The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-30
nave failed to crush out the Rebellion.

ought anybody 10 complain CnaL no one
would be hung for nobody would be hung,
though the war lasted fifty years. But if
nobody was to be hung, thenlet the wrong
doors of the Administration rejoice and be
exceeding glad. He approved of media
ton as means of suspending hostilities,
but rejected arbitration. He spoke also
of the important lessons the war had taught
on both sides, in explaining Anti Slavery
errors, in proving the strength of the
South, and in showing that Slavery, in
stead of weakness, was power, that the
non-slaveholding white men of the South
were the chief support of Slavery, and
that there was no danger of servile in
surrectiOns. He said that the South had
learned, too, that personal courage is a
quality common to all sections, and that
in battle the men of the North, and espe-
cially of the West, were their equals
Twenty months of war had corrected many
errors, and taught us the wisdom of a CEN
fury; and if we would only reunite, the
Unon would be stronger and more durable
than ever. He expressed his readiness to
yield personal interests and the more ma
terial rewards of ambition, just now, to the
future good of his country Whoever be-
lieved the war would restore the Union,
whoever was for war for the Abolition of
Slavery, or for Disunion, whoever demand
ed Southern independence and final sepa-
ration, would not be satisfied with what
he said. But he had always been for the
Union, and would not now surrender it.
In youth he had desired to live to see the
hundreth Anniversary of American hide
pendence, and hear our orators eXult in
the glowing glories and greatness Of the
still growing United States. He hoped
for it still-sooner if possible. In any
event, let that day be the day of the great
Restoration. We were in the midst of the
crisis of the Revolution. If we secured
peace now and began reunion, all would
be WELL If not, he saw nothing before us
but revolution and anarchy.
Mr.. VALLANDIGuAn's speech was termi-
mated by the expiration Of his hour and
quarter, but the Tri5pjsc gives the follow
ing upon the topic OF mediation, upon
which head 1t was his purpose to speak as
follows:
Aud now, Sir, allow me word upon a
subject OF very great interest at this mo-
ment, and most important it may be in its
influence upon the future-toreign media
ton. speak not OF armed hostile inter-
vention, which l would resist as long as
but one man was left to strike q blow at
the invader, but friendly mediation-the
kindly offer Of an impartial Power to
,to la+,, ,rf,
this most bloody and eXhausting strife
ought to be met in a spirit as cordial and
ready as that in which it is profiered. 1t
would be churlish to refuse. Certainly, it
is not consistent with the former dignity
of this Government to ask for Il mediation;
neither, Sir, would 1t be consistent with
it's ancient magnanimity to reject it. As
proposed by the Emperor Of France, |
would reject it at once. Now is the au-
spiciOus moment 1t is the speediest, ca
siest, most graceful mode Of suspending
hostilities. Let us hear no more of the
mediation of cannon and the sword. The
day for all that has gone by. Let us be
statesmen at last. Sir, give thanks that
some, at least, among the Republican party
seem ready now to lift themselves up to
the hight of this great argument, and to
deal with it in the spirit of the patriots and
public men of other countries, and of the
better days of the United States. s.
Sir, | have not spoken of foreign arbitra-
tion-that is quite another question. l
think it impracticable, and fear it as dan
gerOus. The very powers, or any other
power, which have hesitated to aid disun-
ion directly or by force, might, as author
lied arbiters, most readily pronounce for
it at last Very grand, indeed, would be
the tribunal before which the great ques-
ton of the Union of these States and the
final destiny of this continent for ages
should he heard, and historic through all
time, the ambassadors who should argue
it. And if both belligerents consent, let
the subjects in controversy be referred to
Switzerland, or Russia, or any other i'm
partial and incorruptible Power or State
in Europe. But at last, Sir, the people of
these several States here, at home, must
be the final arbiter of this great quarrelin
America, and the people and States Of the
Northwest, the mediators who shall stand
like the prophet between the living and
the dead, that the plague of disunlon may
be stayed.
Mr.. BINGHAM took the floor in reply to
his colleague, and after combating his doc
trines, and especially that looking to a
compromise, he concluded with defence
of the Northwest from the selfish imputa-
tons cast upon her, and concluded in a
strain of elOquence which is not often sur
passed anywhere. In a general alusion
he paid most happy tribute to FLORENCE
NIGHTINGALE.
Mr.. WRlGHT, a Democratic member from
Pennsylvania, also replied to Mr. VALLAN-
D1GHAM in speech of much force, which
we suppose echoes the feelings Of this
country more completely than any recently
delivered. He spared no words in con-
demning the leaders of the rebellion, made
it plain that the rebels would never COM
promise, spoke bitterly and deploringly of
the manner in which the war bad thus far
been prosecuted, maintained that the late
elections did not look to an ignoble peace,