The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-03-05
7Rrs.a the. National snssl,ix.pesr.,
Object Of the War

go - g
Tbs subjoined letter (the initiol nsu-
,e of brief SERVES y, from shs pen Of
public man we'll known to the whole
country, and who ia the present crisis has
sigasiizcd his lJsvosies to- the cause of
the Union. was originally scot us for in
sertion without the signature Of the wri
sery Though desiring, from considers.
tiousof modeaty, to- write anonymously ;,
ne was induced, at our request. to attach
his sname to these letters. and thus give
them the weight Of his authority. y 4
= S LETTER NO. l. ~ !
To Abrnhum Lincoln, President of the
Ua,ted States: "a - ~
REsrEcTED SIR:-I do not address you
for the purpose OF censure OF advice.
From boyhood to old age have belong
ed to the Democrats party Of the coun-
ty. Myspoiisical creed. 10 common with
that of my party throughout the North,
has been and now Is devotion to the Con-
stttntion' as 1t came from the hands Of
Washington and his compatriots. and to
the rights of the States reserved TO. them
on the adoption Of that iastrumenty
We look upon the structure composed
of the States and the Union as on. tenn.
pie of liberty. Of which the States are
the pillars aud the Union the roof Re-
move the pillars and the roof will fall,
remove the roof and pillars will be over
hro h. Ia nE an r<.f,l, n
war, ard our country will be st-ewea with
ruins more melancholy Fthan those which
lie PROSTATE of2 stand 'shasterea on the
sites Of ancient cities. '''a esq
Ruthless hands have seized upon and
are attempting to remove : portion o! the
pillars of our temple, at the hazard Of
crushing themselves aud rs in its fall, and
in the insane hope Of builcing . new tenn
pie for themselves out of the ruins
Though the Dvmocratic party of the
North were always willing to make all
reasonable or even tolerable concessi" As
so satisfy their allies in the South, yet,
as body. no party. is more devoted to
the Constitution and tha Union. asI 1t was
devotion to the Union which induced
them to make concession after concession
to quiet the spparent apparent apprehen-
ons Of their Southern friends. So vital
in their view was the preservation of the
Union and the Constitution to the inter.
es's aud safety of the Southern States in
particular, that many Of them could not.
until the assault on Fort Sumter. be con.
vinced0 that leaders OF Southern agitation
had anything in view beyond further
guarantees for their local ,institutions.
Underthi delusion some Of them raised
their voices against coercion, and thereby
nnwittingly rendered material service to
the cause of rebellion. But whom con-
vineed, by the thunder of rebel cannon
and the flames of Fort SUMTER that revo
iution, and not redress or security within
the Union, was the object of the South
ern leaders, they did all that honest men
could do to retrieve their error, and, Rot-
outstanding their political antagonism
on minor points. the Democratic party Of
the North rallied around your Admins,
trationaas the only means of saving the
county Your armies abound with them;
none are more rrady to sacrifice all that
is dear, even life itself for the preserva.
tion ofttke Union and the Constitution,
and toi,bem it is cheering. though bu,
JUST. that you have recently given them a
r-rreseb tative 10 your Cabinet. AZ
Be assured. sir, that sthe Democratic
party of the North, with the reception
of few semi traitors whom they repu
diats. cordially approve tho objscis ot
tho war against rebellion a. declared by
you infall your public aayowals.4 They
rally around you with y devotion to the
cause not exceeded by Iany class Of your
original supporters. and they will spare nc
sacrifice no sacrifice to save the. Union
and the Constitution Iu this great OBJ
ject they ara already consolidated with
the great mass Of the. Rspnblican party,
and will be amongsthe dlass to despair.
Indeed, these two parties for ali prssen,
purp5ses constitute bnt one, which may
appropriately be called the constitutional
Uniou party. The object Of this party
In sthe penliug war iS to presstss the
Union and the Constitution as it is. II
Is the Constitulion, aud that only. which
makes US nation; destroy Il. and The
nation will cease to exist. being resolved
into thirty y.foar independess States. In
lighting for tho Constitution, therefore,
ws fight for the Life Of The palion. for all
that can rive ma paaee and aaeurity nj