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

have rolled away. The young men who
responded to that call-where are they?
More than five hundred thousand of our
brave soldiers now sleep in their untimely
graves. Look at the debt! An immense
debt!-over two thousand millions of dol
lars-by the accounts of the government
itself. Over two millions of men have
been called for since that time to bear
arms in the struggle. Five hundred thou
sand more are to-day being called for.
The nation is crushed down with taxation,
and the war not ended. A point of time
has arrived when it is the constitutional
duty as well as the constitutional right of
every American citizen to inquire whether
it is for the public interest to continue the
war, and to sit in judgment upon the con-
duct of the federal administration. That
| duty we cannot escape. That duty we
must meet, in a spirit of patriotism, of
candor and honesty, we must meet it bold
ly. In that spirit l now address you. I
would not denounce this administration for
casual acts of wrong. would not con-
denim it merely because it's members have
erred in Judgment. But denounce it be-
cause 1 believe it has entered upon a set
tied policy dangerous to the welfare ofour
country. Looking at its policy in that
light, it is my duty to denounce it freely
and boldly.
Why is that administration now COM
PEELED to make a new demand upon us ? It
proposes to put down the rebellion by two
powers-the power of policy and the power
of the army. That it has failed thus far
is not the fault of the army. All over our
country, by the banks of our rivers and
along our sea shores, the multitude of new
made graves attest its devotion. There is
no man who will stand up to denounce the
conduct or courage of our soldiers. The
lines of their marches towards Atlanta and
on Richmond are paved with their bodies.
In the history of the world, there has never
been q more deadly conflict waged by val
liant men than during the present summer.
It would be libel upon our army to assert
that it has not done all and more than all
that could be expected of them. Why is
it, then, that we have not succeeded?
Turning from the consideration Of the
military power, let us observe the policy
Of the government. To-day our forces
compass the mouth of the Mississippi
River, are present in the harbor of Charles
ton, and are struggling for the posses
SION of Georgia, under Sherman. But let
me tell you also that to-day it requires
more men to hold In the Union the three
States of Missouri, Kentucky and Mary
land than the whole number originally
called for to suppress the rebellion. In
the beginning these States repudiated Sc
cession. Three years ago the North
responded with unanimity to the calls
of the government When, on my return
from the West at that time, the people of
Chicago, like the people of Milwaukee,
were animated by spirit Of unanimity
and patriotism What do we see now? +?
The government has so little confidence in
the people, that by an official order just
issued, it denies to the people of Illinois,
Ohio, Indiana and Michigan one Of the
sacred rights of every American citizen.
The government has so little confidence in
the people of these States that it fears to
trust them with the privilege Of bearing
arms. The constitution declares that this
right shall not be infringed. Our fathers
believed it necessary for the protection Of
the people from the encroachmsnts of ar
bitrary power. You are told that the
people of these States cannot be trusted
with arms, even to hunt their food upon
your broad prairies. The administration
has lost faith in the people Of Ohio, In
diana, Illinois and Michigan, and the peo-
pie of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois end Aichi-
gan have lost faith in the administration.
If we have failed in this war, it is because
the administration has established policy
which has rendered Intellectual our efforts
in the field.
The result of the coming election in
wolves the liberties Of our country. 1t is
to decide whether you are to be safe in
your own homes and by your own fire.
sides, and there is no greater national
trouble than that which penetrates the
home and reaches the freside. Greater
questions, graver questions, questions
which come more directly home to the
hearts and interests of men, have never
been submitted to the people for their ar
bitration. And in their decision, that
which is for the interest of democrats, is
also for the interest of republicans.
we Oelleve we are to triumph IN the
contest. No man can doubt this who saw
what saw in Chicago. 1t was the largest
number OF men my eyes ever rested up
on. Three years ago, when I last visited
Wisconsin, labor was hopeful and cheerful.
/ saw your prosperous husbandmen turn
ing up the sod in your fertilefields. saw
the mechanic happy at his bench. The
frugal laborer was content with his wages
and his fare. Man cared nothing for the
light taxation assessed upon him under a
good government. Go where 1 might 7
saw the evidences of public and private
prosperity. Three years have passed
away. You have given up TO war one-half
the number of your young men capable OF
bearing arms. In your workshops and on
vour farms labor is no longer cheerful