The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-25

property against those who endeavor to injure
us by assaulting our persons and by taking
away and running our estates" and if the SOW
ereign attempts unnecessarily thus to trespass
upon the rights of his subjects he justifes their
rebellion-and he justifes the rebellion of such
subjects as are, by the impotence of the law
less government, compelled for the preserva-
ton of their liberty and estates to unite with
them in revolt, especially where the rebellion
assumes the form Of government. If such be
true, it is not obligatory upon the sovereign to
assure the loyal at heart of the earliest possible
exercise OF all his power for the restoration of
their. rights and privileges, not only to detract
from the force OF the enemy, but to preserve a
loyal and reliable people to be entrusted with
the management of public affairs?
If l am correct, and / contend that the
great authors on national law sustain the posi-
tons l occupy, it seems difficult to make good
the parallel between the institution of slavery
and the house of your friend. 1t is not neces-
sary to question the act of the President as
commander in chief of the army and navy,
enunciated for public reasons; and am quite
free to admit that where freedom has been at
tanned through the proclamation, or by the
progress of our arms, those enjoying it cannot
with propriety be re-enslaved. But in such
case Justice requires that injuries done all loyal
citizens must be repaired as soon as the return
of peace and the ability of the State will war
rant it. If slavery perishes from the exercise
of the necessary means to put down the rebell-
ion, no one can complain but those who, affec-
ted thereby, took no willing part in the REBEL
ion, and they should not be precluded remu.
neratiOn any more than those good citizens
whose crops and cattle are taken for the sup
port of our army, or to prevent their CONVEX
sion to the support and maintenance of the en-
envy, or whose houses are demolished, as that
of your friend, to accommodate our artillery
We required of Great Britain compensation
for the the owners of slaves manumtted; and
the principle, if good then, is good now.
My doctrine resolves itself into this That
whatever of slavery may remain on the restor-
alton OF harmony must continue within the
control OF the States where it exists until they
provide for its extinction, and the United States
has no right to prosecute war for its abate.
ment any more than they have a right to in
augurate war against Utah for poligamy
Laws may be made to punish pOlygamists by
fine and imprisonment, or we can refuse to re-
cognize the community encouraging it, be-
cause of its tendency to overthrow all the
moral restraints of civilized nations and uproot
the common law as to the descent Of property.
But with slavery the question is different. The
institution was recognized and promised pro-
lection until the several States saw fit to re-
move it by their own acts; and in no case
where there has been a Leg islature to act on
behalf of the people has the General Govern
ment interfered. And contend that the loyal
men of the South are now as much entitled to
the enjoyment of rights at one time universal
throughout the land, as they were before the
commencement OF the war.