The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-11-03

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cling an action AGAINST MS for libel. is based
upon the following language in our issue
of October "a:
we dismiss Donnelly and zhis best speech
doo Knows we haye.no desire 20 ory into his
prlvate aualrs, either social or necnniarv
Excu1o ~ Hom Disturbing that cesspool. Rnt
we uust t0r me honor and credit of the STATE
that we may hereafter send to Washington.
MOI o. mS sa, u M nlent at least some one who
nation without being under the pecsss; ~ wy ~
pleading his Congressional privilege to saye
himself from arrest. r.o ~,
It is insisted that the above sentenoa r.
an outrageous attack upon the private
character of IeNArIus, and as such action
able. We cannot see it in that light. If
the inuendo apply to DoNNnLY, so let
it, if the cap fits him let him wear il.
We shall not make the least objection.
But when asked to waive our right to
criticize the character, both public and
private, Of public men, that's quite another
question. We shall do No such thing.
We claim il as our right and our duty,
when q man comes before the people Of
this State, either asking to he heard in
favor Of certain measures, or for votes for
some official position, to scrutinize the
grounds upon which he bases bis request.
Nor have we any especial reference to
DoNNEILY in marking ont for ourselves this
general line Of action. If his characterize
such that it will not bear investigation, be
had better eschew politics, and retire to-
the undisturbsd repose Of his Nininger
mansion. Recognizing the high obliga-
tons imposed upon us as public Journal
ist we shall not be prevented, by the aspi-
rations of political adventures, from the s
faithful discharge Of duty, whether that
should lead us into an investigation Of
either the public, or private character of
public men. Nothing is more clearly
within the province of the public press.
While the public has no interest ia the
private vices and defects OF an individual,
it is quite another matter when that indi-
vidual becomes q candidate for q public c
trust. "The liberal Communication of
sentiment and entire freedom of discus
sion, in respect to the character and coma
duct of public men, and Of candidates for
public favor, is deemed essential to the
judicious exercise of the right Of suffrage,
and of that control over their rulers, which .
resides in the free people OF the United
States" These are the words of Chancel-
or KENT, and be never uttered q nobler
sentiment.
The Press with its usual hypocritical,
,uritanical cant, lifts it's hands in holy
horror at any allusions to private charac-
er, yetit has denounced Mr. RIoE in the
owest billingsgate, unfit to be repeated, I.
md "its diatribes on the character Of
Hon. Cyrus ALDR1oH, during his canvass .
or election to the United States Senate, all
viii remember. Does Dot the Press
xnow, has not every one heard it on the
Itreets, that IeHAT1us DoNsRLLY, in pass
ng through Philadelphia, was either ar-
,ested or threatened with arrest, for debt,
md does not every one know that he
,ould have pleaded bis Congressional pri-
7ilege If such had been the case2 We,
AN not deny that We have heard the ru-
nor; we have heard members Of his own
,arty speak Of it.; and there was no inn
of it's truth. The laws of
many Of the States are very strict against
descending debtors, and If . nonresident
n debt to the citizens of the State should
" found within its limits, 80 perverse is
he disposition of some men that they
night attempt to have q capias issued for
lis benefit. So far as zoe are concerned,
Ne still maintain that. for the credit of our
and business men, the honest
character of our farmers and mechanics,
Ind for the honor OF our State, we wish
md mean to have Representatives who can
sravel from home without even the risk Of
such disagreeable consequences
Nor viii it answer for IsNATIUs to in
Iorm Us that he is not candidate. Is he
'impleton enough to impose upon the peo-
pie that flimsy pretencea Does not every
one know that he opposed General MAR
ynA1L in the Republican Convention
That he was not then, and is not now the
friend of MARSHALL. Why this sudden
this glowing enthusiasm, this
devotion "to the Niger 2"
DorxrrLY has one friend in this Htste,
and only one, that we know Of warm,
confidential, bosom friend, with highest
admiration Of bis craftsmanship, bis learn
ng, bis dignifed bearing, and personal
beauty, and that only friend is IaHAr1Us
Tos.oLr DoNuRfrY Tho fart IL Tnu srvra