Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-09-09
Attention !:

We invite the thoughtful, candid attentio
l of all our readers, Republican and Democrati
, to the following circular of the Republica
National Committee The unusual characte
OF the men who compose that Committee wi
attract attention. They are not profession.
politicians, but grave body of prominen
business men, such as, in these latter DAYS
have not often been found in political com
mltteeS. Edwin ID. Morgan, one of the fore
most merchants Of New York, well known t
many OF our citizens, and connected with som
OF them IN business relations, heads the list
He is man marked among all the busines
circles of the Union for his high standard o
business morals, his unbending integrity ant
strict truthfulncss. His word is as good q
wheat all over the country. Mr. Morgan is nov
Governor of New York. The other member.
of the Committee are men of character anc
influence. Let our business men read ane
weigh this document:
ALBANY, May 25th, 1859.
| At meeting of the Republican National
Committee, this day, held in the city o.
Albany, the Committee decided to address the
following 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
suggestions which follow:
The Republican party had its origin in the
obvious necessity for resistance to the
agggressions of the slave power, and maintain
ing 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 found
alton of permanent political organization,
although it did not get possession of the power
to enforce its principles. When the result,
adverse to its efforts and it's hopes, was
declared, it unaifectedly acquiesced, giving to
the victor, for the sake of the country, its best
wishes for an honest and fair administration
Of the government. How far Mr.. Buchanan's
Administration has 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 expectations Of the people, and has
presented the most humiliating spectacle of
corruption, extravaganza, imbecility, reckless
ness and broken faith. So apparent is this,
even to our opponents, that the so-called
Democratic organization, always distinguished
for its discipline and party fidelity, is utterly
demoralized and distracted, without any
recognized or accepted party principles, and
threatened with disruption by the rival aspi-
rations and struggles Of its leading partizans.
While the Administration has been thus
laithless to the interests of the country, and
has thus disorganized 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 faithful
to the fundamental principles 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 of the wisdom and Justice of
its purposes and aims. Although some Of the
exciting incidents of the el> ction of 1856 have
been partially disposed Of 10y the energy,
enterprise and valor OF free people, the duty
of Republicans to adhere to their principles,
as enuncated at Philadelphia, and to labor for
their establishment, was never more pressing
than at this moment. The attitude of the slave
power is persistently insolent and aggressive.
1t demands of the country much more than it
has demanded hitherto. 1t is not content
with the absolute control of the national gov
ernment-not content with the dispensatien
Of the honors and emoluments of the national
admlnlstratlon-not content with its we'll
known influence, always perncious, over the
legislature at the national capital, but it
demands fresh concessions from free people,
for the purpose Of extending and strengthen
ing an institution local in it's character, the
creature of State legislation, 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 having, as occasion required,
adopted and repudiated all the crude theories
for the extension of slavery, of the ambitious
politicians who sought its favor, the establish
ment and protection of slarery in the Terri
tories by act Of Congress, and the repival Of
The A ACrican slare trade!
Upon no organization, except that of the
Republican party, can the country rely for
successful resistance to these monstrous prop
ositions, 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 estab-
liShment of Republican principles or measures
in the administration of the national govern
ment, to aid in perfecting and Strengthening
this organization 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;
2. An effective organization of the Repub-
lican voters Of each State, county and town,
so that our party may know its strength and
it's deficiencies, its power and its needs, before
we engage in the Presidential struggle;
3. The circulation Of well considered docu-
ments, making clear the position of the
Republican party, and exposing the dangerous
character of the principles and policy of the
opposite 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 cir
culation 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 respon-
sible. The vast patronage Of the national
government will be welded against US, to
which we can oppose nothing but earnest and
efficient devotion to the Republican cause, and
the voluntary pecuniary offerings of our
Republican friends.
In conclusion, the undersigned may be
permitted to express the opinion that the signs
of the times are auspicious for the Republican
party, and that, in their judgment, discreet
and patriotic action throughout the confeder-
acy promises to secure Republican victory
in 1860. Unwilling, however, to encourage
hopes which may be disappointed, and to
place their appeal for aid and cooperation
upon the assurance of success in the contest
that is approaching, the undersigned are con-
strained to say that they rely more confidently
upon the patriotism and zeal of their Repub-
lican brethren for such aid and cooperation.
Meanwhile, we have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, your ob't serv'ts,
New York-Edwin D. Morgan, Chairman, Albany,
Rhode Island-Wm Al Chaca Secty PrOyidence