The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-09-05
Secretary Seward upon Democracy and
Abolition.

Abolition.
| Francis w. Hughes, of PhlladeIphio Chair.
man of the Deniocratc State Central Com.
m'ttee. recently sent q letter to Soor.,n,,
Seward, with several Democratic addrosses
asking his opinion Of them. To ,hs the
Secretary responded % follows;
DEPARTMENT or STATE WAsuiSoroN.
August 18Th, 1862
To +. W Hughes, Esq. Headquarters of
the Democratic Safe Central Committee
Of Pennsyyanla, Philadelphia.
DEAR SIR-l have had the honor of ro-
ceiying your letter Of the l4th inst together
with the three papers to which it refers. two
OF thoin hoing appeals written by yourself.
aud addressed by the Democratic State
Central Committee, ito the Democrats aud
oil other friends Of the Constitution IN
Pennsylvania" and tho other bcine a call
for mass meeting Of the citizens o; Phha.
deiphia the object of which meeting will he
ITO express a firm purpose to stand by the
maintenance OF tho National CONSTITUTION
with devotion to tho American Union" and
further, 10 declare hostility 20 the policy
aud measures of all who seek to prostitute
tho country TO the purposes of AbolitiOuism
and formally to express the intention of the
, democratic party to do rs it has always
hithorIo done, uameIy, to support the Fud-
erai Government in the execu ion Of its
constitutional power. and to defend il at
whatever peril from the insidous and treas.
sonabIc teachings Of Aboitionist"
/ You tell mo that some influential journal
conducted by political friends OF mine, cen
sure one OF these papers as reasonable and
that the others are conceived in the same
spirit with the one that is SO harshly Judged
You desire me to read them ana wUigh
them for myself. You further intimate
hope that tho perusal of the papers will have
the effect of producing exertons on nv
part to induce the President to favor a
policy to put down the demon of Abolition
ism.
have read the docum ents thus submit
tod to me, with high respect for the au.
thority by which they were issued and will
full confidence in the sincerity OF the de.
votion to the Union which, as their author,
you have avowed.
You will allow me to say that this Nation
| is now engaged, not in u political canvass
between opposing parties, about questions
. OF civil administration, but in civil war
carried on by opposing armies, on an issue
of national life or death.
! II the revolution prevail there will be no
question of administration left TO settle. Ift
!
such questions.
am not to dictate course for others to
pursue in this crisis. But must Say for
myself, that neithor as a public officer, nor
as q citizen can know with favor or disfa
vOr. partns among the supporters of the
United States, any more than | can make
a distinction between factions which unite
in aiding the Rebellion.
A nation, like an individual, can do only
one thing etfectually at one time. 1t cannot
wisely turn aside from the chase of the
fearful demon of Disunion. to pursue any
inferior demon, whether imaginary or real
| think that the wrangles which occur ed
among tho Crusaders about their respective
creeds, when they sat down to the seige of
Jerusalem. were just as rational and just as
wise as disputes about Abolition would now
be 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 Cab.
met or in the assemblies of the people.
] am occupied bore either in medlating
between differing parties and Jealous sects.
| or else in watching and counteracting the
intrigues of traitors in Europe. But some
| times think that il, instead of being charged
with these duties, | we're at liberty. as you
seem 10 be. to servo the country in my own
way. could make an appeal to Democrats
and Republicans, Abolitonists and slave
holders. in behalf of our distracted country,
that would bring tho whole people at once
under arms. and send treason reeling back
INTO tho den Of darkness from whence it
sprung. l do not know how this would be-
but do know that If were in your place,
| should try.
] nm very respectfully, your obedent
servant, WILLIAM II. SEWARD,