The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-22
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT

We must hold forth every honorable in
ducement to the people of the South to
assume again the right and duties of Amer
lean citizenship.
We have reached that point in the pro-
gress of the war for which all have strug-
gled and all have put forth united exer-
lions. Our armies and navies have won
signal victories; the have done their part
with courage, skill and success. By the
usage of the civilized world craftsmanship
must now exert its influence. If our cause
fails, in the Judgment of the world it will
be charged to the lack of wisdom in the
cabinet, and not to, the want of bravery
or patriotism in the army. The great OBJ
ject of victories is to bring back peace !:
we can now with dignity and magnanimity
proclaim to the world our wish that States,
which have long been identified with our
history, should resume their position in the
Union. We now stand before the world a
great and military power. No one can
forsee the latent victories or defeats which
lie in our course if force and force alone is
to be exerted. The past has taught us
the certain cost of war and the uncertain
ties of its results.
In this contest belligerent rights are
necessarily conceded to the South. The
usages of international warfare are prac-
ticed in the recognition of flags and the
exchanges of prisoners. Is it wise to put
off the end of the war, and thereby con-
tinue recognition which tends to famil-
iarize the public mind in our own country
and in the world at large with the idea
that we are disunited into two distinct
nationalities? A needlessly protracted
war becomes disunion.
Wise craftsmanship can now bring this
war to close, upon the terms solemnly
avowed at the outset of the contest Good
faith to the public creditors, to all classes
of citizens of our country, to the world,
demands that this be done.
The triumph won by soldiers in the field
should be followed up and secured by the
peace-making policy of the statesmen in
the cabinet. In no other way can we
save our Union.
The fearful struggle which has taught
the North and the South the courage, the
endurance and the resources of our peo-
pie. has made basis of mutual respect
upon which generous and magnanimous
policy can build lasting relationships of
union, intercourse, and fraternal regard.
If our course is to be shaped by narrow
and vindictive passions, by venal purposes,
or by partisan objects, then patriotic
people have poured out their blood and
treasure in vain, and the future is full Of
disaster and ruin.
We should seek, not the disorganization,
but the pacifcation of that section of our
country devastated by civil war.
Faith to our armies and to our citizens
demands that we keep sacred the solemn
pledge made to our people and the civil
lied world, when we engaged in this bloody
war, "that it was not waged in any spirit
of oppression, or for any purpose Of con-
quest or subjugation, or for the purpose Of
overthrowing or interfering with the rights
of established institutions in those States,
but to defend and maintain the supremacy
of the constitution, and to preserve the
Union, with all the dignity, equality and
rights of the several States unimpaired !;
and that as soon as these objects are &C
complished the war ought to cease"
HORATIO SEYMOUR.