The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-24

ana Tor which the nation still demands the sac
rifice of the precious blood of SO many of her |
Soon after the close of the Revolutionary
War, 1t was found that the cOnfeder ICY which |
iiao grown up during that memorable contest.
was h'ii'ng to pieces from its own weight. The |
SSnIi". power was too weak. II could recon- |
nielIu 70 the different States such measures as
sce.ieo oeSt. and it protested no real power to
because it lacked executive force to |
compel Obedience to its laws. The national
credit ana seit-respect had di, appeared and it
was feared by the friend, OF buman ,iher,v
the world that onrs WIS bnt an.
other added to the long list of frui,less ATTEMPTS
AT sell 'goverhlneht. Inc nation was evidently
on the brink of ruin and dissolution when soma
eighty years ago many OF the wi,es, and n,o.t
patriotic Of the land met to seek u remedy far
The great evils which threatened to DESTROY tho
great work Of the revolution. Their sessions
were long and often stormy; for time the
most sanguine doubted the possibility OF q suc-
cessful termination Of their lab0rs. But from
amidst the conflict of sectional interests, O.
party prejudices and of personal eltishnesss
the spirit of wisdom and of cOnciii,ion at
length evoked the Constitution under which
we have lived so long. 1t was not formed in
a day; but was the result of practical labor. Of
lofty wisdom. and of the purest patriotism. il
was at last adopted by the people of al the
States although by some reluctantly-nOt as
UelnS exactly WHAT all QeSiTcQ, Dug IQS DcSt
possible under the circumstances
II was accepted as giving US form of gov
ernment under which the nation might live
happily and prosper, SO long as the people
should continue to be influenced BY the same
sentiments which. actuated those who formed
it and which would not be liable TO destruc.
tiOn from internal causes, SO long as the people
preserved recollection Of the miseries and CO.
lamities which led 10 its adoption Under this
beneficial constitution the progress OF the ma
ton was unsurpassed in history. The rights
and liberties Of its citizens were secured OF
home and abroad vast territories were res
cued from the control of the savage and the
Wild beasts, and added to the domain of the
Union and civiliz .tion. The arts the sciences
and commerce grew apace; our flag foated on
etery sea- and we took our place among the
gre { nations of the earth. But under
this smooth surface of prosperity upon
which we glided swiftly, with all the tails
set before the common breeze, dangerous
reefs were hidden, which now end then
caused ripples upon the surface, and made anx-
ious the more careful pil,ts. Elated ny sue
cess the ship swept On-the crew not needing
the warnings they received, fOrgetful of the
dangers escaped at the beginning OF the voy-
aye and blind to the hideous maelstrom which
CAPPED to receive them. The same elements of
discOrd, sectional prejud;ces interests and in
situations which had rendered the formation of
the Constitution 80 difficult. Threatened more
than once TO destroy 1t. but for long time
the nation was SO fortunate as to possess n
series Of political leaders. who to the highest
ab!l ties. united the same spirit of conc liation
which animated the founders OF this republic,
and thus for mony years the threatened evils
were averted Time and the long continuance
of good fortune. Oblterated the recollection of
the caamilies of years preceding the adoption
of the Constitution. THY forgot that concil-
MI
had been the foundation, and must be the sup
port. OF our government, and oil the relations
OF life. At length men appeared with abuse
sectional and personal prej'idices and interests,
Outweigbing all Considerations of the general
good. Extremists of one section furnished
the occasion, eagerly seized as a preiext by
equally extreme men 10 tie other, for aband IN
ing the pacific remedies afforded by the Com
stitution. Stripped of all sophi,try and side
issues. the direct cause of the wer as it pre-
scented itself to the honest and pa. riotc Cit;I
zens of the North was simply this:
Certain States, or rather u portion Of the in
haOitants OF certain states. feared or prs,iessed
to fear, that injury would result to their rights
and property from The elevation of particulars
party to power. Although the Constitution
aud the actual condition of the government
provided them with peaceabe and sure prol
teciion against the unprecedented evil they pre.
plred to seek security in the destI uction of tbs
government which could protect them, and in
the use of force against national troops hold
Ing national fortress. To efface the insult
offered 10 our flag, TO save ourselves from the
fate ct the divided republics of oily and South
America; to presirve our goyeInmelt
from destruction; to enforce its just power
and laws; to maintain our very existence o, o
nation. These were the causes which inn-
PEELED US 10 draw the sword. Rebellion
against q government like ours. which con.
wi ,,lf Of
ment and pacific remedy for evils, should
never be contOanded with revolution against
despite power, which refuses redress of
wrongs. Such rebellion cnnnot be justified
upon ethical grounds, and the only alterna-
tiVes for our choice are its suppress or the
destruction Of our nationality.
C,NCLUsION.
At such time as his and IN such o struggle
political parii,anship ehOu be merged in a
true and brave patriotism. which thinks only
OF the good OF The country. 1t WAS in this
cause and it'll these motives that 80 m my of
our comrades have gwen their lives aud TO
this We are personally pledged in all honor and
fidelity. Sh Ill such devotion as rias OF our
dead comrades be OF no avail? Shall it be said
in after ages that We lacked the vigor to COM
2leie the work thus begun That ai-
Ter all these valuable and noble lives freely
given We heSiiated and failed to Ike ID st: a,uht
on until our land was saved? Furuid it heayeu,
and give us firIner, truer hearts than that,
On spirits OF the valiant dead. souls OF our
slain heroes, lend us your own indOmi,ab,e
WILL and if it be permitted you to commune
with those still chained by the tramneis OF
mortality, hover around us in the midst of
danger and tribula. ion-clieer the firm.
strengthen the weak, that none may coubt The
si vatlon OF the Republic and the triumph ut
our grand old flag.
mi midst Of The storms which toss our shin of
stale there is one great ba isnt to whic We can
ever turn w.'h CON dehce nLd hULe. caEnUt ne
that t"is great Ia ION has aged its part in hisfory
il CT nut De- tn our sun, whi;n arose with su n
bri hit onises for the futurr, has already set 10
ever must be the .hleltiOu of the ovefruhu.
Lefty that this and my The Ms UNI Of e an
pressed In efge Of civil and re lou. Ib. ty nh i,
agaiu stand forth Ia b lgut relief united mrii..t
aud chl>lened BY our rialA a, AN exam le and an.
Outraged ent Tor tn,'se who desire tn, .r.yr rs f mo
hu It Is not given 10 O r weak in,sI,.r,
10 IN r=tai the rps of rOvid..uce tnev ccur.
we com .reheui III m only as we look back mon
them Ill tue Iir dirta i past; S,lI is now We cam
not unravel III; eminsy tangl, ID .kxin If IN. mr.
seS The Creator-t ey 100 h,p h and ,r-
lug lOr cur limited mi ds. rut all hi.,nrv ann His
Own rev a.ed word TIA b us tn It III, wa,s a,lhou b
1nscrutabe u er righie US, Let n. then. hon.
e>tly an tnInly Llay par a seek To une 81 nd
ana pt riO' IA our whole du y, an, uu unwaveringy
In he D nthc Ut TOD who |. u vur ancestor. IS
Inc sea a sus all ed them afts rwaru a.id dangers
more app luDg even han those pncou, tered by AIS
own no en- peop In their g,st exodus.
lie ava nci DING rs heie 10 vail, n II Gas lie SUE
ported thus tar Tor naught.
II we do Our dury and ut IN Him ne WI nns
no t.. al 1hSf(