The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-16

hal
own.
For twenty years or more tho course y
the two sections towards each other ha
been thus characterized. In every mors
and social point of view the Union ha
been dissolved twenty years before seces
sion. 1t was ouly held together, seem
ingly, to accommodate that spirit Of ban
dying epithets which promised to fan tn
flames of discord into general conflagra
ton, and thus ripsn both sides for the inn
pending crash.
The North was the first and the mos
pertlnaclous aggressor, and, therefore, /
undoubtedly the greater sinner of the two
but it is needless to deny that the Soutl
met these aggressions in spirit calculated
not to assuage but to pour oil on the pas
sionate elements and to invite the collision
The North was fanatic; the South was ar.
rogant. The North bullied; the South
bantered. Slavery was the rock that ship.
wrecked the ship Of State. Both sides
betrayed the same eagerness to keep this
question ever prominent. Demagogues at
the North rode into office on the anti-sla.
very hobby; demagogues at the South
rode into office on the pro-slavery hobby.
The two antagOnistic elements met at
Washington, and there commenced the tug
of Wharf.-The war of wind, the sure precur-
sOr of the war of blows.
Meantime the people on both sides were
kept in a whirl of feverish excitement.
They looked to Washington for their po-
litical pabnlum they found only fuel to
feed their passions. Their statesmen o.
| God save that mark taught them only
TO hate, and drilled them in the vulgar arts
| Of billingsgste and bitter invective. They
made themselves, in reality, the represent
atives Of wrath, with all their ingenuity
and power, monopolzed in the one idea of
spreading the flames of discord and ripen-
ing the minds of their constituents for the
final catastrophe.
Thus our political cauldron tomented
for twenty years or more. The war was
inevitable. 1T the time secession was
contaminated there was no earthly way
OF avoiding it except in the disgrace of
one section Or tbs other. Under all the
circumstances the Southern States were
right in seeding. The elements of dis
cord had been worked TO such q pitch Of
anger that 10 other alternative vas left
them consistent with their honor and self
respect. They were literally compelled
to secede; but when We say this we DO not
| mean to have it inferred that they were
guiltless in those things which made seceo-
| sion unavoidable. In this matter they.
as well az the States Of the North, have to
shoulder their share of the original sill OF
| fostering the demon of discord. The war
was also necessity. 1t was needed to
purge the country of its political iniquity
and social cOrruptions, 1t was necessary
to bring to the surface the monster of
greed, avarioe and extortion, in order that,
in 80 far az he affected the State, he might
be destroyed. 1t was the only sure anti
dote for the bgotry, tho arrogance, tue
intolerance and fanaticism that spread
over the land like cankering pestilence
The people of both sides had to be taught
in blood and dire adversely lesson which
they had refused to learn under the be-
nign influence of peace and prosperity.
They have already made great progress in
this important lesson, and their trials will
not stop until they have mastered it etfec-
tually.
the war will go on until the people of both
sections of the United States abate some
what Of their high pretensions, and are
| willing to. meet each other upon the great
half way ground Of mutual compromise,
concession and Cancellation. There is no
other possible way Of adjusting our diff
culties, except in the dishonor Of one sec
ton or the other; AID does any sane man,
| North or South, desire the contamination
OF this dishonor7 In the height of passion
such sentiments undoubtedly have and do
still prevail. But sober reason will teach
the Northern and Southern patriot alike
how suicidal would be such result.
The republicans Of the North are striv-
ing for the absolute sujugation and degrad.
alton of the people Of the South. Mad
fools! Do they not know that submission
on eur part is not peace There are those
in the South who would, if they could,
subjugate the North Equally insane and
suicidical infatuation. There is no peace,
except an honorable peace, on both sides.
This is only peace that promises perminsn-
cy, that is even worthy the name; it is the
only peace that can Be desirable to true
patriots. -"
II the South, by any possibility Of over
whelming force, could be compelled to
acoede to q disgracefnl treaty, it would
require standing army of five hundred
thousand men to enforce its requirements.
There would be perpetual insurrection,
to end at last in empirical monarchy or
permanent military dictatorship
Let no man deceive himself. There
never can be peace in this country if any
State is compelled to rest under the stig-
ma of disgrace. Hence it is that we must
make peace honorable alike to all. The
war, therefore, must kill fanaticism, big
otry, despotism and intolerance on both
sides. Before it ends, these fell genii of
destruction and enemies of good govern
ment will lie buried deep beneath the
ocean of blood and tears which they have
caused to be shed to appease their insatia-
bic appetites; and the good genius of con-
servatism, Of Christian charity and genuine
republicanism will rise to govern and bless
the land. When this is done, who can say
that the war was not necessary Let us
hope that the temper of the American
people is even now nearing that consum-
nation so devoutly to be wished for. and