The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-23
WHERE ARE WE land WHERE
DRIFTING!
4 Remarkable Article from the Albany
Evening Journal.
BY THURLOW WEED.

In 1860, when only the distant mutter-
ings of rebellion were heard, we were
among the few who recognized in those
threats, the certainty of war, and who, in
q measure, comprehended both its magni-
! tude and It's horrors. 1t is always ali Of
fence, in an individual, to foresee evils, and
especially SO to attempt to avert, or even
to be prepared for them. For an article
then written, asking the President, Con-
gross and our readers, to raise their eyes
and thoughts above the horizon of party,
and contemplate a crisis which would tax
the energies of the people, and test the
| strength of our Government, we incurred
the denunciations Of many, and the friend
iy censure OF most OF the Republican jour
mails
Subsequently, when Rebellion was ram
| pant in the extreme Southern States, a
question whether North Carolina and Ten
nessee should remain in the Union or go
ont OF it arose. We all remember the
''Hor1er state Proposition upon the
/ adoption o. which by Congress, Rebellion
from tie Mississippito the Atlantic would
have been bounded by the southern lines
OF Tennessee and North Carolina. With
. modification which the Border State
representatives otferedt to accept, we advo-
ca5ed that compromise and for this
ais0 re were severely denounced. In the
''peace Congress" where the Legislature
h0nored Us with Il seat which we resigned
il tayor OF q distinguished! citizen, the
''Border State Proposition was again rc-
Jectei, and consequently two States. a
1T ,..tn,a II: t:xo,,e
main in the Union, were lost With
North Carolina aud Tennessee in the Un-
ION, Virginia could not Lave gone ont of
It. We should. therefore, instead Of sac
riiicing hundreds OF thousands OF lives,
ard hundreds Ct millions OF treasure in
North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and
A.tnt,.vhy -i...~ 1850. yea ,i.0>c ,su0,to ant.
that treasure to crush cut Rebellion in the
Cotton States.
The Rebeliion-as wanton and wicked
rs any that stains tie pages of history
thus embracing more state, than was nee
e=,ary-has been nearly two years in BRO
gresS, with what measure Of success and
with what promise of q termination we
can Judge one As well as another. Its les
sons teach Us that it requires all tie
strength OF g united North to preserve the
Union ana uphold the Government We
hao, at the commencement of the war, a
united North. The elimination of trea-
son, ia its attack On Fort Sumter, kindlcd
blaze of indignant patriotism over the
whole North. East, and West All merely
partisan feeling was merged in higher and
nobler impulses. All good and true men,
tEot, ~ -, ~
and Lexington, in 1T7G, rushed to arms. or
contributed money. Then we were. in
the language OF Mr.. Jefferson, cal Repul-
licans--all FeGerai>ts" or II other Ian
guage ''all ReIu,1 ..o;tn>--a,i Democrats.
For the first year the war had, with few
exceptions. the hearty support OF both and
all political parties. 1t was prosecuted
earnestly. hut with Indifferent success
with more heart than head-more yea!
than knowledge We had gallant troops
commanded by incapable Generals, made
50, probably. by newspaper and other in
reference. At any rate, the ill-success of
our armies caused popular Impotence, of
which those whose ultra Auti-Savery
views enabled the secession leaders to mass
the sentiment Of the Cotton States.
awaited themselves to irnpart an .thpli'ion
character 10 the war.
TIE evidence before us--in the rivers of
blood shed, aud the millions OF treasure cx-
pendcdt!!at the preservation OF our Union
and Government demands the best ard
united energies and effort, OF the whole
people, is value!ess. What all united have
so far failed to accomplish, the abolition
chiefs and journals insist upon undertaking
as party. They demand that the war
shall be prosecuted under their auspices
and io- their purposes Mems opinions on
the slavery question must be heightened or
shortened, IN accordance with Proc,istean
example.
These i:npracticable, Idea lecturers
and journals, aided b. the unfortunate
'.On 70 Richmond military disasters. have
already withdrawn New York. New Jer-
sey, ONO, indiana and Illinois from the DO
htIcal support Of the Administration. Too
many o. the Democratic leaders in these
''fates--especially il Ohio and Indiana
are OF the Vallandigharn school, THIS false,
disioya! man, with shame he i, confessed,
| louilu syinpatilzng friends to welcome and
least nm at q secession hotel iE the city OF
New YORK Still the masses Of the De
mocracy, and most Of their prominent men,
are truly devoted to the Union. and remain
willing to contribute their money ana peril
their lives to sustain the Government. But
in this there is no merit, unless they adopt
the anti-slavery platform. and accent the
dogmas OF the New York I5iJune.