The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-09-13
The Duty of Democrats.

/ Yentlon, but the following sentiments from
the Milwaukee Press and Meas are so
Identical with our own, that we commend
them to the earnest consideration of our
readers without further comment. "The
call for a Democratic Convention" it
says, ITO meet at Madison, on the %
prorinso. must no. be overlooked. The
crisis, into which our Government has
been precipitated, instead of obviating,
enhances the necessity Of our coming to-
gether, and celebrating ON the course to
be adopted for preserving the Constitution
and restoring the unity and harmony Of
these States, now uuhappily divided, dis
cordant and belligerent. This duty should
be met and discharged by the Democracy
of Wisconsin in spirit Of exalted patri-
otism and self abnegation. They must
define their position on the great and all
absorbing question Of the day. There is
studied effort, continually put forth by
the opposition, 20 place the Democratic
party in false position, and if we are
weak enough, to take the place, assigned
US by them, it Will be sport 10 them, but
death to US. Their design, is, to force into
the secession ranks, all who will no. join
the abolition cohorts.
"There is only one way in which this
can be accomplished, and that is by our
consent. 1.-Two permit them to make the
issue, it will be reduced to the simple ques'
ton, whether we will support the govern
ment Of the rebels in the conflict now be-
ing waged between them. They will as
sumo that all patriots are arrayed on the
side of the Government, and that none
but traitors against it. That is true, both
in law and fact. The man who takes sides
against the Government is traitor.
1--WE have an organized and formidable
rebellion to contend against, which if sue
cessful, will inevitably overthrow and de
stroy the Government Of the United States.
The blow is not aimed at ABRAHAM LIN
coin, nor the Republican party, but at the
Republic itself. The Administration is
no, the Government, and the support of it,
when it is wrong, is not loyalty, nor is OPP
position 10 it then treason. This distinc-
ton should be constantly borne in mind,
because some have been led into error, by
confounding the two. The Republicans
need no prompting on this point. They
recognize tie distinction, and avail them
selves of it, by soundly berating the Adj
r'inistration for sins bo.h Of omission and
commission. We can condemn what is
wrong and approve what is right in the
Administration, without giving aid and
comfort to either the rebels or the Repub.
lican party. The Democratic party can
have no sympathy With secession, and
cannot afford to occupy an equivoca) po
sition on the question of the right of a
State to secede, or the duty of the Gen
eral Government to resist, with all its
power, every attempt 10 assert by force,
the assumption, that States may secede at
pleasure. This every Democratic Presi-
dent would have done. JEFFERSON would
have done it; JACKSON did de it; and
DOUGLAS, who received the Democratic
vote last year, would have followed in
their footsteps.
'The Union, the Constitution and the
enforcement of the laws" should be our
motto in times like these. Older and
ADLER democrats than we, declare that sue
cess, while desirable, is not half so impor-
tant as bold, clear and unequivocal de-
finition Of our position on the great issue
involved in the war.
democrats, we invoke your attention
to these matters. See that your caucus
ses for the election of delegates are called
at the proper time; attend them your
selves, and urge your democratic and con-
sentative neighbors to accompany you;
and in the selection Of delegates, discrimi.
nate wisely between those who are quail
fed to 60 and those who want to go to the
State Convention. Elect sound men of
broad, comprehensive Union views, who
sustain the party as means of restoring
the unity, peace and sperity Of the
country, instead ofstriyng to make it sub
serve their own purposes. Do this, and
all will be we'll. We shall deserve sue
cess, and eventually achieve it, in this
way; and IN no other can We hope or ex-
pect 10 succeed"
Now AND THEr.-Mr KIMBALL, Of the
Essex County Democrat, of Haverhill,
Mass, was tarred and feathered and rid
den on rail the other day, for "the trea-