Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-29
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE !
BY
The Democracy of Wisconsin.
ADOPTED In STATE CONVENTION, AT
MILWAUKEE, SEPT. Sd, 1862.
IContinued.l

The defeat of the Democratic party in 1860
has been followed by the revolt Of several of
the States from the Union, and by the present
terrible civil war, because it was defeated by
a sectional party. We reprobate that revolt,
as unnecessary, unjustiGabe unholy. Devo-
ted to the Constitution, invoke the ven-
geance of God upon all who raise their sacre-
ligious hands against it, whether wearing the
soft gloves of peace or the bloody gauntlets
of war. But we affirm that the revolt and
consequent civil war were long foretold and
probable result of the accession to power of
a sectional party, because their success was
the defeat OF the spirit of the Constitution.
In so vast a union of States OF such differ
ing interests, habits and institutions, the dam
ger OF sectional parties to the peace and per-
manence to the Union, was early foreseen by
the fathers of the Constitution. The Father
of his Country, himself, gave voice to these
apprehensions in his Farewell Address in
1896. He passed a eulogium upon the Union,
which no tongue or pen has since improved.
He urged the "unity of the Government
which constitutes one people," He inn
pressed upon the nation, that 1t was "a main
pillar in the edfice of our real independence;
the support of our tranquility at home; of our
power abroad, of our safety, of our prosperi-
ty. of the very liberty which we so highly
prize In spirit of prophecy, he cautioned
the people and their posterity against the
dangers it might encounter, and with his
parting words invoked them indignantly to
frown upon the first dawning of every attempt
to ALLEVIATE any portion of our country from
the rest. or TO enfeeble the sacred ties which
now linked together the various parts" He
enlarged upon the mutual dependence of the
various parts of the country, North and South.
East and West; he warned us against parties
founded on geographical determinations
whence designing men may endeavor to ex-
cite belief that there is real difference of
local interests and views" He foretold that
lone of the expedients of party is to acquire
influence within particular districts, is to mis-
represent the opinions and aims of other dis
tricts" He forewarned us that "we could
not shield ourselves too much against the
jealousies and heart-burnings which would
spring from these misrepresentation, which
tend TO render aliens to each other, those who
ought TO be bound together by fraternal affec-
tion." Fearful prophecy, fearfully fulfilled I.
How the great spirit of the illustrious Wash
ington would have mourned had he been able
TO foresee the tull and terrible measure of the
danger he foretold. the insane and terrible
disregard of his holy advice whichha accom-
plishcd it.
There was no reason why the several States
of the Union should not have abided together
in harmony for all time. Their domestic in
stitutions, their social condition, and their
habits of life, differed indeed from the begin
ming And, in the language of General
jackson, this difference was unavoidably in
creased by the varying principles upon which
the American colonies were originally planted;
principles which had taken deep root in their
social relations before the revolution, and
therefore of necessity, influencing their policy
since they become free and independent
States The progress of all the States was
great, but frequently in different directions.
But the Constitution left to the several States
the exclusive control of their domestic con-
Germs; and had the spirit of Constitution pre-
vailed. differences of domestic institutions
would never have disturbed the peaceful re-
lations of the States in the Union. The
slavery of the African race formed from the
beginning the most important and dangerous
of these differences The Constitution was a
compact of comp romises, and in no instance
more wisely or generously so than in relation
10 the institution of slavery. And bad the
several States OF Union abided in their poll
ties by that necessary and magnanimous spirit
OF compromise, the Union would now be un-
disturbed, and ancient harmony and prosper
ity would reign where civil war now RACES.