Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-06-05
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Hon. VIM. Duer,s AbIe ana PatrI o tic
Letter. tf I..r


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The following able and patriotic letter 10
from Hon. WIN. DuER, Of oswego, New York,
Mr.. DuER was formerly an influential Whig
member Of Congress from that State, and has
latterly ranked as Constitutional Union
man. His letter Is written in response TO an
invitation to consult with committee appointed
by the so-called Union party organization in
New York: "
0sWEGo, May 16, 1862.
MY DEAR SIR: have received your letter
inviting me to meet yourself and other gentle
men constituting q committee appointed BY GER
tain members of the Legislature designated as
Republican and Union members, with au-
thority, after consultation with committees Of
other organizations, to fix the time and place for
holding State Convention for the nomination
Of State officers. will give You the reason
why ! think it proper to decline this invita-
tion. .lit gfE
The members of the Legislature by whom
the committee Was appointed with which you
invite me to consult, adopted an address and
resolutions declaring certain principles and in
wiling to convention which they recommend,
"All Republicans, Union Democrats aud other
loyal citizens supporters Of the policy of the
Administration and responding 70 the principles
and policy" SET forth In such address and reso-
luHons -aF r
can not call myself "a supporter of the
policy of the Administration, and do not ire
spond to the principles and policy set forth in
the address and Fesolutions," and, therefore,
though loyal citizen, | am not embraced With
In this invitation. n aeE
am ready, indeed, to support the Admins
trAtOn 10 the prosecution OF the war for the pres
eruation Of our Constitutional Union, and know
shat 10 this policy the President is pledged by
numerous acts and declarations, the sincerity Of
which do not question. But whether he will
adhere to these pledges in spite of that powerful
influence in hie own party which is seeking to
convert the war into an abolition war, is yet to
be proved. He has already recommended an
Important measure which In my judgment 10
impolitic and unwarranted by the Constitution.
With respect to the vital questions that remain
Iregard the "policy Of the Administration" as
somewhat un6xsd and uncertain, and until I
see more clearly Wha! Il 10, am unable TO call
myself ils supporter" o
Bus laying aside this objection, which does
not seem 20 embarrass Republicans who are the
open opponents of the policy to VII oh the Presi,
HtOPSoVu
union upon lie merits. Is it expedient, and
will 1t promote the public welfare, to unite
With the Republican party upon the principles
of the Legislative address and resolutions, fol
I the purpose Of defeating the Democratic party
Of this State at the approaching electlon3 Thai
10 the question.
A year ago when the country was In imminent
danger, the Republicans Of New York and of 9th
Ire States invited Democrats and oil other loys
men to lay aside pArtisan controversy and unit
with them In the support Of the war for the pro
tse.ioa Of The ConSttEtioR and Union. No oIhe
motive or purpose for the war was then heArt
from the leaders Of the Republican party or In
deed In nlany quarter having the slightest In
fuencs upon public opinion.
The messages and speeches Of the President
the proclAmAions Of bis Generals pledging th
public faith TO the people Of the invaded SiAteI
and Of which his mere silence was an approvI
and confirmation; the resolutions of Congrei
passed almost uDanlmously, only two Republ
oAns voting Against them In the House Of Repre-
sentstives; the language Of the press and poT
ular meetngs--all agreed in declaring that th
war was to be prosecuted not to subiugate th
South, nor 70 change Southern institutions, no
10 deprive Southern men of their property Q
rights, bat simply to establish the authority Q
the Constitution over all the States.
Such were the appeals and assurances unde
which the war commenced. But when we ha
half million Of men in arms; when our armie
were filled with Democrats and others who vo
unteered to fight for this cause and not for abol
tion, when Maryland, Kentucky, and Missour
relying upon our promises, had sent loyal men
Congress, opened their territories to our trooI
and placed themselves in our power-then arI
We heard, that slavery being the cause Of the wa
slGpsry muSt be destroyed. Il is notorious, tn
at this day large portion Ito say at least)
the Republican party repndiate these pledg'
and trample on their own Chicago PLATFORM
They are the open advocates Of the abolitic
Of slavery 10 the States, and of measures {
confscation go sweeping and relentless thI
their like has not been known since the do,
OF William the Conqueror. They have th
cries, several theories. Some of them mali
itain that the seeded States are out Of Il
Union, and therefore have no rights. ThC
adopt the doctrine Of secession, attaching to
a consequence that enhances Its absurdity.-
The States, they say, are gone as States, b
remain as territories, subject TO absolute powe
This 10 the theory of Mr.. Sumner. IL is Il
theory adopted by great meeting In the ci
of New York, over which q son Of Alexand
Hamilton presided. Others derive the pow
to abolish slavery from q different source.
may be done, they say, BY the war power
other words, by despotic power. Who cs
bound the war power7 And TO what mise
able state must that country be reduced, whe
1t shall be thought sjustihoation of every vi
lation of constitutional Law to say that It m
be done by the war power!
know that all these gentlemen claim to
prominently eveB) the friends of the Union.
They would sooner abolish slavery than tn
az ITosos,, sba,,Id no-seb Thav vvnuld avnuk
military despotism in the South for the sake
The Union. They are so passionate In their 10
that they would sacrifice law, liberty, the CO
slitution itself, to sGue the UnioR. Well {
Union, to which they are 80 devoted, is one
which confess have no respect or attaC
elment. know no Union but our Constitution
u Union of free and equal States. Il is an abr
Of words to call any thing else the Union. I
on the new platform, Phillips, who declares q
for twenty years he has been the enemy Of I
Union, and Garrison, who formerly stigmati7
it as O compact with hell, are both Union m,
+ Il Ia in the opinion Of these gentlemen that
law Of God and the Constitution Of the Unit
States are at variance with each other, and the
fore they have sought the overthrow of /
Union, but they have become converted sir
it has been discovered that one may be an ei
my Of the Constitution, and yet friend of |
Union. So, Mr.. Gerret Smith, who sat in
seat Of honor at the New York meeting,
forms us in his circular though he hates
na' Constitution he lopes the Union.
The legislative address invites TO the 7
posed Union Convention "all Republicans, Un
Democrats and other lOyGl citizens" This
plies that ell Republicans are loyal; that {
81 loyalty may be found among Democi
and other citizens, but nowhere else. 8
is not my opinion. We are In arms aga
the disloyal men Of the South, and q