The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-12 00:00:00

MR. SEWARD AT HOME.

The following letter from Secretary Seward on
the "Factions and the Rebellion" was published
in the New York papers:—
" Department of State, Washington, Aug. 19.
" Dear Sir,—l have had the honour of receiving your
letter of the 14th inst., together with the three papers to
which it refers, two of them being appeals written by your-
self, and addressed by the Democratic State Central Com-
mittee to the Democrats and all other friends of the con-
stitution in Pennsylvania,' and the other being a call for a
mass meeting of the citizens of Philadelphia, the objects of
which meeting will be to express a firm purpose to stand
by the maintenance of the national constitution with devo-
tion to the American Union,' and, further, 'to declare hos-
tility to the policy and measures of all who seek to prosti-
tute the country to the purposes of Abolitionism, and for-
mally to express the intention of the Democratic party to do
as it has always hitherto done—namely, to support the
Federal Government in the exercise of its constitutional
power, and to defend it. at whatever peril, against the
insidious and treasonable teachings of Abolitionists.' You
tell me that some influential journals connected by political
friends of mine censure one of these papers as treason-
able, and the others are convinced in the same spirit with
the one which is so harshly judged. You desire me to
read them and weigh them for myself. You further inti-
mate a hope that the perusal of the papers will have the
Jffect of producing exertions on my part to induce the Presi-
dent to tavour a policy to put down the demon of Abolition-
ism. I have read the document thus submitted to me with
a high respect for the authority by which they were issued,
and with a full confidence in the sincerity of the devotion to
the Union which, as their author, you have avowed. You
will allow me to say that this nation is now engaged, notin
a political canvas tetween opposing parties about questions
of civil administration, but in a civil war, carried on by
opposing armies on an issue of national life or death. If
the resolution prevail, there will be no questions of ad-
ministration left to settle. If it fail, there will be
time enough to settle all such questions. lam not to dic-
tate a course for others to pursue in this crisis. But I
must say for myself that neither as a public officer, nor as
a citizen, can I know with favour or disfavour parties
among the supporters of the United States any more
than I can make a distinction between factions which
unite in aiding the rebellion. A nation, like an indivi-
dual, can do only one thing effectually at one time. It
cannot wisely turn aside from the chase of the fearful
demon of disunion to pursue an inferior demon, whether
imaginary or real. I think that the wrangles which occurred
among the Crusaders about their respective creeds, when
they sat down to the siege of Jerusalem, were just as ra-
tional and just as wise as disputes about Abolition would
now be in the army of the Potomac in front of Richmond.
What is unwise in the camp at such a moment cannot be
wise in the Cabinet or in the assemblies of the people. YI
am occupied here either in mediating between differing
parties and jealous sects or else in watching and counteract-
' jog the intrigues of traitors in Europe. But I sometimes
think that if, instead of being charged with these duties, I
were at liberty, as you seem to be, to serve the country in
my own way, I could make an appeal to Democrats and Re.
publicans, Abolitionists and slaveholders, in behalf of our
distracted country that would bring the whole people at
once under arms, and send treason reeling back into the
den of darkness whence it sprung. Ido not know how this
• would be, but Ido know that if I were in your place
should try.
" I am very respectfully your obedient servant,
" WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
" To Mr. F. W. Hughes, Headquarters of the
Democratic State Central Committee of
7
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia."