The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-17
The Change I'm the object of the War.

which Mr.. LINCOLN authorized Mr.. SEWARD
to extend to them, it becomes interesting
to note how far events have changed the
object of the war. Four years ago the
North, through Congress, solemnly and
unanimously declared that it possessed no
power, either in war or in peace, to legis-
late upon or in any manner to interfere
with slavery in the States. The following
resolutions passed the United States House
of Representatives, February 18th, 1861,
by nearly unanimous vote:
Resolved, That neither the Federal Govern
ment nor the people or governments of the
hOn-slavehOlding States have purpose or q
constitutional right to legislate upon or inter-
fere with slavery in any of the States of the
Union.
Resolced, That those persons in the North
who do not subscribe to the foregoing PROPOSE
ton are too Insignificant in number and infu-
ence to excite the serious attention or alarm of
any portion of the people of the Republic and
that the increase of their numbers and influence
does not keep pace with the increase Of the
aggregate population.
At the extra session Of 1861, after the
battle of Bull Run, Mr.. CR11rzSDEN in
PRODUCED the following resolution. With
two exceptions, every member of the
House voted for it.: ri..
Resolved, That this wat is not waged on the
part OF Congress in any spirit Of oppression or
for any purpose of conquest or subjugati0n,
or purpose Of overthrowing or interfering with
the rights or established institutions Of the
to- A$vSoA 10
Government, but to defend and maintain the
supremacy Of the Constitution, and to preserve
the Union, with all the dignity, equality and
rights Of the several States unimpaired; and
that 90 soon IS these objects are accomplished
the war ought to cease.
Such was the original object of the wal,
as declared by the most competent author
ity on the subject. Now the President
declares that we shall have no peace until
slavery is abandoned by all the States; in
other words, that the government is to
prosecute the war to accomplish that
which, since the war, itself has repeatedly
declared that it has no power to accom-
plish.
The North is now fighting really to de-
stroy slavery. Its success in this quest
might possibly emancipate the blacks, but
it would enslave the Southern whites, as it
would also involve the destruction of one
of the cardinal principles upon which the
Union was founded. The war can never
end upon either the Northern or South
ern uAimatum, as that is now presented.
A platform between the respective de-
mands of the sections must be found, if
peace is ever to be obtained The South
must forego its independence in order to
the preservation intact of the Union. The
North must forego its project of subjugat-
ing or Northernizing the South, and be
guided instead by the principles of the
Constitution. We believe vast majority
of the people, both loyal and rebel, are
eager for peace on this foundation. Mel
ther the loyal nor the rebel government
permits, by its present attitude, the ex-
preston of that eagerness. We do not
doubt but that formal abandonment by
our administration of its avowed purpose
to destroy slavery, and the rights of
the Southern States and people, would
farce the rebel government into terms of
peace. 1t is hard to predict from which
side will first come the signal of wiling
ness to close the war on the simple basis
Of the Union and the Constitution. But
it is certain that until such signal is given,
there can be no cessation of the conflict,
and equally certain that when the people
of either section have an opportunity to
pronounce for peace on the terms we have
suggested, they will do 80 overwhelmingly.
Universal freedom to the blacks, absolute
mastery of the lands, property and people
of the South are attractive ideas to the
unthinking mind, but they grow less Sc
ductive as the cruel and wasting war
lengthens without any approximation to
realization of the abolition dream.
Administration Attorneys Fees.
II aDDears from an official renorf of tho