The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-09-04
A Sharp Rebule Gracefully Administer
ed-EetteFfr0m Hon. VIM IA seward ~
~ Partisan Politician.

ed--Eetterfrom Hon. WIN H. Seward
Partisan Politician.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, August IN, 1907.
To J. w. Hughes Headquarters Otthe Democrat
ic State Central COMMITTEE of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia:
DEAR SIR: have had the honor of receivin
your letter of the l4th inst, together with the tire
papers TO which it refers-two of them being ap-
peals, writtep by YOURSELF and endorsed by tn
Democratic State Central Committee to the Dem
ocrats. and all other friends of the Constitution
ofPennsylvania the other being a call for mas
meeting of tie citizens OF Philadelphia, the objects
of which meetngwill be to express firm purpose
to stand by the maintenance of the National Con
stitution 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 Abolitionism, and formally +
express the intention Of the d Democratic party t.
do as it has always hitherto done-namely, to sup
port the Federal Government in the exercise ofits
constitutional power and to defend it, at whatev
er peril, against the insdous and reasonable
teachings of Aboitionists. You tell me that some
influential journals, conducted by political friends
of mine, censure one ofthese papers as treasona-
BILE, and 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 hope that the pc.
rusal of the papers will have the effect of produce
ing exertions on my part to induce the president
to favor policy TO put down the demon of Abo
litionism. l have read the documents thus sub
To wifi q oh ant
ty by which they were issued and with full con
idence in the sincerity of the devotion TO the I'm
ion, which, as their author, you have avowed-
You will allow me to say that this nation is now
engaged, not in political canvas between;oppos
ing parties aboutquestions ofeiviI administration,
but in civil war. carried on by opposing armies,
on issue of national life death. If the revo-
luton prevails there will be question of adj
minstration left to settle; if it fall there will be
time enough left to settle all such questions.
am not to dictate course for others to pursue in
this crisis, but must say for myself that neither
as public officer nor a citizen can | know
with favor or disfavor parties among the support
ers of the United States, any more than can
make a distinction between factions which unite
in aiding the rebellion A nation, like an indivi d
ual, can do only one thing effectually at time
II cannot wisely turn aside from the chase of the
fearful demon Of dsunion to pursue any inferior
demon whether imaginary real. l think that
the wrangles which occurred among the Crusaders,
about their respective creeds, when they sat
down to the siege of Jerusalem, were just ra-
tional and just wise the disputes about Abo-
Iition would be now 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 on in the assemblies of the people. / am
occupied here either in mediating between differ
ing parties and jealous sects, else in watching
and counter acting the ntrigues of traitors in Eu
rope But | sometimes think that if, instead of |
being charged with these duties, were at liberty:
Us you seem 20 be, to serve the country il my own
way, could make an appeal to Democrats, Re- |
pubcans, Abo!itionists and Shareholders, ia be- !
half of our distracted country, that would bring
the whole people at once under arms. and send
treason reeling back into the den of darkness rom
whence it sprang. | do not know how this would
be; bat do know that if were in your place, !
shou try it. l am, very respectfully, Your obe-
dent servant,
GSignedT WILLIAM H. SEW ARD. /