The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-20

of the Democratic General Committee,
and Mr.. Elijah F. Purdy was one Of the
Secretaries. They called a meeting Of the
Democrats of this city, and over that
meeting Mr.. Holmes presided, and for
Vice-Presidents were men whose names,
when read to any Democrat, will bring
back associations of great interest, and
perhaps of some sadness, unless he sup
poses that the prominent Democrats in the
city are now more respectable than those
whose names I will read. The Vice-Presi-
dents were Henry Yates, Walter Browne,
Samuel Tappan, Myndert Van Setback,
Gideon Tucker, Abraham Van Nest and
they resolved, not that there was danger
in the union of the purse and the sword
not that it was usurpation-but that it
was prompt and patriotic measure on the
part of the House Of Representatives
Loud cheers.
Let US see how it was received by the
electors. It was on the I'd and Sd days
of March, as l have stated to you. The
election in New Hampshire came on then,
as it will now within few days, after the
adjournment of Congress; and New Hamp-
shire, which had been somewhat equally
divided, gave seven thousand majority for
the Democratic ticket. shall be pleased
if my Democratic friends find it gives a
large majority now. [Cheers and laugh
ter The city of new York, by defec-
ton of the conservative portion of the De-
mocracy, had been thrown into the hands
of what was then called the Wings. The
city election almost Immediately followed,
and the city was recovered. Isaac L.
Varian was elected Mayor by thousand
majority, and twelve out of seventeen
wards gave Democratic maiorities, i'm
mediately after this extraordinary usurpa-
ton.
General Scott, who was to have presi-
ded here this evening, fortunately for the
country, was then prominent in the COM
mand OF the armies of the United States.
On the 9TH Of March he went to Maine,
and he remained there until about the 21st,
when he concluded an arrangement with
Lieutenant Governor Harvey, by which
the British troops retired from Their posi-
ton in the state Of Maine: Maine troops
also retired, and civil officers were left in
protection Of the puplic property, and by
his wisdom and his foresight, by the oath
of March he was able to report to the gov
eminent of the United States that the
whole difficulty had passed over Zap
plause.1
Not dollar was expended, not volun-
teer was called out, not man from the
militia was brought into the field under
this act and l would be glad to know
why it may not happen that this extraor-
nSfr rf <>ff I,n
United States, of the power and resources
of the loyal portion of the confederacy will
not again be followed up by similar au-
spiciOus result. The successful way to
prosecute war is to make an overwhelm-
ing demonstration of strength to satisfy
those who are prepared to resist the right
full authority of the government, that the
resistance is useless, and that this must be
crushed out. [Cheers.] Now, gentlemen,
there is nothing, in my humble Judgment,
in the law passed putting this enormous
power in the possession of the President of
the United States, to deter me from assist
ing in a vigorous prosecution of the war.
| can very well understand how, if I SYM
pathize with the rebellion-if 1 deemed
that this war should fail could spend
hours and columns in picking flaws in this
act. But if l believe that substantial JUS
tice requres-that the great ends of pros.
cutting the war demand-that the whole
power of the government shall be placed
by the Congress of the United States in the
President OF the United States, will bow
in silence to the act, whether l approve of
it or not. prolonged cheers Ii the
President of the United States had usurped
these powers, there might be negree of
propriety in denouncing it; but when the
representatives of the people, legally
elected, after due deliheration, assume the
responsibility of lodging these trusts in
him, in my humble judgment, and certain
ly in view of the precedent to which have
referred, no wise man will ever complain
of the act [Applause.1
He said: have been cautioned by
great many people about attending this
meeting tonight. was tod that it was
an insidiOus attempt to disintegrate the
Democratic party, and a newspaper which
joined us last fall, laughter and many
Representatives in Congress who never
joined as at all, have great fear that l will
do something to disintegrate the Demo-
cratic party. Now, If the whole party
should differ with those to whom I have
adverted, we should be no more disinte-
grated than we were before. My Repres-
entative I have very high opinion Of
He seems to be very willing to represent
the whole of our State and a considerable
portion of New Jersey, laughter j and
looking at his paper this evening, | per-
ceive that he has taken charge of the
governments of Ohio, Indiana andiIllinois,
and several other States. 1t is not often
that man is favored with being pro-
vided with such extensive plans of use
fulness. I read speech that he made
before the Democratic Union Association
on the Sd of March, as it was reported in
the World on the 18th. Without under
taking to say what was proper for him to
say or for him to omit, will say that I
thank God that he was not my representa-
tive until noon the next day. The DEM
ocratic party, as you all know, nine years
out of ten, controls the government of the
country. 1t requires, therefore, no more
patriotism on their part to be attached to
the government and the country It is,
in fact, an attachment to themselves.
Laughter AS general rule, they are
u;so nrndant and natriOtic Oroasiono1lv