The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-16
Tine Abolition Crusade.

When the Crittenden Resolution was
passed by Congress, proclaiming the ma
ture of the war, and asserting that it was
conducted for the sole purpose of restoring
the Union and indicating the majesty of
the Constitution, the people of this coun-
try, rising as one man, signiied their
loyalty and devotion to the flag. No
draft was needed to organize an effective
army. No superfuous bounties were nee
essary to stimulate the courage and the
patriotism Of the American people, The
faith of the government was pledged to
the country, and the country reposed in
the honor of its word.
It was only when the Government broke
faith with the people, and violated a pledge
made under circumstances of peculiar SOL
emnity, that popular confidence received
a fatal shock. 1t was only when ABRA-
HAM LINCOLN shattered the peoples trust
in his honesty, by the proclamation of
September, 1862, that signs of popular
discomfort and disapproval made them
selves known and felt, and for the first
time loomed up upon the general vision
a divided North. By that proclamation it
was declared in terms, that all persons
held as slaves on January 1, 1868, in the
seeded States, "shaN be then, Nencefor-
acard, and forerer free; and the erecu-
tire government Of the United States, IN
c1uding the military and naoal authority
thereof, aoiH recognize and MAINTAIN
the freedom Of such persons"
These are the words, not of the Ameri-
can people, but OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
They declared in implicit diction, that
this war was to be conducted for the pur-
pose of abolitionizing the South, and
brought all the powers of the army and
navy to bear for that purpose. They
struck deep into the popular heart The
country perceived that it was betrayed by
its Executive And when on the 1st of
January, 1868, he embodied this declara-
ticn in his Proclamation of Emancipation,
formidable opposition sprung into spon-
taneous being, protesting against his vio-
lation of the Congressional pledge, and
his unconstitutional exercise of executive
authority. Since the issue Of that procla-
nation, Mr.. LINCOLN has stood fairly and
squarely upon an abolition platform for the
conduct Of the war. In his last annual
message be says.
But if it be proper to require, as a test of adj
mission to the political body, an oath of ale
glance to the Constitution of the United States
and to the Union under it, why not also to the
laws and proclamations in regard to slavery !?
Those laws and proclamations were enacted and
put forth FOR the purpose of aiding in the sup
preston of the rebellion. To give them their
fullest effect, there had to be pledge for their
maintenance. In my judgment they have aid
ed. and viii further aid, the cause for which
they were intended. To now abandon them
would be not only to relnquish lever of pow
er, but would also be cruel and astounding
breach of faith. may add at this point that
while l remain IN my present position shall
not attempt to retract or modify the emancipa-
ton proclamation; nor shall return to slav-
cry any person who is free by the terms OF that
proclamation, or by any of the acts of Congress.
He thus refuses to modify or retract one
iota of the Proclamation, oblivious of that
"cruel and astounding breach of faith -
in which he deliberately betrayed the con-