The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-14


grand celebration on the Fourth. Among
the speeches was one from Hon. s. J.
TnDEN, from which we make the follow
ing extract. s-aaE. g..
We have been reminded BY our distinguish.
ed grand sachem that the honored individual
whom to-day, in the Providence of God, ia
called upon to administer the affairs Of our
government, was an inmate of this hall, par.
hcipeted in these expressions Of opinion, in
these declarations of principles that belong as
much to him as to you, and of which, may
say, that they have always belonged to Us, !
hail that allusi0n so auspicious of hopes that
we may cherish the administration of Andrew
johnson. Cheers Without being preten:
tiOus or giving confidence rashly, and may
venture in your name, in the name of the
Democratic party, and in the name of the whole
Union, if my feeble voice could reach that emf
nent parsonage, to say to you that he may
safely rely, so long as he walks in the light of
the principles of Thomas Jefferson, so long IS
he followed the practice and example of An
drew jackson, he may trust with undertaking
confidence upon the strong arms and stout
hearts of the democracy of this country. LGreat
cheering. Your Grand Sachem says, and he
always speaks by authority, that may pledge
Tammany Hall to that declaration.
An interesting letter was read from
Hon. JOHN VAN BUREN. We give the
concluding portion:
The President of the United States has laid
down the only true, wise and constitutional
policy, . policy based upon the principles
which lie at the foundation of our government
any which rejects with equal scorn the suicidal
heresy of secession and destructive theory of
consolidation: The loyal people of the several
States heretofore in rebellion have Lost by the
war such property as they may have had in
slaves. They would be wise to put this ques-
tion out of the range Of future discussion by
ratifying the proposed amendment OF the Con-
stitution upon this last act. But beyond this
they have forfeited no rights. They have un.
dergone sufferings almost unparalleled without
fault on their part. They are entitled to form
q State Government, and to have their sena-
tors and representatives admitted to Congress
upon precisely the same terms as those States
which have not seeded. II Is for them ex-
clusively to Judge who beside themselves shall
vote at their elections. The privilege of vot-
ing is conceded by State to such persons a. 1t
chooses. Whether women, minors, aliens, In
dams, Of whom are, or may become, citizens,
shall be allowed to vote, Is, under our United
States Constitution, wisely left to the decision
of each State, as best informed, to those in
tereeted in its present disposition. The several
States in rebellion will reorganize under the
proclamations Of the President. They will
continue, as they have never ceased to
be, States of the Union. It may be that the
next Congress will refuse to admit their sem
ators and representatives to the seats to which
they will be entitled, and thus delay, while
they cannot defeat, their admission. But this
will not prevent their being organized, power
full and prosperous States, nor diminish the
satisfaction with which they will be welcomed
to the enjoyment of their full rights, SO soon as
the constituencies of the members who perpe-
trated this outrage can drive them from their
places. To promote such q restoration Of the
Union and to re establish the true constitu-
tional doctrines of our government, shall
give the administration of President johnson a
cordial support. He was no party to the med
ding with State institutions and property, that
provoked, though it did not excuse, the rebel
lion. He will be no party to the invasion of
State rights and the perversion of State policy
which would keep alive the fires Of civil war.
and swallow up the States in concentrated
national desp0iism. / believe him to be an
honest, Intelligent, thorough Democrat; as
such he knows that the Democratic theory OF
the Constl xtion is the eniy one that will pre-.
serve it,<Aad that the true defenders of the
eountry's honor abroad and safety at home, In
war and in peace. can only be found in thai
great, powerful and patriotic party which has
administered the government with such sue.
cess through far the longest and most honor.
able portion Of our career.
With kind regards to you personally, and
bes. wishes for the prosperity of the society,
am truly yoars. J. VAN BUREN,.
EdoehiI JrlV L