New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-15
mAssACuUsRTTs DEMOCRACY.
A Patriotic and Eloquent Letter from the
Men. BENZ. y. Hailett.


SEPTEMBER II, 1861.
Col. C. G. GRREEE--My Dear Friend; The Demo
cratic State Convention to which you are delegate
will meet at Worcester on the lStb under judciOus
call of the State Committee, which l glad to see
unites all Democrats. But, shall not be present,
desire to suggest for the candid reflection of the dele
gates some which satisfy that it is the high
est duty end the best policy for the Convention to make
nomination for party candidates for the Fall cleo
ton. II ia not required that the party should be dis
banded or ils organization broken up but that It's &C.
ton, Us to party nominations should be suspended
until this "War" comes 70 an end; for there is no
possible practical question now but Var"
The South has gone beyond rebellion snd
personal treason, into organized Revolution,
aud Is wsging war against the United States
20 usurp and overthrow its Supreme Government IN
twelve States. The Government 10 carrying on war.
under the war-making power of the Constitution,
70 uphold and restore its constitutional supremacy all
ever tie Union. The simple issue il the overthrow
The support Of Government in this whole Unioni and
while that is the issue, sm not fr oppos ng or OBJ
sructing sny measure or policy OF the Administration
honestly designed 10 carry ON this war for its great
and viz: the resSta5ShaeRt Of the SupTtUle G0rern-
nenf Of The Union so al the STATES end 1eTr1tories
Until that done, it is fully demonstrated that
canuot be done by force Of arms belong to no party
bat the country. Add until one of these results
arrive "the Democratic party" 10 my judgment
has no higher present duty than TO uphold the Govern
uenf The mission Of that great historical party of
the Union IL not ended and never can be ended while
Republican Government exists, or the Union lie TO be
restored; but the people have placed the nag IN other
hands and now the mission OF Democracy is the old
one TO follow it TO victory Tau IS ne grand frGds-
soa Of the Democratic party o" the land on the 'eG,
5ollots the flag lehsrerer It E0Ues 81 support % he
Union. 49,
In this spirit the Democratic party did not hesitate
an instant after the FIRE on Sumter 10 commit Itself TO
sfNUT Al $50 a.. ID Ifa Cnn1
faith No victory has been can be achieved and no
defeat suffered but with the outpouring Of the best
blood Of Democrats. The Democratic party never was
and never can be, peace party in war nor war party
IN peace. When their country Is In peril, when their
country is at war; right or wrong, they are for their
eouotry aud aga nst its enemies. They Will lot
sun their eaok "P ssI a. "s. a. the con.
fici, endanger the field by party contest for the
eommaud.
Hence the only present question heinR shall push
the War for the Union sn other issues should give
way until we conquer pea in she Cnioni for we
must not now talk OF future or coDcesslon Ii IL man
fest that TO keep the Union together we must put
down the two only disturbing elements THAI have up
heayed this volcano Of civil war" Abolition and
See sion." But il is Secession that Il now in
arms againt the Union and that must be met and con-
Sueed with arms and after the bullets have done that
work with Secession the ballot Will put down Aooh-
tion. For the country by war or by reoonstruc
ton, escape now from permanent disruption OF the
Union after the bloody lesson they are learning the
people will never allow either OF tneso denoos OF ds-
cord again to stir mp strife into civil war Ii will then
So the lime for Democrats TO resume their old claim 70
the Administration Of Government sitter we settle this
terrible question whether 70 have any Govern
ment to administer
not only in lite normal minority in the State sud its
occasional minority IN the Union, but bas sent thou
ssnds Of its most active voters 70 sue war and VINO OF
rs can talk Of rally al the Pol- here for impossible
candidates while they are fighting for the Stars and
Stripes in Virginia
Sound discretion, therefore as well as patriotism
would to point 10 no nomination as the true policy
when such nomination mast exhibit only the weakness
and not the fair strength OF The party.
But the paramount reason against present nopina-
zion Cpl ears 70 70 be tbis-that party ROmtHa-
ton can do n, eOOd 10 tie country and may do
harm. The Democratic party certainly does mean 10
support the General and State Administration ia carry.
.ng on this war for Government and for Union under
the Constitution In this we do not support the
President OF Governor because they are Republicans
bus because they placed BY TIE people at the head
Of the constituted authorities 70 uphold Govern
nent. We cannot ch-nge President or Governor by
any action we can now take, and to oppose them In
che MIDST OF the battle for The life Of the M ion IS 50
Gar 20 weaken their hands In the prosecution OF this
war for the Union, and give eOAfort 70 the public
enemy.
The Democratic party has always maintained good
Eaith. Tie present tral is great test of that good
faith. Our first position whsn Ienf and tongues, aid
aot swords and rifles, were the Ouly weapons, wai
give The South equal rights In the Union, and there
VIII Dc dlsuItOn. but tbo TeetlSsb OF TIE
South, who believed tht the cooperation Of the Demo
cratic party in the North could longer give them
power IN the General Government, would not take
"equsl rights AID stsy 10 tie Union. They divided
us GA an abstraction ~ Charleston, an let in the
consequent success of the Republ ans which they inn
peostey seized upon the justification Of secession.
The Democratic party, By their OWL division elected q
Republican Presde T. and are 80 far responsible for
she consequences, and co not 10 screen myself
from any Just for nv share 10 H. NV ony de-
sire that al Democrats should now forget they ever
offered.
After the election Of President Lincoln. the Demo.
cTaLs and the Union men went for compromise and
against coercion in order 70 retsn al least All tba
Border States. Their position has uniformly been thai
The Union could be kept together only by comrOmise
But the people bad elected rulers who were not Tor
compromise; and that Admin -trSOD, after survey
OF tie held and the sustaining action OF extra Con.
gress has assumed the full TesPOL bity Of the posi-
lion that the Union be maintained and restored by
force Of arms; by War" And now there is " War
fos the existence Of Republican GOverpmeut-aDd tba
the great experiment. which is being tried before the
world 90 that i is Plsin now do nothing with
'eonpronse and We must ellker surrender tho Union
tr hshi for 1t. How long the is 70 hast Or how ii
WI snc, are lot present, bat postponed, issues.
each IA the " suHtio-," il il not the plain duty
Democrats to accept that situation the ties;
patriotism, and prove their good tai.b by throwing
Energetic trial
are not responsible for the policy of the Govern
5S.s ~ sskng t6s pVdtioa Of maintaining ths Union
Isvun ' w having come up 10 that alter 1t was
&C. sue hfe on FOIt samter, and filed the ranks
,o,6Is.~ enSaged Ia that War WITH Democratic
tha,n 80 ~ vhcers, We owe Is 20 them, and, above
wi country, 20 make IL 40 shOrt and effective
ny giving 10 IL all the mOTaL as we have
not the 49, sno hschl aid in power And would
ssa fro, - nuuehce DC potent for good which must
nart ~ I, ne magnanimOrs action of the Democratic
Ea '.sssacousstis 9TH re4fRrmiug all lts old mn.
CHA sbeorlin s.is 40 party aet on whatever during