The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-05

THE IMPoL1cY OF REvIv1NG pARr1sAN ISSUES.

A Letter from Secretary Seward.
wC ,-Jls .tin 49, .tuU..s 5000 ar
THE IMPOLICY OF REvIvING PARTIsAN ISSUES.
The following letter was written to F. W.
Hughes, Chairman Of the Pennsylvania
Democratic State Committee. 1t sufi.
cientIy explains the purport Of the note to
which it is reply:
r DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
/. WASHINGTON, August 10, 1862.
To F. W. HUaHEs, Headquarters of the Demo
vania, Philadelphia: VA ,i,-H '..li or
DEAR SIR: have had the honor of re,
ceiving your letter Of the l4th inst, to
grther with the three papers to which it
refers, two OF them being appeals written
by yourself, and addressed by the Demo.
cratic State Central Committee I" to the
Democrats and all other friends of the Con.
stitution in Pennsylvania" and the other
being call for mass meeting of the citi.
zens of Philadelphia, the objects Of which
meeting will be +" to express firm purpose
to stand by the maintenance of the National
Constitution with devotion to the American
Union," and, further, to declare hostility
to the policy and measures of all who seek
to prostitute the country to the purposes of
Abolitionism, and formally to express the
intention of the Democratic Party to do as
it has always hitherto done, namely, to sup
port the Federal Government in the exercise
of its constitutional power, and to defend
1t, at whatever peril, against the insidious
and reasonable teachings Of Abolitionists.
You tell me that some influential jour-
mails, conducted by political friends of mine,
censure one of these papers as reasonable,
and that the others are conceived 10 the
same spirit with the one which is so harshly
judged. You desire me to read them and
weigh them for myself. You further init
mate hope that the perusal of the papers
will have the effect of producing exertions
on my part to induce the President to favor
policy to put down the demon Of Adolf
tionism.
have read the documents thus submits
ted to nee, with high respect for the au,
thority by which they were issued, and with
full confidence in the sincerity of the de-
votlOn to the Union which, as their author,
you have avowed.
You will allow me to say that this Ia
ton is now engaged, not in political can
vass between opposing parties, about CUES.
tions OF civil administration, but in civil
war, carried on by opposing armies on an
issue of national life or death.
If the revolution prevail there will be no
questions of administration left to settle. If
il fail, there will be time enough to settle
all such questions.
am not to dictate course for others
to pursue in this crisis. But must say
for myself, that neither as a public officer,
nor as citizen, can [ know with favor or
disfavor, parties among the supporters OF
the United States, any more than l can
make distinction between factions which
unite 10 aiding the rebellion
A nation, like an Individual, can 90 only
one thing effectually at one time. 1t cannot
wisely turn aside from the chase of the fear.
full demon OF Disunion, to pursue any interi-
or demon, whether imaginary or real.
think that the wrangles which occur
among the crusaders about their respective
creeds, when they sat down at the siege OF
Jerusalem, were just as rational and just as
wise as disputes about Abolition would now
be in the Army of the Potomac in front of
Richmond. What is unwise in the camp az
such moment cannot be wise in the Cab
met or in the assemblies of the people.
am occupied here either 10 mediating
between different parties of jealous sects, or
else in watching and counteracting the in
trigues OF traitors in Europe. But some
times think that if, instead of being charged
with these duties | were at liberty, as you
seem to be, to serve the country in my own
way, l could make an appeal to Democrats
and Republicans Aboitlonists and slave
holders, in behalf of our distracted country,
that would bring the whole people at once
under arms, and send treason ree,ing back
into the den of darkness from whence it
sprung l do not know how this would be,
but do know that if were 10 your place
should try.
lam. very respectfully,
Your obedjent servant,
WILLIAM Fl. SEWARD