Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-08-22
The Democratic League to gen. Hunter.

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The following letter from the Executive Com.
mittee of the Democratic League of New Yorl
was sent to Gen. Hunter a few days since:
"NEw York, August 7th, 1862.
! "Nqjor General Hunter Port Royak s. e. =:
DEAR SIR The undersigned, the Executive
Committee of the Democratic League of this
city tender you their respect as well as thanks
for the stand taken by you in your late letter
to Rev. Dr. Tying.
"The committee appreciate your force of reas-
oning, and the necessity of a decided policy on
the part of the government, the people and mil
itary authorities. The conflict now going on is
broader one than is commonly imagined. 1t
is league on the one hand between slavehold-
ers, allied with European aristocracy, to dena-
tlonalize republican government in large por-
tion of the United States; on the other hand it
is the democratic principle IN the free govern
ment struggling against the combined antago-
nsm of privileged class, in order to maintain
its ascendency in the entire Union. This is the
great issue, and all other questions are merely
incidental agencies to work out the result upon
the main question.
at was truly said by Mr.. Garnett of Virgin
ia, in letter to Mr.. Trescott of South Carolina,
written in 1851: You will object to the term
democracy. Democracy, in its original aud phi
losophical sense, is indeed incompatible with
slavery, and the whole system of Southern So
ciety.' This declaration embraces the platform
of the Southern rebellion. 1t constituted the
entire basis of reasoning that started the seeds
of rebellion into growth; and which in the space
of thirty years nurtured treason into culmina-
ton. The political adventures and slavehold-
ers South, and the more intelligent portion ofthe
people North, understand the question alike
Were it generally and well understood, there
would be little difficulty in settling the ques-
ton at once through the arbitrament of prepon-
derating force. Ifthe twenty-six or twenty Sc
ven millions composing the mass of the free la
Dor North and South understood the question in
its true light the whole matter would be dspos-
ed of with little more effusion of blood. It's set
tlement would also result in firmer and better
establishment of the principles of free govern
ment.
SLAVERY perpetuation through the abrogation
of a government of maiorites is the war-plat-
form of the so called Confederate government
The idea of slavery perpetuation upon the ruins
and prostration of the democratic principle is
the stimulating virus that is now sustaining the
desperate efforts of the Southern conspiracy
Whether we are fighting to preserve the cause of
the rebellion, while attempting to crush the re-
bellion ITSELF whether are fighting to main
tain human bondage, whilst the rebels are max
ing the continuation of such bondage the cause
of war; are questions that now seem pertinent
If we are fighting to maintain the democratic
principle, shall we succeed best by upholding or
overthrowing its antagonisms2 1t seems to us
that your letter contains clearand concise view
of the question. We much fear that nothing but
the Increased effuson of blood growing out of
the present confusion in the public mind, will
bring the people to unanimity as TO the direction
of the blows which must be struck before this
warfare closes.
"With ardent wishes for the welfare of the
country, and many personal regards to yourself,
we are truly yours, &C.
Chas p Kirkland, John j. Speed,
ThorGds Ewbank, George p. Nelson,
Henry O'Reilly, Pierrepont Isham
Executive Committee.