The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-23
SuperAuOus Labor.

SuperfuOus Labor.
We have never known clearer case of
unnecessary work than that now being per-
formed by the candidates ON the Union
State ticket With an absolute certainty
of election, by majorities of thousands,
some of these candidates are putting and
blowing about the State, as if their own
safety and that of the country depended
on the frequency, length and force of their
political harangues.
Col. MILLER, for instance, though suffer-
ing from infirm health, taxes his energies
beyond endurance, in making daily speech
es, and composing weekly addresses to the
soldiers and the people; just as if there
was possibility that WE1LEs could score
within eight or ten thousand votes of him
on election day. He knows, or ought to
know, and so knowing, ought to show his
appreciation of the fact by quiet and
dignifed bearing, that there is not a loyal
and intelligent citizen of the State, who
will vote against him. There may be ig
norant persons, who wish to act loyalty,
and who may cast their votes against him;
but such cannot be reached and turned by
any stump effort of his, or his associates.
His electioneering will prove clear case
of Gloves labor lost, so far as results are
concerned. He will get two-thirds of the
votes any how; and more by keeping
quiet and staying at home than he can by
any amount of speechifying over the
country. ..-
Not that there is anything positively
wrong in the matter Of political speech
making. 1t may be an improving exer-
else for those who indulge in it, and a
pleasant entertainment for the people.
But in this case the victory is already SO
certainly and overwhelmingly won, that it
seems to be work utterly thrown away
labor without an object-an immense
amount of talk without any point. And
then, and this is its special improperly,
it clothes the copperhead movement
in this State with the pretence ant
dignity of an opposition. 1t enable;
WELLEs, and these other fellows, not merely
to say that they have been candidates fol
high State positions, but that they entered
into actual competition for them, ant
went through all the struggles of regu
lar political campaign, and were thu
treated in sober earnest by politicians ant
the people as actual aspirants, in good faith
Which is, of course, all humbug. Thes
copperheads are running for Office, just a
man would be eating a dinner, wi-hou
knife or fork, from an empty plate. The.
are simply going through the motions, ant
awkwardly, at that The orly consequence
they can possibly derive from the fact o
their candidacy, is that given them by tn
Union candidates in treating them as com
petitors, and in employing against then
the usual means OF campaigning warfare
This should be stopped. 1t is treating tn
copperheads with too much consideration
Their principles woul warrant active oppo
sition if their numbers were sufficient t
make them of any account. AS it is, the
should be treated by the Union candidate
with contempt; and to make such ctr
tempt more severe, it should be silent.
If Col. MILLER wishes to see the peop
who are to become his conStitu nts, an
by this means to make himself acquainte
with their wants, and if, on injecting then
he chooses to have quiet talk with then
or to publicly ,harangue them as to the
dutit-, or tickle their sense of humor wit
an odd story or two, that is all very wei
But, as he respects himself, or the 10y
sentiment of the State, which is, alreat
unqualifedly on his side, don't let him els
where, as he did here, magnify the CO
perheadism of Minnesota into an organic
ton of importance, 10y directing against
or its candidates elaborate arguments
| sharp invectivcs. The copperhead tick
tell still-born from the Convention it
| not his duty to galvanize it into life.