Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-10-28
Hon. George Bancroft on the State Of the
Country

Country.
This eminent historian and well known Dem
ocrat, has written the following letter, decln-
ing a nomination for Congress in New York
City, in which he freely gives his views on
national affairs
New York, Oct Is, 1862.
GENTLEMEN Il am touched with gratitude
for the good will which has led your convention
Of delegates from . The Peoples Union Assoca-
TONS" by an unexpected and spontaneous vote
to nominate me unanimously as their candidate
for representative OF the Eighth Congressional
District. This act | receive as coming from
men who are awake to the perIls that oyerhang
our beloved country, and VINO pledge themselves
as citizeLs to be governed by loyalty to the
people
The next Congress will have before it the
most important subjects that ever engaged the
attention OF representative body since the
Convention that framed our Constitution and
yen we seem TO avail, Gho day OF election with a
fearful leyity or want oil c1nsderateness, rs
though the Old methods OF preparation, watch
may prove sufficient in u season Of uncIoudcd
prosperity. would serve for this hour when our
system itself 10 reatened with overthrow. II
the blood of those dearest to US, to contemplate
the chances OF failure from divisions and wayer-
ing in the North. Yet after we have sent out
from this city alone troops enough to constitute
II formidable army, we are advised ~ manifest
at the polls our consent to u disruption OF the
country. We send men from every ousehold
to the war they show in the battlefield the
most heroic courage, and yet we are asked 10
vote that the war has no Object, tina, We fight
only to retreat with sha ne II we are beaten, and
to submit with shame if we are victorious.
The only possible chance for speedy end Of
this war IS ite instant and vigorous prosecution
Hesitation brings chaos, ana prolOngs the strife
indefinitely. There must be one soul j. the
President, the army, and the people or the con
test will drag along under tho distractions Of
conflicting and uncertain opinions and the
short sighted desire togln peace By submission
) may change il into o seven years war, or a
thirty yeals' war or q war iJt generations.
Quick, united action can alone bring 10 to an
: early end.
The voice OF the State Of New York, as pro.
nounced in the elections, VIII ring through the
civilized world. Shall we not do our part to
make that voice clear for the Union? Are We
to devote all our resources 10 carry on the war,
aud then 70 TO the polls to express the opinion
! that the war, which certainly was forced upon
! us and could not have been avoided, was uu.
/ necessary and mistake? Are the citizens OF
New York to be 50 Inconsistent as 80 strain every
: nerve TO gain the mastery III the field, and then
10 signify at the polls readiness To FAINT and
I succunb? When the olgarehy Of the South
began the war by wantonly insulting our flag
T. this people rose up with calm and resolue
earnestness which was surpassed only by the
. sublime patience aud moderation with which
they bore defeat and IN smanagement, and uu-
Q certain guidance. Shall we now proclaim that
this zeal was delasl0n
The Tory party of England, all the old her
s oditaiy enemies to the perfect Development Of
cur free institutions, have been from the be-
y ginning eagerly hoping to see our beautiful flag
o mt in TWAIN forever, and have been untemlt
: ting in their ADVICE TO us to let halt the Union
& 90. Shall we adopt them Tor our counseot
Ia is one OF the saddest things, in this time oil
! general sorrow, that an effort is made to yer
suade our fellow cit gens OF foreign birth to give
: their votes IN the interest OF the very party o
the English arisocracy which from generation
to generation oppressed them at home.
Our bankers, with noble patriotism, placed
o their wealth as the service OF the Government.
y Are they now to be told hat their loans we're
/ offered without purpose and without AM
e need That tho Government should have
e sought peace at any price, even at the sacrifice
OF our Nationa. character, by covering befor
the conflict which all the possible depreciation
OF pusllAnimlty could not have avoided vii
lie they consent to the Government So paralyzed
and Its policy 30 uncertain, az TO leopard tn
~ restoration OF pnbhc credit, and to invite the
D. interpolation OF foreign powers
u Are our merchants prepared to wean them
% selves from the Tree USE OF the Oh ssapeake ant
y the Mississippi Win they, after having VOL
II back these great highways, give them up to
ID Coniederacy which Is the child OF rebellion, an
III which from Inherent causes will, in case OF IT
separation, be necessarily hostile TO us True
our interests are bound up with the South Blu
is the surrender OF the Capcs OF the Chesapeake
and oi the TOr'ugas, and of the Mississippi. I
r restore u profitable commeree WIN the re
li-qulshne / forever of vast tracts OF country
III the ltailes OF the United States, unsurpassed
n beauty fertility and healthiulness--prov
"A the best mode of promoting the exchange OF dc
ar nestle products? Will the bar Of custom
houses stretched across the channels of ou
mlghty rlyers, help internal navigation I
n, let the revoted States 60 from longing IL
va their trade, Is To die through icar of death I
he renounce the old intercourse entirely and ior
oh ever because to-day it is interrupted
Our fellow citlzons OF foreign birth have den
onstrated the power of freedom to blend thel
|, With us 10 our nationality and bro, herhood, An
nv they nave shown BY their conduct IN the generl
r, d,s1rees, how they hsvs faith that they sre r.
en ce,vcd lnto the bosom Of = nation, and isrm
", part Of one great, real, living people Shall v
%. send word " thoye that are iu camp that the,