, 1862-08-26
Letter from Secretary Seward

NNAN+0Ay SENATQs
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
hAsH1SGToS, August i9 1S6a
10 +. n. Hughes, ESQ.,, Hea6qua7ters OF the nsn,,
oGs"i5S SIate ientral Committee OF PennsyIys
Ella, Philadelphia:
DEAR s1E-1 have had the honor OF receiy.
1hg Your letter of the 13th inst, togethe,
with tie three papers to which it refer: "
ol them bling appeals written by yonrs.lf,
and addressed by the Democratic Stafe C-n'
tEal committee " to the Democrats and iii
a,,snas an rs OF the constitution in Pennsylvania
OF the citizens Of Philadelphia. the ohirets e
HAlch meeting will be ITO EXPRESS a tirn,
purpose to 6tard BY the maintenance of the
natlonal constitution with devotion to rhs
american Cnion," and further, "to de,lars
n9suny 113y 10 tne policy aud measures OF al
purposes Of aboltio,istn, and forn31lv to eT. ene
press me intention of the D mocratic Darty to
90 as II has always hitherto doae, namelT. tn
support the federal government in tae ev1r.
c1se Of It's constitutional power, and tn ID.
lehd II, at whatever peril, against the insidn-
;sa ous anu IRRESPONSIBLE teachings Of abolitiou-
1cu tell ne that some influential i,urrs1s
cocdueted BY political friends Of nine. cen,
sure one OF these papers as treasona Il. ar3
toak me o!ntr5 are conceived in the same
sIi5it WIN lhe one which is Eo harsl15 iuc.y
-: 1tu desire me to read them ant Hei:5h
thet tEen tur m5seli: gu further intimate hope
liaI pefuea OF the papers will have the r.
:ees oi producing exe1ilons on my part to in
duce the president to favor q policy +o MT
ooWn the demon Of abolitiobism.
nave read the document thus eubr,ittad
70 70 me, With high respect for the authority
nv ~ HMeh rdls !hey were Issued. and with fuiI
eon4dcnce IN tie sincerity OF the deyotion tn
avoWed. o-' soo Lave
ton viii allow me to say that this n,.ion ia
nc" engsseo, not in political canvass he-
t#eeh oppos1ng parties abou: QUESTIONS of
ciF4 administration, b1t in civil war, carried
On oy opposing armies on IN issue of nationa1
life or death. ~ "'1oa0l
u the revolution prevail there will be no
questions Of administration left to srttl.. r.
such questions. o~NSA1 1A1
1 aaa not to dictate course for others to
pursue in this crisis. Bus must sav for ~ ~
sell, that neither as public officer. nor as J,
cnlzen, can l Know witn faTor or Gist,vor p,r
Ties amorg supporters of the United Stafrs
any more than I can make 1iseinctions h..
lion.' IS Ao9 iepel-
A nation, like an individual. can on1v 4,
ore thing etsectualiy at one TIME. It caannt ut
wisely turn aside from the chase Of the :ear7u7
demon OF clsunlop, to pursue any inferior
demon, whether Imaginary or real.
t1lhk tGat the Wrangles which occurred
among the Crusaders about their respective
creeos. When they sat dowu to the eeiye of H.
rpsalem we're just IS rational ard usz as ~ r;se
as a d1sputes about abolition would now Ire in
lee army OF the Potomac in front Of Rich
mono. " hat is unwlse in the camp ct such a
n moment caLnot be wise iu the cabinet, or in
tne assemblies OF the people.
am occupled here either in mediuting be-
tween al1ieIlng parties sud jealous sccts. or
Else IN watching and eountaractjpr the in
tr1gues of traitors in Europe. Rnt T cor,a