Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-09-06

He says also, that the rebels have between two and
three hundred thousand troops in Virginia
1t is stated that the utmost immortality pre-
walls in the rebel camp ; that regiment from Ala
bama stationed Norfolk have spent in two months
$3.50 GEO. greater part being for liquor and lu1u
ries.
If volunteer troop. do not go forward faster draft
ing Will be esortei to. It is expected by
that after few brilliant successes, should
gain them the volunteer supply will be much great
than present. Should drafting be resorted to-
those sections from which the smallest proportion
have volunteered will be called on first.
Party Conventions
Since the calls for Conventions, by the
Democratic and Republican State Com
mites, about forty persons have publish
ed call for another Convention, to be
held at Madison, on the 10th inst. This
last call claims to be "no party" III its
charac ter and purposes, but manifests to
US no purer motives than ought to, and
probably do, actuate the other calls. So
far as either Democrats or Republicans be-
liere that there is an object of Importance
to be accomplished by adhering to their
respective organizations, we confess our
inability to perceive any reasons why they
should not do 1t As Republican we
confess no desire or willingness to aban-
don single principle Of the Platform we
have acted upon. We cannot see why
we should ignore either our party or
ganization or Platform, simply because the
government and loyal people are at war
Nth the rebels. If we admit that the Ia
sues are somewhat modified under the cir
cumst&nces at the present time, and thus
much differ from what they were before
the rebellion still unless we are prepared
to abandon our whole platform it does not
follow that our organization should be
abandoned. We cannot see Why maintain
ing cur party organization and acting up
on it should necessarily interfere with de-
votion to the war. To give up our party,
because the country Is at war with the reb-
els, would seem upon its very face, to i'm
ply that we clearly saw that our party
principles are in antagoMism to the war
which we would be slow to admit II the
Democratic party is belding principles
which are opposed to the present war, or
has been excrting an influence which is
against the maintenance OF the Constitu-
ton and laws. it would in that case. (if
We may take the liberty so to speak.
seem to be its duty to rcnounce such prin-
ciples and cease to exert such an ilfuence.
The duty of Republicans, in that case
would be, not to renounce their principles
nor to abandon their organization, but the
more closely to adhere to both. On the
other hand, if the democratic party has no
principles and exerts no influence in Ops
siton to the war, why should it abandon
its principles or disorganize 1t must be-
acknowledged that this cry about the sus-
pension OF party organization and party ac-
ton, on account of the war, whether on
one side or the other, proceeds from con-
viction that there is, or has been, an ele
ment in one of the parties which is antar
| onistic to the war Itself We certainly
will not admit the existence of anv such
element in the Republican party, and if it
is not to be found in the other party. it
must follow that a continuance of both par
ties cannot be antagonistic to the war, and
hence, on account of the war, neither
should be discontinued As Republicans
we have nothing to do with the question
whether the other party shall disbaud, hat
being matter for its separate action.
As the people must elect men to office.
they may consistently proceed on Repub-
lican principles, AMI We hope that the Re-
publican party and Convention will turn
neither to the right nor to the left, leaving
our old opponents to choose their own
cour.e. Will, the people uphold the war
to their utmost ability, as every one should
do, this paramount duty need not necessa-
rily be interfered with by merely making
party nominations and supporting them
As to the ultimate result Of adhering to
our platform, we believe it to be known
and read of all men, that the very basis
and superstructure of the Republi-
can party are, par excellence, for the war
and the Union. as much as can be the case
with any new organization, which will be
very likely to be gotten up with sinister
purposes. We believe that. by keeping
straight forward, the Republican party
will be stronger than ever before. Its past
history proving it to be solely for the Un-
Ion, while new party will be liable to
suspicion at best,