Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-08-29
Important Correspondence.

Important Correspondence.
The following important correspon-
dence between Francis W. Hughes,
Esq, Chairman of the Democratic State
Central Committee, and Secretary Sew
ard, will be read with interest:
LETTER OF MIR. HUGHES.
HEADo's OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATE
CENTRAL COMMITTEE, OF Penn,
Philadelphia, Aug. IL, 1862.
Hon. Wm H. .Se'oard, iSec,y of State:
DEAR SIR-With some hesitation, I
take the liberty Of enclosing you three
documents, VIZ: The Address of the
Democratic State Central Committee, of
this State; an Address this day issued
by myself, as Chairman, and the form
of a call for great Mass Meeting about
to be held in this city.
Allow me to say that the address of
by leading and influential journals, con-
Quoted by those who claim to be your
political friends. The denunciation
has been so decided as to pronounce it
reasonable. Whether or not it is trea-
sonable, you can best determine if you
read it. 1t is lengthy and may take up
too much of your time; but the address
issued by myself, this day, is compara-
lively short, and as it states positions
sufficiently to determine the character of
the former, it will relieve you Of labor
if you will read the latter.
AS the address of the Committee, as
well as that by myself, as Chairman, are
both from my own pen, [ should bear
the greater part Of whatever reproach
should attach to their publication
Still, allow me to assure you that they
contain the sentiments of not less than
three hundred thousand of the men of
Pennsylvania, and believe of over one
million of men in the central States of
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York,
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. [ will add,
toe, that [ believe there is no other
million of men in the whole country of
more devoted patriotism and loyalty.
I will add, too, that believe this
million of men will, amid political
changes, remain patriotic and loyal. If
you will read one or both of the en-
closed addresses, and if, in connection
with the facts [ have stated in. regard
to their supporters, it will stimulate
you, or serve you in any degree to pro-
mote policy on the part Of the Adj
ministration of President Lincoln to
put down the demon of Abolitionism,
my sole object in addressing you this
(perhaps presumptuous) note, shall be
more than abundantly obtained. At all
events, rest assured that I address you
with the profound respect due your
high personal and official character.
F. w. HUGHES.
RESPONSE OF SECRETARY SEWARD.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON,
August 10Th, 1862. I
To F. W. HUGHES, Esq, Headquar-
ters of the Democratic State Central
Committee of Pennsylvania, Philadel-
phia Dear Sir:-I have had the honor
efreceiving your letter of the 18th inst,
together with the three papers to which
it refers, two Of them being appeals
written by yourself, and addressed by
the Democratic State Central Committee
"To the Democrats and all other friends
Of the Constitution in Pennsylvania, -
and the other being call for mass
meeting Of the citizens of Philadel phia,
the objects of which meeting will be to
express firm purpose to stand by the
maintenance of the National Constitu-
tion with devotion to the American
Union" and, further. "to declare ho s.
tility to the policy and measures of all
who seek to prostitute the country to
the purposes of AbolitionisHl, and for
mally to express the intention of the
Democratic party to do as it has always
hitherto done, namely, to support the
Federal Government in the exercise o1
its Constitutional power, and to defend
it, at whatever peril, against the insidi-
Gus and treasonable teachings Of Aboli-
tionists"
You tell me that some influential
journals conducted by political friends
of mine, censure one of these papers as
reasonable, and that the others are con
ceived in the same spirit with the one
which is SO harshly judged. You de-
sire me to read them and weigh them
for myself. You further intimate hope
that the perusal of the papers will have
the effect of producing exertions ON my
part to induce the President to favor a
policy to put down the demon of Abol-
tionism. ...
| have read the documents thus sub
mitted to me, with high respect for the
authority by which they were issued
and with full confidence in the SINGER
ity Of the devotion to the Union which
as their author, you have avowed.
You will allow me to say that this ma
ton is now engaged, not in political
canvass between opposing parties about
questions of civil administration, but in
civil war, carried on by opposing ar.
mics on an issue uf national life OIL
death.
If the revolution prevail there will be
no questions of administration left tc
settle. If it fail there will be time
enough to settle all such questions.
[ am not to dictate course for 9th
ers to pursue in this crisis. But mus
say for myself, that neither as public
officer nor as citizen, can l know with
favor or disfavor, parties among the sup
porters of the United States, any more
than [ can make a distinction between
factions whieh unite in aiding the Re,
bellion.
A nation, like an individual, can dc
only one thing effectually at one time