The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-08-18

their recreancy does not excuse the body OF
the Republicans. Nor do know that now.
since the collapse of the rebellion, they are 80
anxious to be excused: 1only write the facts
When this result was announced. universal
gloom prevailed. The people favored this
compromise. Petitions by thousands of citi-
zenu were showered upon Congress for its pas.
sage. Had it received a majority only. thew
would have rallied and sustained those who
desired peace and union.
One more earnest appeal was made to the
Republicans. Gen. Cameron answered it by
moving 4 reconsideration. His motion came |
mn on the 18th, when he voted against HE own
motion. 1t was carried, however, over the
votes of the Republicans, although Wigfan
voted with them. When it was again up, on
the I'd of March, 1861, the Southern states
were nearly all gone; even then u was l0st Sy
one vote only. But on that occasion an tne
Democrats were for, and al tne mp t%;mm hnt
sneers and scepticism from the kepupncans
at any settlement. They broke down every
proposition. They took the elements OF con.
Citation out OF the Peace Convention before II
assembled. Senators Harris and Chandler
were especially active In preparing that Con
gress for a failure. If every Southern man
and every Northern Democrat had voted Ior
this proposition, it would have required some
nine Republicans for the requisite two thirds.
Where we're they2 Dreaming with Mr.. Sew
ard OF sixty days struggle, or arranging for
the division of the patronage of the Admins
tratton. The only Southern Senators who
seemed against any settlement were Iverson
and Wigfan: that no man will challenge If he
will refer to the Globe Cst part, thirty-ffth
Congress, p. 27W for the testimony Of Douglas
speech, September 18th, 1868. The latter
knew it to be true when he said that
When the struggle was at its height In
Georgia between Robert Toombs for secession
and A. n. Stephens against 1t, had those men
in the Committee Of Thirteen, who are now 80
blameless in their own estimation, given Of
their votes, or even three of them, Stephens
would have been prostrated. heard Mr.
Toombs say to Mr.. Douglas that the result IN
Georgia was staked on the action of the Com
mittee of Thirteen. If it accepted the Critten
den proposition, Stephens would defeat him
If not, he would carry the State out by 40, 00(
majority. The three votes from the Repub
lican side would have carried it any time; but
Union and peace in the balance against the
Chicago platform were sure to be found want
Ing" :.
If other testimony were wanting, / would
ask suspension of Judgment until those facts
better known to Southern men, transpire
The intercourse about to be re.established b.
tween the 6ocOOnS Will accumulate the proof
It will Also bring to the light many facts show
ing that, while President Buchanan was work
| ing for the Peace Conference, while Virgini,
had been gained to our side with her ables
men, there were even then In that Cabine
those who not only encouraged revolt, bu
fOiled by letter and speech the efforts Of tn
Unionists at Washington and Richmond.
Those who sought to counteract the scheme
of secession were themselves checkmated b.
men now in authority. These letters and act
are referred to in the recent speech of Genera
Blair. They will be and Ghould be brough
into the sunshine, If only to indicate the tru
Union men of that dark hour, and to condemn
these who have since made 90 much pretensiol
with 80 much zealotry, coupled with unex
ampled cruelty and tyranny.
Whether, therefore, You consult the pnbli
record, or 60 beyond its vail and consult thos
who knew the elements at work in the com
mittees and In social life, one leading fact al
ways stands stark and bold before you; that
with the all OF handful Of secessionists per sc
the whole body of the Republicans were, a
President johnson described Senator Clark
when he defeated the Crittenden resolution b,
his amendment, acting out their policy" Il
the light of subsequent events, that policy wa
developed; it was the destruction of slavery a
the peril of war and disunion or, ast Senator
Douglas expressed it, ga disruption Of the I'm
ion, believing it would draw after it, as an in
evitable consequence, civil war, servile insur
rections, and finally the utter determination OF
slavery in all the Southern States"