Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-08-26
CIRCULAR FROM THE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE.


to their Republican friends throughout the
Union:
"In the judgment Of the undersigned mem
bors of the Republican National Committee,
the time has arrived for consultation and pre-
liminary action in regard to the approaching
struggle for the Presidency, and they beg,
therefore, to call your attention to the sug-
gostions which follow:
The Republican party had its origin in the
obvious necessity for resistance to the aggros-
sions of the slave power, and maintaining for
the States, respectively, their reserved rights
and sovereignties. In the contest of 1856,
by the presentation and advocacy Of the true
science of government. it laid the foundation
of permanent political organization, al
though it did not get possession of the power
to enforce its principles. When the result,
adverse to its hopes, was declared 1t unaf-
ioctodly acquiosccd, giving to the victor. for
the sake Of the country its best wishes for
an honest and fair administration Of the gov
eminent. How far Mr. Buchanans admins
tration realized these wishes is now patent to
the world. With the executive power Of the
government in his hands, his administration
has failed, in every respect, to meet the cXpec-
tations Of the people and has presented the
most humiliating spectacle Of corruption, OK
travagance, imbeciity, recklcssncss and brok-
en- faith
So apparent is this even to our opponents,
that the so-callcd Democratic organization.
always distinguished for its discipline and
party fidelity, is utterly demoralized and dis
tractod, without any recognized or accepted
party principle, and threatened with disrup-
ton by the rival aspirations and struggles of
its leading partisaus.
While the Administration has been thus
iaithless to the interests of the country, and
has thus dsorganized the party which placed
/ it in power, the Republican party has been
/ constantly mindful Of the great public neces-
/ sity which called it into existence, and faith
full to the fundamental principle upon which
it was erected. Experience has only served
to strengthen the conviction of its absolute
necessity in the reformation of the National
Government, and on the wisdom and justice
of its purposes and aims.
Although some Of the exciting incidents
of the election of 1856 have been partially
disposed of by the energy, enterprise and
vaor of free people, the duty of Repubi-
cans to adhere to their principles as enunci-
ated at Philadelphia, and to labor for their
establishment, was mover more pressing than
at this moment.
and aggressive; it demands of the country
much more than it has demanded hitherto. It
is not content with the absolute control of
the national government, not content with
the dispcnsaton of the honors of the national
administration, not content with its we'll
known influence, always pcrnicious, over the
legislation at the national capital, but it de-
mands fresh concessions from a free people
for the purpose of extending and strengthen
ing an institution local in its character. the
creature of State legislation, which the federal
government is not authorized to extend by
any grant of delegated powers. 1t demands,
by an unauthorized assumption of power,
{ after having, as occasion required, adopted
and repudiated all the crude theories for the
extension of slavery in the Territories, by an
act of Congress, the revival of the African
slave trade.
, Upon no organization except that of tn,
f Republican party can the country rely fo
successful resistance to these monstrous prop
ositions for the correction of the gross abuses
e which have characterized the present Admin
e istration. The duty, then, Of all patriotic mol
who wish for the establishment Of Republi
a can principles and measures in the admins
/ tration of the national government is to aid il
q pcrfecting and strengthening this organization
% for the coming struggle.
@ There is much to be done, involving carncs
. labor. and the expenditure of time and money
t There should be,
s. lst-A thorough understanding and inter
change of sentiments and views between tn
C Republicans Of every section Of the country
Z 2d-An effective organization of the Re
;. publican voters Of each State, county an
h town, SO that our party may know its strengt
y and Deficiencies, its power and it's needs, be
= fore we engage in the Presidential struggle
d 3d-Thc circulation Of well considered doc
n umcnts, making clear the position Of the Re
j. publican party, and exposing the dangerou
l. character of the principles and policy Of tn
IT Administration.
j. lth-Pubic addresses in localities wher
e they are desired and needed, by able chan
# pions of the Republican cause.
i 5th-A large and general increase of III
is circulation of Republican journals throughol
the country.
To give practical effect to these suggei
-- tons, an adequate amount of money will
le required, for the legal and faithful oxpend
Of ture of which the undersigned will hold then
ct selves responsible.
Ia The vast patronage of the Federal Cover
d ment will be weighed against us, to whiC
to we can oppose nothing out earnest ana ell
Gent devotion to the Republican cause, an
is the voluntary pecuniary offerings of our r.
We publican friends.
of In conclusion, the undersigned may be pc
he mitted to express their opinion that the sigi
a of the times are auspicous for the Republ
c. can party and that, in their Judgment, di
n Greet and patriotic action throughout the COZ
IL federacy, promises to secure Republican yi
ty tory in 1860
k. Unwilling, however, to encourage hope
ns which may be disappointed, and to place the
al appeal for aid and cooperation upon the a
IL surances of success that is approaching, Il
&C undersigned are constrained to say that the
to rely most confidently on the patriotism an
zeal of their Republican brethren for sue
&c aid and cooperation.
de Meanwhile, we have the honor to be, vel
on respectfully, your obedient servants.
n. d. MORGAN N. Y, q. \. SCHooLFIELn, Ten
WIN NJ. CHASE, X. l., THOMAS SfOONER Obi,
JOS. BAuILEfr Me-, NORMAN Il. JUDD H.,
On GEO, q. Fo0o, y. H., JAS. RWCWE, Ind,
J. g. GoOpRIcH Mass, ZACH CHANDLER Mich
&c L. bhAlhAkh, VI, AND. j. STEREUs Iowa.
a. HlpLoN WELLS, Conn, JNO. n. lwREnY, Wis,
- !. n. SHERMAN, \ j., CoHNHLGus CotE, Gala,
ks IHos. WILLIAMS, Pa, NJ. i, CONWAY, kansas.
II. ID. WILLIAMS. Del, LEWIS CLEPHAgE. ID. O.