The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-01
THE REPUBLICAN CIRCULAR.


We stated last week that the Republican
Circular, which has recently been published.
was issued by the National Committee, at their
meeting in Albany, in May, and that the New
York press is entirely at fault in dating it Au.
gust 10th. 1t is as follows
ALBANY, Nay %, 1859.
At meeting of the Republican National
Committee, this day, held in the city of Alba
ny, the Committee decided to address the fol.
lowing circular to their Republican friends
throughout the Union.
In the judgment of the undersigned, mem.
bers 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 sugges.
tons which follow
The Republican party had its origin in the
obvious necessity for resistance to the agrres.
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 sci.
ence of government, it laid the foundation of a
permanent political organization, although it
did not get possession of the power to enforce
its principles. When the result, adverse to its
efforts and its hopes, was declared, it unaffect,
eddy scquiesced, giving to the victor, for the
sake OF the country, its best wishes for an hon.
est and fair administration of the Government
How far Mr.. Buehanans Administration has
realized these wishes, is now patent 10 the
world With the Executive power of the Gov
eminent in his hands, his Administration has
failed in every respect, to meet the expecta.
tons of the people, and has presented the most
humiliating spectacle of corruption, extraya-
gance, imbecility, recklessness, and broken
faith. So apparent is this, even to our oppo-
nents, that the so-called Democratic organiza-
ton, always distinguished for its discipline and
party fidelity, is utterly demoralized and dis
tracted, without any recognised or accepted
party principles, and threatened with dsrup-
ton by the rival aspirations aud struggles Of
its leading partisans.
While the Administration has been thus faith
less to the interests of the country, and has
thus disorganized the party which placed it in
power, the Republican party has been con
stantly mindful of the great public necessity
which called 1t into existence, and faithful to
the fundamental principles upon which il
was erected. Experience has only served 10
strengthen the conviction Of its absolute neces-
sity in the reformation of the National Govern
ment, and of the wisdom and Justice of its pur.
poses and aims. Although some of the exciting
incidents of the election of 1856 have been
partially disposed of by the energy, enterprise,
and valor of a free people, the duty of Repub-
licans to adhere to their principles, as enunci-
ated at Philadelphia, and to labor for their es-
adjustment, was never more pressing than at
this moment. The attitude of the Slave Power
is persistently insolent and aggressive. 1t de
mands of the country much more than At has
demanded hitherto. 1t is not content with the
absolute control of the National Government
not content with the dispensation of the honors
and emoluments of the National Administra-
tion--not content with its wellknown infu-
ence, always pernicious, over the Legislature
at the National Capitol, but it demands fresh
concessions from a free people, for the purpose
of extending and Strengthening an institution
local in its character, the creature of State
which the Federal Government IS
not authorized to establish or extend by any
grant of delegated power. 1t demands, by an
unauthorized assumption Of power, after hay
ing, as occasion required, adopted and repud
ated all the crude theories, for the extension Of
Slavery, of the ambitious politicians who sought
its favor, tie establishment and protection Of
Stdre1y IN the Territories by act Of Congress,
and the TeviDdl Of the african STARE trade
Upon no organization, except that of the
Republican party, can the country rely for sue
cessful resistance to these monstrous PROPOSE
tons, and for the correction Of the gross abuses
which have characterized the present National
Administration. 1t is the duty, then, of all
patriotic men who wish for the establishment
of republican principles or measures in the ad-
ministration OF the National Government to
aid in perfecting and strengthening this organ
ization for the coming struggle. There IS
much to be done, involving earnest labor and
the expenditure of time and money. There
should be:
l. A thorough understanding and inter
change of sentiments and views between the
Republicans of every section of the country.
z. An effective organization of the Repubh-
can voters of each State, county, and town, so
that eur party may know its strength and its
deficiencies, its power and its needs, before we
engage in the Presidential struggle.
3. The circulation of wellconsidered docu-
ments, making clear the position of the Repub-
hcan party, and exposing the dangerous char
actsr of the principles and policy Of the oppo-
site organization.
4. Public addresses, in localities where they
are desired and needed, by able champions Of
the Republican cause.
5. A large and general increase Of the circu-
lation of Republican journals throughout the
country.
To give practical effect to these suggestions,
an adequate amount of money will be required,
for the legal and faithful expenditure of which
the undersigned will hold themselves responsi-
BILE. The vast patronage of the National Gov
eminent will be welded against us, to which
we can oppose nothing but earnest and efficient