The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-04
Speech OF Senator wilkinson in
New York.

At meeting held in New York to rati-
fy the nomination of OR1soN BLUNT, the
representative candidate for Mayor, Sem
ator WILKINSON of Minnesota was present,
and made the following remarks:
When requested to come here tonight, to say
something at meeting for the ratification of
the nomination ofMr. Blunt for Mayor of the
City, hardly knew what to say. I knew very
little about the politics of the City Of New
York, and I do not know as anybody else
knows much about them. Uaugl ter.) But
thought that would suggest q Western idea
to you, to the electors of this City. 1t is an
idea that was once suggested to Colonel. or
a man who first went into the army as Col
onel from the far West. We adopted it as our
platform in the late elections In the West, and
it is this-it is :" To move upon the enemy's
works until we force an unconditional surren-
der" Loud applause) Now, I take it for grant
ed that the friends of Mr.. Blunt in this City are
sacrifices for the Union, all ready to stand
shoulder to shoulder for the Union, and to en-
ploy such means and such agencies as will most
efectually support and maintain the Union.
Why, my fellow-citizens, from the Metropoli-
tan city to the Rocky Mountains, you have
nothing but an unbroken line of Union men,
(applause,) bound together by strong attach
Wcut W Cu0 OnlOu, UctcrulucQ GnaG IL shall De
maintained at all hazards; and in order to car
ry out this determination, they will support no
man for any Office, from constable up to the
President, who be not thoroughly, radically,
totally devoted to the cause of the country.
(Renewed applause.) The State of New York
has settled in the main line of States COM
mencing with Michigan. then Wisconsin, then
Minnesota The State has extended into these
three new States her surplus agricultural pOpu-
lation, and those States have adopted the insti-
tutions of the State of New York. The influ-
ence of your State has run through also the
northern line of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois
and wherever the influence of your State has
gone westward, there you will find people who
never falter in their attachment to the country,
and who never hesitate in the performance of
any duty to maintain their government. But,
my fellow citizens, it is a little to be regretted
that this great metropolitan city-this city
which is maintained by the great graneries of
the West, supported by that vast, rich country
that spreads oat from here to the Rocky Noun
tains-that this great city is not in sympathy
and in heart with the rural people that lie BE-
yond them. l believe that if the people of the
city would devote to the cause of their country
democrats and Republicans-if those men
who are willing to make sacrifices to uphold
this Government. will stand firmly and sim
cerely attached to each othel-if they 80
frame their local politics that their effor,s may
DC elective IN the attainment OF this 0nd,
/ believe that this city may yet prove
itself to be as thoroughly and devotedly attach
ed to the salvation and preservation of this
nation as the rural population that lies beyond
it, Applause.) My fellow citizens, there is no
other place on this continent where the people
should be SO energetic in their efforts to sus-
tain this Government as New York City. There
is no other place where the interests are so vast
as they are in the City Of New York 1t is the
pride Of this continent; it is the great entrepot
of the noblest and wisest and most prosperous
people in the world, and they have pride in
your city; they all look up to it; they all
love to come to it FROM time to time But,
my, fellow citizens, I must tell the truth
and believe Western men are pretty apt gen.
orally to tell the truth-(laughter)- we have
been mortifed-the sons of New York, living
upon the Mississippi river, have been mortified
and chagrined that man should proceed from
this city who has been heart and sympathy
with the enemies of his country. If you have
the same will that Ulysses Grant (applause)
had if you move upon the enemys works
with the same confidence that he moved upon
them, you will do as he said he would do
force an unconditional surrender. applause }