The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-06-23

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fearfuliy cursed our land. il would be the lag
OF this peoples redemption, and barrier
against iuture secession and civil strife-and
i would follow that dag.
These remarks about party strife are made i
irrespective Of party. Since this war began
l have had no heart for party strife. and have I
shrunk from .he demands OF that cruel par
~ spirit which exacts undivided allegiance. /
and claims Tor party what j. due TO country. \
There j. large class Of Democrats As we'll |
as Republicans. thai are looking to this Con-
vention 10 relieve them from the serviie du- !
~ OF voting ticket through the hog-chuto
OF party machinery.
But party organization Is not so much 10
DO condemned as the savage spirit which IL
intenstes and lets loose--a spirit that pur-
sues political sdyersaries without regard 10
Justice or moderation. As Unsuitable as the
grave. IL handles the poisoned weapons OF
falsehood and dctrac,ion without conscience
and without conjunction. Licentious in
the range aud tone OF its invectives. IL drags
70 the bar Of public shame every age, ser,
and station. and magnifes venial wrongs In
10 public enormities- Remorseless In ifs re-
yenge, IL only waits for pretext, grasps ca
gerly At scandal. and never repairs n wrong.
lnsensibls 70 the promptings of generosity
and Justice, aud impoteat for any ennobling
ene. il often degenerates into ruthless. ig-
norant. aud brutal rutiiansm, graduated
| from the violence Of stump oratory down 10
the knife. slung shot. and brass knucks.
Standing here as equals. waving party
faith. and ignoring party organizations. We
unite for the purpose OF strengthening the
hands OF the President in this fearful strug-
| gle Of the government with a conspiracy IN
| volying no less issue than tho existence
/ Of the Constitution and the Union. We are
willing that Democrats shall remain Demo
Gratis. and Republicans remain Republicans.
but "a politics cannot enter into the issue of
government or no government, which this
| struggle involves. we will forego all political
side issues. until tho government Is re estab-
lshed in every State. Then may raise
our old or new party banners inscribed With
old AID new measures Of administration -
Parties are only useful in time of peace. As
they promote the public veal. but in time OF
civil or foreign war. when the pillars Of gov
eminent are being torn away, the cry OF par
Nv Is bat too often the selfish clamor of fac
ton, and only serves 10 accelerate the crisis
ofreyolution, and highten the panic ofpus-
lie danger The Constitution. the Union.
and the enforcement of the laws. uncondi-
tionally and at every sacrifice, arc senti
| ments common 10 US all. and furnish com
mon basic OF action, without interfering with
each others politics.
Who can tell me what precise bearing the
Chicago and Cincinnati Platforms have on
the question OF suppressing the rebellionl
could tell you, II / had tho time, what bear
Ing the Breckenridge aud Buffalo Platforms
had in creating the rebellion. But il were
not only idle but mischievous. dnring the
continuance of the war, 20 discuss the re.
sponsibility for and the cause of tho rebel
| lion, for this would involve sectional contro-
yersy and partisan accusation, and would
raise false issues among the people. AID sub.
stitute an Irrelevant conflict among ourselve.
in the North. for gigantic contest with an
armed foo. Besides, when disputants enter
the arena armed with indictments inculpat
ing each other. they soon And n field thrown
= open as wide as American politics. and thai
theoretical speculstions, party creeds, trad
tionary prejudices go hand in hand to mysti-
! fy truth and confound logic. Who cares, ex
, cept pcttifogging politicians. what il the
; measure of blame attached TO this or tha
T party for our national calamities? Is thi.
: the time To try that issuep Patriotism saw
= no. Party spirit says yes, From day TO da,
I il labors with plastic hand and groveliln,
soul 10 change and transfer the momentou
), issue pending between tho Government AM
/ armed treason 20 n member of Irrelevant an,
q immaterisl issues among the loyal people o
:. the North; tho former involving the exis
a tence OF the Republic--the latter mess o
!, pottage. Itknows but two sentiments-fca
: and favor. IL chershes mere names AN
4 sancthes notices and watchwords as Oh
9 sum of political wisdom. and by whose dis
I eliminating standard all who proudly stan
4 By the Government in battle. or otherwise
i on tho first issue, a.e abolitionists or seces
= sonists: and those who refuse 10 stand b
q the mess of pottage are renegades. Accord
o ing 10 its shibboleth. We are all abolitionst
) or secessionists We all know that Their
II are few secessionists and few abolitionists /
d our midst. But this fell spirit, refusing {
) be guided by law. reason, experience or du
}, ". dashes on in the path of error, blind q
g all but the signal lights, and deaf to all bu
the cry OF belligerert factions.
e This Government belongs 20 the loyal pee
plc OF the whole Union, and the shortcou
!. ings OF few Republicans. Democrat
/. Abolitionists OF even Secessionists. do nc
lr constitute the measure of our duty 10 thu
:. Government II Mr.. Lincoln proves false
n his trust and betrays his country, of whic
a there i not the slightest danger. We wi
n stand firm and stay the tide of anarchy an
/. misrule with the same unbroken form vii
a which our circling wall Of soldiery clos,
a around tho panic stricken hosts OF Rebel
' dom.
" % two occasions. during the past yea
the North has been on the precipice OF COZ
!. vulsion through party plans When ii
% blow was struck az Sumter the thrill was
p electric and the great heart OF the Mort
n throbbed so quick. that party vas silent {,
n the moment, but soon it, ominous voice VI
n again heard. mingling even with the notes
r the drum aud the tread Of the Union arm
!. The President was between two fires. Ga
Ia set OF ultra patriots with deep devotion
a the pretended interests Of their country -
= every step taken By the President TO mai
ic tain the Government. the crashed form Of q
~ idolired Constitution. while their polite
ic antpodes invoked through the press Il
pr Jacobipical spirit Of rev olnfion to supercss
4. Mr. Lincoln by a military Dictator. But n
m perponderanee of popular patriotism oy,
=. party passion. delivered the Govemme
,r IRON this peril in which lie life tremblsd {
!. the poin, Of tho sword.
% Aleo. sffg the Ball Run disaster, this 4.
y parted spirit weut forth again among Il
"a people. On the wings Of ar incondiary pres
>. and on the tongues Of ineamaiory orators
= And while John {. Breckenridge wa on h
"A way from Washington TO the rebel cam
a giving consfifufienal entertainments AZ Bali
"a more and elsewhere with varieties BY Bn
10 nett and Yallsndigham. distinguished q
"a member OF Congress vas stumplng Indian
, zrcing uron the people that the war vas
4 unhOlv one. that the Government wou
., come out Of the struggle unsuccessful. be-
i -.