Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-06-04
Hon. william Duer of New York
on Union for the Union.
OSwEGo- Nav

! Os~EGo, May l6, 1862.
~ DEAR SIR:-I have received your let
tor inviting me to meet yourself and other
gentlemen constituting committee appoin-
ted by certain members of the Legislature
designated az "Republican and Union mem
bers," with authority, after consultation
with committees of other organizations, to
fix the time and place for holding a State
/ Convention for the nomination of State off,
GERS. will give you the reason why think
it pr per to decline this invitation.
! The members of the Legislature by whom
the committee was appointed with which
/ you invite me to consult, adopted an ad-
dress and resolutions declaring certain prin>
clpies and inviting me to a convention which
they recommend, "All Republicans, Union
/ Democrats, and other loyal citizens suppor>
tiers q the policy Of the Administration ana
responding to the principles and policy" set
forth in such address and resolutions.
cannot call myself "a supporter Of the
/ p0lic, of the administration and l do not
''resPond TO the principles and policy set
forth IN the address and resolrtiOns'' and,
therefore, though loyal citizen, am not
embraced within this invitation.
am ready indeed. to support the Admin
istration in the prosecution Of the war for
tie preservation Of our Constitutional Union,
and know that to this policy the President
Is pledged by numerous acts and deciara-
tions, the sincerity of which do not ques-
ton. But whether he will adhere to these
pledges in spite Of that powerful influence in
his own party which is seeking to convert
the war into an abolition war. is vet to be
proved. He has already recommended an
important measure which in my judgment
Is itnpolitic and unwarranted by the Consti>
tuition. With respect TO the vital questions
that remain regard the policy of the Ad-
ministration," as somewhat unfixed and un-
certain, and until l see more clearly what it
| is, am unable to call myself its "suppor-
ter"
But laying aside this obi j.ction, which
does not seem to embarrass Republicans
VINO are the open opponents of the policy to
which the President is pledged, let us con-
! slider the proposed union upon its merits
Is 1t expedient, and will it promote the pub
tic welfare, to unite with the Republican
party upon the principles of the legislative
address and resolutions, for the purpose Of
defeating the Democratic party Of this State
at the approaching election? That is the
question.
a year ago when the country was in i'm
I minent danger the Republicans of New
York and of other States invited Democrats
and all other loyal men to lay aside partizan
controversy and unite with them in the sup
port of the war for the preservation Of the
Constitution and Union. No other motive
or purpose for the war was then heard from
the leaders of the Republican party or in.
I deed in any quarter having the slightest in
| fiuence upon public opinion.
The messages and speeches Of the Presi>
dent; the procian;ations of his Generals
pledgiug the public faith to the people of the
invaded States. and of which his mere ST.
Ience WAS an approval and confirmation; the
resolutions of Congress passed almost unani-
! molIsly, only two Republicans voting against
them in the House Of Representatives; the
language of the press and of popular meet
ings-al united in declaring that the war
was to be prosecuted not to subjugate the
South, nor To change Southern institutions.
nor to deprive Southern men OF their prop
erty or rights. but simply to establish the
authority of the Constitution over all the
States. Such were the appeals and assu
raCces under which the war commenced
But when we had half a million of men in
arms; when our armies were filed with
Democrats and Others who volunteered to
fight for this cause and not for abolition:
when Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri,
relying upon our promises, had sent loyal
men to Congress, opened their territories to
our troops and placed themselves in our
pOwer-then first we heard, that slavery be
ing the cause of the war, Sldre7y must be
destroyed. 1t is notorious, that at this day
. large portion (to say the least) of the Re
publican party repudiate these pledges and
trample even on their own Chicago pla:-
, FORM They are the open advocates OF the
abolition Of slavery in the States, and oi
measures of confiscation so sweeping and re
lentless that their like has not been known
since the Gays of William the Conqueror
They have theories. Some OF them main