The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-13
DIVIDING ISSUES,
D0OLITTLE ON NEGRO
SUFFRAGE,
VIEWS OF A REPUBLICAN.

The following is an extract from speech de-
lvered by Mr.. DooLIrrIE of Wisconsin, in the
United States Senate on the 25th ult the
question being on allowing negroes to vote in
Montana Territory:
Sir, we have upon our hands issues enough
The single issue of this great war is enough. 1t
Is all the hnman mind can grasp, and more
than any yet have been able to resolve. This
gigantic struggle is to determine whether re-
publican government shall live or die whether
constitutional form of government resting
upon the people for its support, can be MAIN
tanned, or must perish forever; whether the
. union of these States is to be continued Or
broken: whether we are to maintain our own
rights and liberties as free citizens of the United
States. or succumb to rebellion, conspiracy and
military despOtiSm. From the course of events,
from military necessity in the prosecution of
this war and as it seems to mel say it with
reverence-by prOvidential dispensation, the
existence OF slavery las become involved in
this contest The prosecution of this war to a
final triumph on the part of the United States
will of necessity destroy slavery within all
those States in rebellion against the govern
ment. These issues are large enough and
broad enough to demand all our time and all
our energies, all our means, our whole might
mind, and strength TO accomplish that great
purpose.
What is the state of the country? We are
engaged i'm a war which has no parallel in hu
nun history The whole country, from Maine
to the Rio Grande, tremb!es unC er the tread of
armed men. One OF our great corps d'a7nsee
under Gen. Burnside is this moment passing
through the streets OF Washington, marching
across the Potomac to engage in the greatest
bate this continent or the world has seen for
two generations; and on the result of which,
perhaps hang not only the hopes of this Re-
public. but the hopes of the world.
10 ar har fur trNv,, fEoE
and from the West; we are massing our
strength: we arc pouring out our men, our
blood, our treasure, like water; not only all
our own treasure, all we of this generation
have, and all we hope to have, but we are
mOrtgaginr in advance the property and earn
ings OF generations to come after us, to raise
the means necessary to sustain our cause and
win the decisive victory.
Our country at this hour is bleeding at every
pore every household wears the drapery of
mourning; grief sits an unwelcOme visitor at
every firesde; an unbidden guest fills the va
cant chair at every family table and, by the
side CT the mourning widow or mother, bends
in anguish deep and unutlerable, at every fam
lily altar. Sir, some of US have been made to
drink, OF this bitter cup; there are some, like
my honorable friend from Maine, (Mr Fessen-
den and myself. who have been compelled to
look into the graves of our sons, fallen sac
rlhce to put down this unholy rebellion. And,
sir, we have been made to .feeL in our inmost
souls. what our Judgments clearly see. that the
great issue OF this people, and especially at the
present time, and before which all others
should give place is all issue of arns-wheth-
er we shall have success or whether we shall
fall in crushing the military power of the rebel
ion.
Shall the Republic live or die? We not only
know, but we are made to feel that if we DO
not succeed in maintaining this Government
and putting down this rebelon-and that can
L., h1h damn hxyf .<>f
been sacrificed in vain. But if we shall succeed
as, with the blessing Of Providence hope and
trust we may: if We shall be permitted @ see
that standard, under which they entered the
service, float once more in triumph, with not
one star obscurcd nor one stripe erased, over
every inch of the soil of every STATE and Terri
ritvry OF the United States, we can then say to
our Struggling hearts. Peare, be still though
our son, have fallen our country lives"
We know. we feel, that in war as in religion
and in every other great department OF lifc,
there is aud there can be, but one great. ab-
sorb NJ, controlling issue to be decided at the
same llne. We are told in holy writ, Seek
first the kingdom of heaven and its righteous
ness and other things shall be added unto you. "
And IN this war of our country for its very life,
we should seek. first Last and all the time, o
do nothing but that which gives force to our
armies. or raises the money to sustain them.
When this war is past; wnen peace shall sinie
once more in beauty all arOnnd US; When there
Is no more blood 20 be shed; when there are
no more sons TO be sacrificed upon the altar.
hen, II you will, open this Senate Chamuer to
become debaing school for a the abstrac'
tiOns You please
MT fresident. as have said alreidy, my re.
spect lor my honorable friend from Minnesota
leads tie to feel sure that in all his is here he
Is guoed only by the hi. hest and most patriot
r. ihosIves But at the -ane time cannot re-
italn l,oui expressing my deep regret mat an
should app ar to have been raised at this mo
ment before the people oi the country upon
tbis distracling Question of negro suffrage.
ln Gods name let us first save the Union