Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-08-22
DEPARTMENT OF Starr, 1
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 1852. I

DEPARTMENT or STATE,
WAsHINGTox, Aug. 10, 1852.
To p. W. Hughe,, Esg., Reqdquarters ofthe
Demoe1Gtie STATE Centred ComRittee of
FeHH'd, at PHILADELPHIA.
DEAR SIR 81 have had the honor of re-
ceiying yourletter of the l4th inst, togeth-
er with the three papers to which it refers,
two OF them being appeals written by your
self and addressed by the Democratic State
Central Committee to the Democrats and
all other friends of the Constitution of
Penn'a. and the other being call for
mass meeting of the citizens of Philadel-
phia, the object of which meeting will be
10 express firm purpose to stand by the
maintenance of the National Constitution
with devotion to the American Union, and
further to declare hostility to the policy
and measures of all who seek to prostitute
the country TO the purposes of abolitioutsm,
and formally to express the intention Of the
Democratic party to do rs it has always
hitherto done, namely, to support the Fed
eral Government in the exercise of its con-
stitutioual power and to defend it at what
ever peril against the insioious and treason
able treachery of abolitIonists.
| You tell me that some Influential jour
nails, conducted by political friends of
mine, censure one of those papers al tre1-
| Sonable, aud that the others are conceived
| in the same spirit with the one that is SO
harshly judged. You desire me to read
them and weigh them for myself. You
further intimate hopsEthat the perusal of
the papers will have the effert of produc-
ing exertions on my part TO induce the
] President to favor policy TO put down the
demon Of abolitionism.
have read the documents thus submit
ted TO me With high respect for the au-
thority by which they were issued, aud
with full confidence in the sincerity of
lthedevotiou to the Union, which, as their
author, you have ayowed.
You will allow me TO say that this ma
ton is now engaged, not in political cam
yass between opposing parties about ques-
tions of civil administration, but in civil
war, carried on by opposing armies on an
issue of national life or death. If the rev.
olution prevail there will be no question OF
administration left to state; if u fail there
will be time enough to settle all such ques
tons. l am not to dictate course for
others 10 pursue in this crisis, but say for
myself. that neither as a public officer nor
as public citizen, can l know With favor
OF disfHVor parties among the supporters OF
the United States any more than | can
make q distinction between factions which
unite in aiding the rebellion.
nation, like an individual, can do only
one thing etfectualIy at one time. 1t can
not wisely turn aside from the chase oil
the fearful demon of disunion to pursue
any interior demon, whether imagiu any OF
real. think that the wrangles which
!. occurred among the crusaders about their
respective creeds, when they sat down to
the seige of Jerusalem were Just as ration.
al aud just and wise as disputes about ahol-
ition would be now in the army of the Po-
tomac in front of Richmond.
What is unwise ia the camp at such a
moment cannot be wise in the Cabinet, OF
in the assemblies of the people. am oc-
cupied here either in medistiug between
differing parties and jealous sects, or else
in watching aud counteracting the 10.
trigues of traitors in Europe. But | some
times think that If instead of being charged
with these duties, were at liberty as you
seem to be, to serve the country in my owl
way, could make an appeal to Democrats
and Republicans, Abolitionists aud slave
holders in behalf of our distracted country
that would hiring the whole people at once
under arms, and send treason Keeling bach
into the den of darkness from whence il
sprung. do not know this would be, but
| do know that If were in your place
. should try.
am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
CSigned, VIZ Il SEWARD.
:, D.