The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-13

to FRAUD are irresistible, and many men,
of whom we had expected better things.
are yielding to the temptation. The most
discouraging thing in the present alarming
crisis is the fact that SO many loyal citizens
are improving the opportunity to o'a"ss
enormous profits By .f1'an7"tem spec"tct-
tons upOn The miseries 0fHe country.
have seen the RESULTS OF THIS AT WASH
INGToN in forms MM n;oh'es mems blood
curClle riM Indignation. | have seen
sick and dying men in our hospitals fur
nished with supplies for which the con-
tractors were paid generous price, and
the poor creatures turned away with loath-
ing from the nauseOus substances laid
upon their hot and fevered lips.
Here at the North we abolished slavery
when it ceased to be profitable; but down
to the present hour the very name Of Atri-
ca is n term of indignity and repreach.
We exclude him as far as we can from
every station of responsibilities no mat
ter what his qualifications may be, and
we would be glad to get rid of him alto
gether, five could. So.
hold no Utopian views upon this sub
ject. never believed that the relation of
master and servant is Of necessity " sin, |
always thought that evil needed to be
carefully and judiciouslg hoadYed.
Again, we have sinned as nation, IN
the persons of oar Representatives and ,pt-
lers. Is it the wise torethought and sober
Judgment and deliberate wisdom of the
community which determines who shall be
our rulers? How are they nominated !?
How are they elected? How do they
conduct themselves after they are elected?
Do they never take brides? DO they rep
resent the country or the party which
elects them? Do they decide every ques-
ton by its merits? Are they always sober,
temperate, chaste, free from all obscenity
and protaneness Do they always utter
their honest convictions? Whenever q
measure is proposed for action, do they ask,
''Is it wise and is it right?' and so deter
mine how they will vote? Alas! the crown
of glory is fallen from our head and there
is no hope for the country until the people
arise in their might and say, eve will no
longer have prC7igates and fools 10 rule
Deer u.s." The descent has been so low
that it is considered IN improperly to
speak of the subject in Christian pulpit
Politics mean party, and this is out ofplace
in the house of God.
l think the world have found ont clearly
enough that we are weak. We are not
weak in numbers or resources, but we are
weak in that efficient action which comes
of faith, earnestness, self-denial, and unity
Of purpose. We have made many awful
sacrifices to no purpose. We follow up
nothing SO that it tells substantially upon
the final issue. The fault is laid here and
there and everywhere, and there are none
so positive in their censure as those who
know nothing of the facts.
O that unity of the nation might be re-
stored in the bond of perpetual peace !!
We will sacrifice everything but principles
for this. Blow from the South, o
winds of God, and bring us the tidings of
reconciliation and love! Blow from the
North, O winds of God, and carry back
the message of fraternity and peace Scat
ter the darkness, roll away the clouds, and
give unto US all once more the sunshine of
tranquil rest Under the shadow of thy
wings we make our refuge; O God, gre
as peace!