Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-09-19
4 Letter From a Patriotic DEM

A Letter From a Patriotic DEM
Ocrat.
The following letter from Gen. Butler
CONVEYS a very valuable lesson to those
Democrats of Ohio who, in this crisis
ulAce fheir party above their country
The letter is as follows:
q. s. STEAM FRIaATE MINNESOTA,
,OffCspe Hatteras, Aug 27, 1861.
Mr. DEAR FRIEND IL have received your
note. ss well as those of many Others of
nv true friends, in Massachusetts,, asking
nv opinion about political questions and
some kindly suggesting my name as
candidate for Governor, at the ensuing cleo
tion. reply to you as representing them
all because our intimacy will permit more
frankness than would seem meet toward
those less closely connected.
AS / have stated to you, and as have
publicly repeated, when 1 left home, l left
all politics, in party sense Of the term,
behind me, and l know no politics in any
sense, save as represented BY the question
How best to preserve the Union and re-
store the country in its integrity. Peace
is desirable to all and to none more so
than to the soldier who has left his friends
and his home to do his duty 10 his country.
But however desirable, it is not to be
purchased upon any terms, save the recog-
milton Of the authority of the Federal
Government over every inch of territory
which ever belonged to il. Upon no con-
dition whatever, other than this, would
consent to peace. A peace involving the
disintegraiionl of the Union, or until the
supremacy of the Government is forever
established, would be simply declaration
of perpetual war of sections.
W"ere the Southern Confederacy to-day
acknowledged in the fullness of good faith
two months would not elapse before causes
of war would arise, sufficient not only to
Justify but to demand renewal of the
conflict. No two months have passed, in
the last ten years at least, IN which outra-
ges have not been committed upon North
eru men in the South, which, had they
been pespetrated by foreign nation, would
have demanded redress Of grievances,
under pain of suspension Of diplomatic
relations. Z ~ - g
But We have borne these outrages be
cause there was no tribunal to the arbitra-
ment Of which We could submit tt EN-, and
it was against the genius of our people to
appeal 70 arms. Therefore l see with
pain upon the part Of some Of those with
whom I have acted in political organiza-
tions, disposition to advocate peaceful
sentiments wherein there can be no peace.
Therefore, this war must 60 on, not for
the purpose of subjugation-but if those
who have commenced it bring upon them
selves that condition as an incident, it will
only be another illustration Of the fruit of
sowing the wind. Besides these there are
no politics.
On the mstter of the nomination.
cannot consent that my name shall be used
by any party. While on some things as
you are aware, l do not agree with the
principles upon which both the state and
national administration were inaugurated,
yet we are long way past that. The
Republican party, having won political
victory, both in the State, and in the ma
tion, is entitled TO the patriotic endeavor
of every man to give it a fair trial in the
administration of the government, and in
that, it should, as it does, take the lead in
official positions. 1s- ....z. n. =
And now there is left nothing for US to
contend against save any corruption, inef-
ficiency or improperly Of administration,
which I doubt not would at once be re-
buked as well by Republicans as by Dem
ocrats. But as far as regards the person
net of administration in the state, / believe
Gov. Andrew has endeavored faithfully,
zealously and efficiently to put our COM
monwealth on the side of the nation, and
to sustain the Union. l Therefore, for one
would not desire to see change in theex-
ecutive, although doubt not the people
will demand changes in some of the mi
nor officers. So .a 4 55 e -'.- go F. s. -
I do not say thatI would vote for Gov.
Andrew, but were I at home l would not
vote against him. Let is be understood
that without distinction of party, and
without raising party issues, all men who
love the Union are determined to stand by
it and the country until this rebellion shall
be quslled, and then We may hereafter d.
vide as we please upon the minor diferen-
ces of administration of government.
To you, my dear friend, l need urge no
justification for this course. You will ap-
preciate it. for you are aware of the sacri-
flee, both Of feeling and of position, 1 made
a year ago, in the earnest endeavor to save
the country from this calamity, which
then partly foresaw, and acting in the best
light ] had, endeavored to prevent, And
I am ready to make light sacrifice now to
repel that which then sought to avert.-
l. need to thank You and others of my
friends for this, among many other kind
nesses you have shown me.
CSC Very truly yours,
e BENZ. F. BUTLFR.
F. A. HILDRETH, Esq.
E-.~. Al N1o,,J,rl Dlo;x nrr1.~