The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-03-19

country, ana VINO IN the present crlsls
has signalized his devotion to the cause
of the Union, was originally sent to us
for insertion without the signature Of
the writer. Though desiring, from
considerations of modesty, to write
anonymously, he was induced, at our
request, to attach his name tothese let
ters, and thus give to them weight Of
/ his authority: f@s ,''j esi f
LETTER NO /.
t"Io abraham Lincoln Presidentof The q. s.
"REsPEcTED SIR: do not address you
for the purpose of censure or advice. From
boyhood to old age have belonged to the
Democratic party Of the country. My polit-
ical creed, in common with that Of my party
throughout the North, has been and now is,
devotion to the Constitution as it came from
the hands Of Washington and his compatri-
OTIS, and to the rights Of the States reserved
by them on the adoption OF that instrument.
1--WE look upon the structure composed OF
the States and the Union as our temple oi
liberty, OF which the States are the pillars
and the Union the roof Remove the pillars
and the roof will fall, remove the roofand the
pillars viii be overthrown be the storms OF
anarchy and war, and our country will be
strewn with ruins more melancholy than
those which lie piostrate or stand shattered
on the sites OF ancient cities.
Ruthless bands have seized upon and are
at tom IN a ortt n hp nj n
OF our temple, at the hazard OF crushing
sane hope OF building new temple for them
selves out Of the ruins.
Though the Demo ratio party OF the
North were always wiling 10 make all rea
sonable or even tolerable concessions to satisfy
their allies in the South, yet as a body. no
party is more devoted to the Constitution and
Union II was devotion TO the Union which
induced them t, make concession after con
cession to quiet the apparent apprehensions
Of their Southern friends. So vital in their
| view was the preservation Of the Union and
the Constitution TO the interests and safety
OF the Southern States in particular, that
many Of them could MT until the assault on
Fort Sumter, be convinced that the leaders
OF Southern agitation had anything in view
beyond further guarantees for their local in
stitntions. Under this deiusior some Of them
raised their voices against coercion, and
thereby unwittingly rendered material SER
vice TO the cause Of the rebellion. But when
convinced, by the thunder OF rebel cannon
and the flames of Fort Sumter. that. revolu.
ton, and not redress or security within the
Union, was the object Of the Southern lead
| A. Ii - 4 ~,
retrieve their. erroI;s and. Notwithstanding
| their political antagonism on minor points,
| the Democratic party of the North rallied O.
round your Administration as the only means
of saving their country. Your armies abound
with them; none are more ready to sacrifice
all that is dear even life ITSELF for the pres
eryation OF the Union and the Constitution,
and to them it is cheering, though but just,
that you have recently given them repre-.
sentative in your Cabinet. ss ls3
"Be assured. sir, that the Democratic party
OF the North, with the exception Of a few
semi,traitors whom they repudiate, cordially
approve tbe ehjects of the war against rebell-
ion as declared by you in all your public a.
vowals. They rally around you with devo-
ton to the cause not exceeded by any Glass
Of your original supporters, and they will
spare no sacrifice to save the Union and Cen
s,itution. In this great oaject they are al
ready consolidated with the great mass OF the
Republican party. and will be among the last
to despair. \ Indeed, these two parties tor,al
preseni purposes constitute but. ons. which
nav be appropriately called the CoNsTI ~
TIoNAL UNION PARTY The Object Of this
party in the pending war is to preserve 1.-The
Union and the Constitution asit is. the
Constitution. AMI that only, which makas US
a naGon; destroy 1t and tn, nation will cease
to exist, being resolved into thirty tour inde-
pendent States, InefzhtingF fors the Goastii
tuition, therefore, we fight for he lift of the
nation, for all that can give us peace and se-
curlty at home and all that can make US hon,
ored and respected abroad. Ess gafHs7s sss
| "The fundamental principal OF our Gov.
eminent, that principal which has enabled the
Republic 10 extend itself from the "A tlant'c
to the Pacific, and enduw it with a capacity
70 embrace continents and climes within its
doninions, is that every thing which sxclu
siyely or mainly TO local sffairs shall be
1 regulated by local governments, willie the
4 powers Of the General. Government shall
4 he only su h as are requisite, TO promote the
peace. happine $ and prosperity Of the people,
what ever may be their peculiar customs,
\ laws. or domestic institutions An attack
4 upon this principle IL an assault upon the
4 Constitution, il is u ndermining the lonnda,
tons OF the Republic; it il diyesting II Of thai
attribute almost divine, which like the Gov
ernInent Of Heaven, prot, cts alike error and
j truth, allowing man to work out his o%n
happiness in peace by the. free exercise sof his