Editor’s note: It is a well known fact that slavery was supported by the Democratic Party, and was opposed by the Republicans. The Party of Lincoln, the Republicans, were responsible for freeing slaves in 1863. About 100 years later the parties switched sides when a bunch of southern Democrats, called Dixiecrats, got their pubes all twisted up over the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the parties basically switched sides (today’s right-wingers conveniently forget this fact). The St. Cloud Democrat was actually a Republican newspaper that used the word Democrat ironically.
This is also the first time I have ever seen in these old newspapers any reference to Jane G. Swisshelm, who ran several newspapers in St. Cloud and the surrounding area, including The St. Cloud Visitor and the St. Cloud Democrat. Her abolitionist stance ran afoul of Sylvanus Lowry, a slave owner and the Mayor of St. Cloud. He and his asshole buddies threw her printing press into the Mississippi River in 1862. And the story below was not the first time she had a fire set in her press room. There’s a plaque in her honor on the river path at St. Cloud State University, near Eastman Hall.
Now, on to the history stuff…
DEMOCRACY “AS IT IS.”
The following paragraph from an editorial in the Lafayette (Cal.) Democratic Sentinel show where the Democratic heart lies, and who would be the the (sic) lead of the party bur for the unkindly walls “that doth grossly close him in:”
Mr. Davis is one of the ablest advocates of liberty and the rights of man in America, as well as one of the boldest, and, therefore, is dreaded and hated by the pigmies and cowards of Abolitionism with a degree of nervousness and malignity bordering upon frenzy and madness. The wretches would rather take his life ten times over than the life of Booth, if the latter were living, but they dare not do it! This is our opinion, and we give it gratuitously. (SCD editor breaks in. Much as I’m doing now. -ed.) — Howl, ye Blood-hounds of Zion, HOWL!
Pretty good, that. Indeed it is almost strong enough for Stearns County politicians.
This Democratic editor then gives his party’s idea of President Lincoln, which is to this effect:
The life of a public journal, since the inauguration of A. Lincoln to the Presidency in 1861, to a period reaching within a few months of the present time, depended for its continuance, not so much on the patronage and pecuniary aid it received, is upon the suffrage or will of that tyrant and usurper. * * * Never was power so much abused since God made man. Neither the laws of the country nor the dictates of humanity had any restraint upon the actions of Lincoln. He took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, but he violated every provision and feature of the sacred instrument without scruples of compunction. The reign of no tyrant preceding him is characterized by an amount of corruption, fraud and crime equal to his.
THE CIVIL RIGHT BILL A LAW.
Passed Over the President’s Veto.
Washington, April 6.
The Senate has passed the Civil Rights Bill over the President’s veto by a vote of 33 yeas to 15 nays.
House of Representatives, April 9.
The vote was taken this afternoon as to whether the Civil Rights Bill should pass over the veto of the President, and the bill was sustained by yeas 122 to nays 42. The Speaker then declared that the bill had become a law, when tremendous, long-continued and deafening applause was given, which was followed by hisses amid which the House adjourned.
In neither instance is the names given.
President Johnson has issued a proclamation, under date of April 2d, making an official declaration of peace, withdrawing martial law, restoring the writ of habeas corpus, and declaring the States lately in rebellion to be in the Union.
ATTEMPT TO BURN THE OFFICE OF THE “RECONSTRUCTIONIST.”
From the Washington Chronicle.
On Saturday last, about 11 o’clock, an attempt was made by some scoundrel to set fire to the office of the Reconstructionist, which is situated on Tenth street, between N and O. At the hour named a colored girl in the employ of Mrs. Swisshelm chanced to open the door of the press room, and discovered a flame which appeared to have just burst forth. She had the presence of mind to run immediately and get a couple of buckets of water, which fortunately were at hand, and succeeded in extinguishing the fire before it had made any progress. One of the windows was found half open, and it is supposed that the incendiary made his exit through it at the moment when the door was opened. On examination it was found that a quantity of paper saturated with kerosene oil had been placed in readiness for igniting, and there was also a considerable quantity of this inflammable liquid poured upon the floor in different places. Had the scoundrel who made this fiendish attempt had time to complete his preparations, the building must have been destroyed, and, as the upper portion of it was occupied by Mrs. Swisshelm and several other ladies, employees a the office, and other, whose chance of escape would have been very slight, had the fire got fully started, the crime of murder would in that case almost certainly have been added to the crime of arson.
MRS. SWISSHELM DISCONTINUES THE RECONSTRUCTIONIST.
To the Editor of the N.Y. Tribune.
Sir—Please add to the debt I already owe you be permitting me to say through your columns that my paper—The Reconstructionist—is discontinued for the present. Opposing the Administration of employing female compositors has heaped the way with difficulties almost insurmountable, and which have quite worn out my strength; but last night a deliberate attempt was made to fire the office. Coal oil was feely paired over the pressroom, and a fire lighted under the press. A servant, up later than usual, discovered and extinguished the flame before any injury was done, but the press-room is in the basement of my dwelling. There are three high stories above with a center stairway — the only egress from the changers. Up this passage the flame and smoke from a fire below would rush, as up a chimney flue, cutting off all means of escape for the person there asleep at the time. The house is one of a block, all occupied; and in the only one divided from it by a thin wall several small children sleep, on the fourth story. An enemy so reckless is not one to be defied. What I may do in the future cannot now be decided upon, but, for the present, I ask a suspension of hostilities.
Jane G. Swisshelm
Washington, March 15, 1866
LOCAL NEWS
The prospect is not very good for an abundant supply of maple syrup and sugar this season.
The Ft. Ripley mail, coming down, was brought across the upper levee, in a boat.
On Monday night the ground was whitened with freshly-fallen show, which passed away the next morning. It might be recorded as “the last of the season.”
An effort will soon be made to have the east side of Washington avenue and the north side of St. Germain street side-walked.
ICE OUT.—The ice has passed out of Sauk River, leaving that stream clear. It was with much difficulty that the bridge at Sims & Arnold’s mills, at the mouth of the river, was saved.
SAUK RIVER BRIDGE.—We were informed yesterday evening that the ice had carried away the two middle “benches” of the Sauk River bridge, near Mr. C. Wait’s.—This is a very unfortunate bridge, and it would be something remarkable if it should remain. Sauk River is said to be higher than has been known for a number of years.
COLD BATH.—On Tuesday morning as a man intending to take the Crow Wing stage was crossing the river at the upper levee, the ice gave way and as a consequence he went through. He found it a long ways to the bottom, further, indeed, than the extreme tips of his toes could reach, so he spread out his arms and supported himself on the ice until he could scramble from his damp, cool position.
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