Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-08-27

hacil issues are swallowed up in the greater issue
Oh NATIONAL life; national unity; the supremacy of
S constitution. He said in substance ''whue
VIC wax lasts there can be issue but loyalty and
anu no parties but Patriots and traitors
sone'Anes put to myself this question
- 'ohnson' DA or any other Democrat occupied
AiheoAn place, having been elected before the
wax pesao, py d political party to which 1 did not
oelons, eouIo i so long as the war lasts organize
= or ala IN organizing a political party opposed 20
him, and still act the part of patriot 20
know not how others may feel, but for myself
before High Heaven declare that until this fearful
issue Of war is past, could not, and would not
dare do so, lest, doing should directly or indi-
reotly give aid and comfort 10 the rebellion, and
thus bring moral treason upon my soul.
Until TINS rebellion Is put DOWN; until the su-
premacy Of the Constitution of the United States
is established and acknowledged everywhere; until
our flag floats again on every fortress and every
foot Of soil in every State and Territory of the Uni
ted States, am determined to know issue but
the country and the whole country, the Union and
the whole Union, under the Constitution OF our
theirs; and in political action know no friends
but those who support and defend them by their
yalor in the field and their moral and political sup
port at home, at the polls. .a-
L repeat, the power of the rebels, though Grip
pied, is still formidable. Confined to themselves,
without moral support at the North, without NOR
al sympathy and material aid from abroad, they
would soon yield to the authority of the Govern
ment But the truth is, the English press and
many of the English aristocracy openly favor the
rebellion and worse than all, the English Govern
ment itself, by acknowledging them as beiligerents
before even Mr.. Adams could reach London, have,
in effect, created formidable navy for the rebels,
built, armed and manned by British SUBJECTS, and
protected in British ports,-a navy which has done
and is doing immense injury to our commerce.
pursuing it every under the whole heaven
Meanwhile the Emperor of France, upon our south
western frontier, has not only, by armed interven-
ton, overthrow the Republic Mexico, establish
ed an empire upon its ruins, and placed foreign
despot its throne, to be upheld by French bayo-
nets, but he threatens to intervene in our affairs
and would in an horr, if he dared, and could get
England to Join him. aa
While the nation i3'thus struggling for its very
life against this gigantic rebellion while actual
intervention by European armies is establishing
Empires upop the ruins of Republics this con-
tiuent, aye at very doors, with threats of in
tervention in our own affairs, and alliances with
the rebels in arms against us, great God what an
hour is this for loyal men to organize and embit-
ter political parties hostile to the only Admins
tration which save the Government; for all
know that il this Government is to be overthrow
by rebellion by foreign Intervention, either or
both together, it must occur within the next two
years of Mr.. Lincoln's Administration. We must
be saved or lost before another Administration can
begin.
But, my fellow-citizens, it is nay solemn duty to.
4 hot dan ris from tbn
of the rebels great as our injuries have been and
may still be from the navy set aioat by British
subjects from British ports under rebel colors, to
prey upon our commerce; great may be the
dangers and complications to grow out of French
intervention in Mexico, and threatened alliance
with the rebellion at the South, more real danger
to our cause and to our country is to be appre-
hended from the hostile political organizations liz
the free States, OF which such papers as the New
York World, the Dubuque Herald and the Mil
waukec NeaoS are the organs, and of which such
men as Eallandigham and Fernando Wood are
true, frank, and outspoken representatives.
Loud in his protestations in favor of the Union,
Vallandgham asserts his belief that there is not
a .sman woman or child in the Seeded States in
favor of a return to the Union," and in the same
breath he says the ssSoUth be conquered by
force OF arms He is for the Union, but the ''Un
ion is mpossible.'' The people Of these States
will not re-ente r it, and the Government cannot
force them to do SO.
What for the Union, and yet against the I'm
ion Strange paradox Little short of madness
must rule the brain Of one who entertains it.
What does he mean2 Is Valandigham, then
foolish insane as to utter words without mean
ing No, gentlemen, no! He means what he
says, and has the boldness to aVow it. He be-
lieyes in Union, but in a Union which is to
from reconstruction upon the basis of the South
ern Confederacy. First, he would acknowledge the
independence of the Southern Confederacy. Sec
ond, he would allow the States one by one to vote
to join the southern Confederacy, believing that
Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and Maryland
would first do SOL then that Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, and all the States drained by the Mississippi,
would soon follow, and then that Pennsyyan
and New York would from interest necessity
follow their example, and that is the Union born of
reconstruction which he beIiYes in, to which he,
Buchanan, POWELL and all who cry 'EUnion, Union ~
''no coercion, coercion - 60 reconstru ction,
construction - looking, and have been looking
from the beginning, and from before the beginning
of this war .. 't
1t was part Of the great conspiracy which led to
the rebellion to which Buchanan lent his influence,
il he was not Il party. Such a Union and such
reconstruction, of necessity yields all to the re-
bellion consents to the overthrow of the constitu-
ton, and trampIes the flag OF the Union under the
feet Of traitors. Such Union is Union with
treason; such reconstruction involves death to
the Constitution of our fathers And while going
on it would invite and surely bring European in
teryention and alliances.
1t was in view, therefore, Of the great danger to
our and country, to arise from hostile poiti
cal dissensions among the loyal people Of the tree
States, and to avoid them IN Wisconsin that tie call
under which this contention assemblies, wisely
declared, There is 70 re2=on why those who con-
cur su bStantially in opinion upon these SUBJECTS
should not act together politically, WhateV-
er may have been their antecedents,'' and cor
daily invited sAI electors unite in tho election
of delegates who approve Of the following PROPOSE
tons
That the Union. be preserved In its integrity
Ihat the constitution and laws OF the united
states be enforced throughout the whole nauohai
domain;
That the rebellion be suppressed, not by compro-
misses with or CONCESSIONS to traitors, but by the
sworn whose agency they have themselves lh'oheu,
Ihat the national administration should De near
thy and generously supported, in its efforts to put
GOWN the rebelhon.'
Under that call, we are now assembled and,
trust and NJ ge every reason to believe the action
OF this body will practically demonstrate, by our
nominations well as by resolutions, that We
meet not partzans, but patriots, the faithful
representa- of all the people of Wisconsin who
endorse those PROPOSITIONS
Indeed those propositions so well and SO
briefly stated as to constitute platform of them
selves, neither so narrow as to exclude any loyal
Democrat nor broad as not to hold even the most
ca rnest Aboltionist who is loyal to the Consttu-