The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-27

PRESIDENT DAVIS also made speech at
Richmond, in which he grouped us to-
gether as a common band of highwaymen,
and Yancey, who was the leader of the
Alabama delegation in the Southern Con-
vention, says pretending to speak for
Alabama-that there can be no conven-
ton for econciliation unless preceded by
recognition of the independence of the
Southern States. l have great regard for
Alabama; remember her Kings and her
Forsyths as honorable public men, and l
cannot help thinking there must be in that
State men who reject the views of Yancey
(Applause) Besides, in the great contest
of 1910, when New York selected her own
son, when the Keystone State faltered,
Alabama was found supporting q North
ern against Southern man.. 1t is, how
ever, idle to speak of these things now.
We must deal with those who speak to the
South and not with those who keep silent.
We have no mode of dealing with enemies
in arms except by taking the views Of
their leading journals and speakers. We
have those views. They demand the in
dependence of the South and insist upon
their right to secede. This utterly de-
NY loud applause -and if God should
spare my life | never will cease to deny
it. There is nothing in the Constitution
to warrant it. 1t is the destruction of our
form of government, and must be resisted
at all hazards. This, then, is the condi-
ton of the country.
Now, in regard to the holding of a con-
vention, in which we may all confer with
each other, and they of the South, as well
as we of the North, might debate how we
could get rid of the existing government
For it is plain that Mr.. Lincoln is the con-
stitutiOnal President, elected for four years,
and he must serve two years longer from
March next, unless the people of the Union
choose to go into convention and decide
otherwise. If they do this new election
can be ordered in sixty days, if the con-
vention so decide. cloud and continued
applause.) But the people of the South
do not choose to see the thing in this light !;
they choose rather to abide by the opinions
Of certain head men, who have led them
into this controversy, and are unequivocal-
ly opposed to any thing like a restoration
of the Union. never doubted that JEFF
terson Davis was opposed to it, or that the
ringleaders Of the rebellion are opposed to
reconciliation. Their existence, politically,
morally, and it may be physically, de-
ponds ON the establishment of an indie
pendent confederacy. No man who has
any regard for himself would undertake to
uphold these men or treat them as political
brethren hereafter. The certain fate which
awaits any one who would do so, would
deter every one from the thought. There
fore they are opposed to reunion. Our
friends in Illinois who propose to endeavor
to hold a convention, will find it barren
task, because the South is determined net
to return, and until their armies have
power to resist and put us down this war
must go on, and those who would attempt
to stop it will be carried away by the tor
rent. cloud applause and a few Kisses
These are my opinions-lny personal views.
And now let us consider what is the
best mode OF conducting the war. have
already stated that prefer peace. That
we cannot have. Those we are dealing
with will not have it.; and those who at
tempt to obtain it without their consent
are on fruitless errand. The articles of
their journals and the declarations of their
speakers show it. Now, some persons
have suggested foreign intervention To
that l oppose my objection in any and eve
ny way, whether it be in the form of adj
vice or forcible interference | would not
even consent to the plan of the Tribune,
to refer it to one of the Swiss Cantons.
This rebellion is real, and rather than call
on foreigners to decide whether we shall
1.-Two ,ot - xr-n,,11 ha hotfo of
once. (Applausc.) So there is no use
talking about foreign intervention; we
must either subdue this tumult ourselves,
or not at ALL Next we should inquire
upon what terms the war should go on.
There was but one opinion in the North
when the war broke out. When Congress
resolved that the war was to restore the
Union as it existed before, and to restore
the Constitution, there was but one unani-
mons opinion in Congress, to sustain the
Administration. Subsequently to that
time there have been occurrences which
have worked sensible changes in the
Northern mind, producing not only an
open opposition to the administration, but
almost plain sympathy with the South,
and desire to end the war. Let us see
what is the cause. (Mr Van Buren, then
recited extracts from the President's
emancipation proclamation, and said that
no one disapproved of it more than he
! did)
He has no more right to do this than the
Khan of Tartary. lie has issued another
proclamation declaring the slaves free in
certain Of the rebellious States. A proc
lamation is made to declare an existing
fact, or to make an amendment of law OF
fact. The President is in the same posi-
ton as the crier of court-he does not
open the court, though he announces the
opening of it. Nothing can be more alb
surd or preposterous than the idea that the
President, by a proclamation, can altar the
condition of any species of property Oh
change any law. But at the same time il
is proper to say that that was, some two
hundred and fifty years ago, a subject O
some discussion in Great Britain. The
President being lawyer [derisive laugh
ter" Third rate -" Oh-oh!"]-I ar
sorry to see you laugh for understand IL
Springfield, he was reckoned lawyer O
some parts in that village want to refer
him and you to Campbells olives of the
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