely,
we cannot hope for success to our national
cause.-the awful powers of sovereign jus
tlce cannot allow us to succeed-so long as
we permit our cause to be stained with this
abominable toulness. May God forgive us
the sins which we have communicative of
the loyal States-against this oppressed
and unOffending race of people.
General Hunter tried hisS best to check
the hideous evil in question: but it has
proved too strong for him; as it will, in
deed, prove too strong for any man, till
the government takes decided stand in
behalf OF the negroes seeking refuge I'M
der its flag, and pledge all its power to the
task OF protecting them in their rights as
citizens OF the republic Therefore, say,
there must be a great change in public SEN
tlment III the North, and in the action of
the government, touching this matter. Let
1t be understood, once for all. that faith in
freedom, without works, is dead. and
therefore can only serve to aggravate the
condemnation of those who profess it.
Justice is, indeed fearful Divinity:
though full OF sweetness in herself, yet her
mild nature can be terrible Woe to the
man, woe to the nation, that deliberately
and perseveringly spurns her admonitions.
We must make up our minds to reverence
humanity, its rights and its hopes, in the
poor negro, otherwise heaven is against us,
Nature is against us, the mind and heart
OF the whole Christian world are against
us; our own conscience, in so far as we
have any, is against us; the spirit and
principles of human liberty everywhere are
against us.
Thank God, we are not without some
plain tokens that the change in question
has begun, and is now making haste; star
off its coming Shines And when it
shall have come we shall all understand.
as some have done from the first outbreak
OF the present war, that slavery has forced
itself into a mortal duel with our national
being, and that one of them has got to
die; and this, too, by the others hand.
LOYALTY