The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-04-07

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The Democrats Fight for the Oniohs
the Republicans for Parsy''A 'n*neo
OF Civil Policy Necessary 10 save the
Union and End the war.
The nreservation of the Union was the sole
avowed object for which the war was COM
menced. 1t should have been conducted ior
that object only, and in accordance with
those principles which took occasion to de-
clare when in active service.
Thus conducted, the work of reconciliation
would have been easy, and we might have
reaped the benefit of our many victories on
land and sea.
The Union was originally formed by the exer-
else of spirit of Cancellation and compromise.
To restore and preserve it the same spirit must
prevail in our councils, and in the hearts of the
people.-McC9euan's Letter of Acceptance.
Lincoln's policy is fixed: no peace until the
Southern States emancipate their slaves. That
will, and has already, determined the people
to struggle on, preferring destruction to sub
mission. We can possess their country, drive
and perhaps scatter their armies, and get o
quasi peace in those localities where we have
troops sufficient to overcome the people, and
only here.-Ertract from a private letter from
aH officer high in rank in Shernsan's army.
"Dulce ct decoruna pro patria mori"-
its sweet and honorable to die for ones
country, is sentiment to which every
American, whether Republican or Demo-
crat, has always yielded willing assent.
The Democratic party has always been a
war party, but particularly war party
whenever the honor or interest of the
country demands blood and sacrifice.
"Millions for defence but not one cent for
tribute" is the American motto. COnse-
quently, whether proper or improper, as
the sequel has developed the objects and
aims Of this var OF IN part of its partisan
conductors a,e Democracy were first to
spiing to arms when the country became
embroiled in war contrary to their advice,
and most strenuous efforts TO prevent it,
snd contrary to the counsels and wishes of
nineteen twentieths of the people Of the
United States outside of the Republican
party.
To induce them to take this step Adolf
tionism was compelled for the time being
to hide its cloven foot under the Crittenden
resolutions, to abdicate its partisan preten-
sions, and to sugar coat its revolutionary
programme with the thin veneering of
patriotism and the drapery of the Stars
and Stripes.
Like the old serpent which beguiled our
first parents, it approached us with brides
and promises which it never intended to
fulfil. We were to have "a restored
Union, " and the war was to be conducted
Gin no spirit of conquest or revenge, nor
for purposes of subjugation, but simply to
restore the Union with all the dignity,
equality and rights of the States unim-
paired ;" thus emphatically negativing the
idea that the blood and treasure of the
people were to be squandered in the inter-
est of party, or to engraft the sectional
dogmas of Abolitionism into the perma-
nent policies of the country, and prolong
and postpone the bloody tragedy of war
until these objects were accomplished.
In fact, Abolitionism was compelled to
sign the agreement in so many words en-
bodied in the Crittenden Resolution, that
"as SOON as the seeded States rere acW-
ina to submit to the authority of the IN
ion with all their rights, dignity and equal
ity unimpaired, the ,car ought to cease" +.
This ,cas the issue then. This ,cas the
war which the democracy and all patriotic
people were invited to wage "for the
life of the nation 4 war for the Union,
net a war for the abandonment of
slavery;" war to vindcste the constitu-
tion,-not a war 10 abrogate it and amend
and mould it to suit the Abolition party ;
war for "the integrity of the country"
not for the integrity of party.
But is this the war to-day to which we
were then invited? Is this the issue now
being tried by the bloody srbtrament of
the sword9
Il it for the Union under the Constitu-
ton the dignity, rights and equality of
the States; the integrity of the Govern
,nent and the loyal obedience of all its