Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-22
IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE

IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter fran Frank W. Hughes, of Pa, 10
Secretary SeUayd-Address and Gail for a
Mass Meeting Submitted to the Secretary
-RcJponse of Mr.. SerarG. ..
The following important correspondence be-
tween Francis w. Hughes, Esq, chairman Of the
Democratic State Central Committee, and Secre-
taTy Seward will be read with interest: x
LETTER OF MRAusHEs
HsadqEartsrS Of ths Dsmoerdfie
State CsntraI Con1nTtsfss Ct PsnnsyFcania,
Phi!asslPhia, Aug. IL, 1862 \ +
Dear Sir: With some hesitation, take tas lib.
erty OF enclosing TO you three documents, viz !:
me addfsss Of the Democratic State Central Com
lt'ee OF this state al address this day is,ued by
Eaysel! as chairman, and the form Of c,l for a.
great mass meeting about to be held In this city
Allow me to say that the address Of the com.
mittee has been much assailed by leading aud
Influential journals, nducted by those no cai %
70 be your political friends. The denunciati on
has been so decided to pronouce it treason na5Is
Shsther or not 10 is reasonable, car sst de-
take up too much Of your time, but the address
Issued by myself this dav 10 com mparatively short;
and es It states positions sufciently 70 determine
labor II you will read the Latter
AS the address Of the committee a. well as that
bv myself, as chairman, are both from nv own
pen, should bear the greater part of whatever
reproach should attsch to their public alton SuII
allow me to assure you that they contain the
sentiments Of not less than three hundred thou
sand Of the men Of Pennsylvania, and believe of
over one million OF men In the central States of
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio,
Indians and Illinois. ! will add, too that
believe there Is no other million OF men In this
whole country Of more devoted patriotism and
LOYALTY.
win add, too, that I believe this million of
men will, amid political changes remain patriotic
and loyal IL you will read one or botn of the
inclosed addresses, aud IT, in Connection with M
Il N tn Hail
II will stimulate yos or serve you In any desre
TO promote policy on the part of the Adminis-
uaeon OF President Lincoln to put down the
demon Of aooiitionism my sole object in add ress-
Ing you this (perhaPs presumptuous) note, shall
be more than abundantly obtained At all events
rest assured that address you with the profound
respect due your high personal and oHicial char
Sc'ef' f. w. HUsHRs.
RRsPoSsR OF SECRETARY SEWARD
DsPartmsHt of STATE, WaJhington,)
August 10Th. 1862.
To + W. Hughes, Esq Head quarters of tAs
Dsmosraie Stats Central COMMITTEES If PsnnsyI.
odsta, PhtIadslpAia-Dear Sir:-I have had the
honor Of receiving your letter Of the 18th Instant
together vita the three papers to which It refers
two OF them being aPpeils written by yourself,
and addressed by the Democratic State Central
COMMITTEES "to the Democrats and all other
friends OF the Constitution in PennsyIvania,D -
and the other being a call for a mass meeting of
the citizens Of Phi!adelphia, the objects OF which
meeting will be "to express a Arm purpose to
stand by the maintenance OF the National Con-
stituiion with devotion TO the American Union %
and, further, "to declare hostility to the policy
and measures OF oil who seek 10 prostitute the
country TO the purposes Of Abolitionisnn, and for
Enally 70 express the intention Of the Democratic
party TO do a. II had always hitherto done, nane-
ly, TO support the Federal Government In the ex-
ercfse Of its Constitutional power, and to defend
IL, at whatever peril, against the insidious and
reasonable teachings Of Abolitionists' - !.
You tell me that rome influential journals, con-
ducted by political friends Of mine, censure one
al h. fhars
are conceived In tn, same spirit with the one
which II % harshly judged Yo1 desire me 10
rad them and weigh them for myself You
further intimate hope that the perusal Of the
psp.rs will have the effect Of producing exer:ions
on nv part TO induce the President to favor a
policy to put down the demoa of Aboliuonism.
me, with a high respect for the authority by
which they were isded, and with full conf
dence In the sincerity Of the devotion TO the
Union which, a. their author, you have avowet .
You viii allow me TO say that this nation is
now engaged, not In n political canvass between
opposing parties aeo1t questions Of civil admin
istration, but In q civil war, carried on by op-
posing armies on an issue Of national life or
death.
IL the revolution prevail there will be no ques-
tons OF administration left TO settle. IL IL fail
there viii be time enough to settle al such ques-
tions. -
am not to dictate a course for others to pursue
In this crisis. But must iay for myself that
neitnei n Puollc omcer, nor as citizen, can
supporters Of the United States, any more than
can made distinction between factions which
unite In aiding the rebsllion.
nation, Ike an individual, can do only one
thing eKectuauy at oae time IL cannot wisely
turn aside from the chase of the fearful demon
OF dlsun on, TO pursue any inferior demon,
whether imaginary Dr. real
j think that cue wrangles which occurred
among the Crusaders about their respective
creeds, when they sat down to the siege OF Jeru-
salem, were just and rational and Just as wise as
disputes about Abolition would now &c in the
Army Of the Potomac In front Of Richmond
What Is unwise In the camp at such a moment
cannot be wise In the Cabinet or In the assen.
blies Of the people. ....,. : 81
l am occupied here either In mediating between
Offering parties and jealous sects, OF else In
watching and counteracting tbs intrigues Of
iraltors In Europe. But sometimes think that
Il, instead Of being charged with these duties,
were az liberty, as you seen 70 be, to serve the
country In my own way, could make an appeal
to Democrats and Republicans, Abolitionists
aud shareholders In belief OF our distracted coun-
try that would bring the whole people at once
under arms. and send treason reeling back Into
the den Of darkness from whence II sprung / dc
not know how this would be, but do know that
III were in your place, should try.
am, very respectfully, your obd,t servant, --
WILLIAM III. SEWARD.