, 1860-12-28
TIE DUTY OF THE HOUR.

The taunts Of the Eecesslon1stS in the
North, reiterated every day in the newspa-
perpress, that the Republican party, though
successful in November, is already shatter-
cd TO pieces by the unlocked for conse-
qienccs Of its great triumph, arc prema-
turcly cxul:ant. The party remains intact
as vigorous, as strong and as confident
as on the day that i: routed the opposition
u: the POLLS; but new events hare given
new direction to its efforts, and it now ap-
pRals to atl men i'll the nation who syrmpa-
tllize with its avowed purpose 10 save tile
Constitution and the Union Of the States
Il; all hazards. In the greater question
How shall .Ac Republic, one and indivisi-
bic, lie rerpetuated: : the minor matters
that entered into the canvass arc forgotten;
and for the time, until that question is set
tlcl, old party differences and distinctions,
watci.-words, rallyins cries, leaders and
1ayo:ites are made subordinate to the great
and patriotic purpose which a cast nulor-
i;y of the people Of the North are deter
mined to accomplish. The perils which
HI round the Republic call for sacrifices q,
all partisan feeling, The uprooting Of par
1isan hates, tile consolidating in a compact
mass ri all men Of Ill parties to whom the
Constitution, the Cn;oa and the supremacy
OF the laws arc Of more vital consequence
linn tie qualification Of political spite, the
Indulgence Ct bosstfulncsss, or tie reward
OF small ambition. The times demand
that we cease asking, For whom did thi:
mnn vote: what policy did he support
with what party did he consort. and thai
the new test Of patriotism and Of duty-1s
be for the Constitution and the Union
:gai,s: aiI enemies, at all times and in tllt
face Of ail possible consequences? should
be applied. 3lcn, even in tho free States
llaTe differed, no couht honestly, in regard
to;.e effect Of Slavery upon The prosperity
and security Of the nation, in regard 10 the
NECESSITY Of restricting it to the territory
which it now occupies, and in regard 70 I'll.
means hest adapted TO make that restric
lion effective; hut rs the greater contains
the less, this question, Union or Disunion
now addressed to all parties and all men
contains Ri others about which the pc >plt
have .:cbrted and upon which they havt
divided; and he who sists in tie adjust
ment Of that, in j way eonsonant with tit
dignity Of the Republic The rights O
majorities md the punishment OF the trait
ors, shall have no cause Of quarrel with us
We rise from advocacy Of Rrpub1icanisn
in It's restricted and partisan meaning, t
an earnest defence Of Rcpublicanisln in III
universal significance, as system Of gov
s:rnmcnt, be defended and maintained
though the cost may be years Of war ant
torrents Of blood! IL that defence, we in
yitc, unquestiouably with tile concu1renc
ot all the par'T to which VIC belong, til
cooperation Of every American patrio,
no m2:ter with what organization he ma,
have acted, We ask Of him as good cit
zen aud as lover Of that law and ordel
without which there can he no GOV
crnmcnt, Jealous support of the con
sti1uted authorities Of The land; ana whel
treason is put down and punished, and Il,
guarantys Of Freedom and Democracy az
rc-cstablished, then, II ever, will be I'll
time aad opportunity to renew tic mcr
partisan strifcs which We now put out {
sight The question Of tie lour is, Eha]
the lnlon he preserved? and tho duty {
every lover Of his t,ountrv md his kind