The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-08-01
Address Of the Republican Members Of
Congress to 'he Loyal People Of the
limited States.

Tho undersigned Senators and Represent.
ativos in Congress, impelod by senso of
duty, send these words to you from your
Capitol.
The armed Rebellion against tho Consti.
tuition and laws of your countrv, orpauized
and begun during the lato Administration
of Mr.. Buchanan, and by the assent and co T.
operation Of several of his Constitutional
advisers, is unbappily not yet suppressed.
Tho Rebel conspirutors continue to wapo
war with Intensified cruelties upon YOUR
country and its free institutions. 1t would
be unjust alike to you aud to ourselves to
seek TO hide the fact that this Rebellion, BY
reason of the numbers and resources which
Il commands, the end at which it sims, aud
the interests which is imporils, is withou. q
parallel in tho history of the world.
large majority Of tho people of eleven
States, embracing an area Of 700 600 square
miles of fertile land, aud a population of
9 600 900, arc this day 10 the support of tho
Rebellion. This cruel and unnatural war ia
waged by these conspirators against the
People, neither for the redress OF wrong
nor tho vindcatioo Of right. The people
whom they assail and Geek to destroy have
done them no wrong tho Government oI
the country which they seek to overturu
has neither denied nor violated any right oil
theirs. TIE chiefs In this treusonable con
spiracy openly declare their purpose to be
TO oVerturn by force the fabric of American
Empire, and build upon its ruins despo
tism which would withhold from honest toll
its just reward, which would proclaim to
the laboring massos of our countrymeu the
maxim Of tyrants-that the grcat law OF
liborty aud human progress is not for them
and which would open and perpetuate now
markets in which "meu are to DO bought
and sold as merchandise" II cannot be O
matter o: surprise that a reasonable war
levied for such purposes should be prose.
cu,ed by those who wage it with "a cruelty
and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most
barbarous ages" Those armed conspira.
tors, in prosecuting tbor work of treason,
have robbed, i'm prisoned, bauisbod and
murdered peaceable citizons, solely because
Of their fidelity to their country aud it's laws.
They have deliberately assassinated your
mangled ard dcfenloloss soldiers on the
field Of battle, and have violated the sacred
graves Of your buried dead. And that theil
acts of cruelty might be marked by every
atrocity, they have even compelled foui
millions Of slaves TO support them by their
uupolu uuu W tO TIC
perpetuation of the Tyranny which forgee
fetters for themselves and their children
Men moved BY such purposes, and capable
Of employing such means for their accom-
plishmeut. must0be deaf alike to the de
mands Of justice ard humanity, and oar
only DO restrained by tho strong arm o
power. As neither tho ties of common
kindred, nor the obligations of common
huy1 Yik Aha o1ni0nu Of
country, arc regarded by those ASSISTANTS o.
your FREQ institutions. Il only remains fol
the LOYAL people to "hold them ns they hold
tho rost of mankind--onemles in war; in
peace, friends" ....
We cannot, if we would, shut out from
our minds tho conviction that upon the
issue of this conflict of arms thus forcet
upon you, depends not merely tho SUCCESS
but tho existence of your great experimon
Of representative government. In the ligh
of our past history, judged by the rapit
growth and development of tho Republic
under our free Constitution, it Is not az
open question whethor that Constitution
is worth preserving Every loyal American
citizen shrinks from the suggestion that che
unity of governments which constitutes III
one people can be destroyed. The worGi
Of Washington, always significant, seem tc
he invested TO day with new force: "Thii
Government, the offs pring of our own choic,
nninflucnced and unawed, adopted upor
full investigation and mutual deliberation
AND COMPLETELY FREE IN ITS PRINCIPLES
- has just claim TO your conf
dence and your support. Respect for in
authority. compliance with its laws, acqui
esence IN its measures, arc duties epjoinet
h, ha fn do al N vi nf trua EhNefx,
We cannot doubt that you duly appreciate
these great utterances of the Father of you
Country-that it is with you a conviction
that your Government, "iroe in its princi
Piles" has just claim to your support, an,
must at every hazard be maintained. Act
ing upon this belief, and in perfect accord
as We believe, with your will and with tn,
Constitution, Congress, as your agent. have
in order to provide for the common defense
| for she suppression of the rebellion, and fo
tho payment of the public debts, enacted
law for the assessment and collection of
Federal tax. and also for the imposition o
additional duties on imports. That thes
possible upon tho loyal people of the coun
try. and that the enemy in arms agaius
YOU NAV be weakened and stripped of sup
I pOrS, anu uuuo, hs idT phy 10, W ihucmui
the Government against the expenses q
suppressing this unjust rebellion, the Con
gress have further provided by law for th
seizure and condemnation to the public US
of all the property of these rebels in arm
and of their aiders and abettors; and ais
for the liberation and employment by tn
government of their slaves. AS furthe
means of defense. Congress has provided b
law that the President may summon to lh
support of tho Government such addition,
forces as no may deem necessary to insul
the prompt suppression of the rebellion
aud tho restoration of peace and the n,
tional authority.
The President, faithful to the high tru
committed to him by your unpurchased an
uDpurchasable suffrages, in obedience
his official oath 10 "take care that the Law
be faithfully executed" and in accordant
with the authority duly conferred upon hr
has called upon you, through the Governo
of the several States, to furnish 50O, 900 al
ditional soldiers, for the defense of the Col
stitution and Union.
Permit US to say 20 you that any citize
, who withho!ds his confidence and supper
, from your Government-whO refuses
!, compliance" with these laws, and an "a
/, quescence" 10 these measures 50 essenti
+ for its defense-in our Judgment, not on
disregards the wise counsel of Washingto
+ but violates his duty-that highest word r