Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-06-04
Che Ohio 9tatesnram
General Van RensseIaer's Letter to the
League Convention at Utica, n. Y.

The following Ia the answer OF General VAN
RENSSELAER,, commander of the New York
volunteers of 1912, to the polite invitation oi
the NeT York City Joint Leagues to unite with
them 10 thoir Convention at Utica, on Wednes-
day, May 21t h
Hon. A. M. Taber and p. M. Whetno,e, Sec
Tetdyies:
GENTLFMEN--l have tho honor 20 epkuoWl-
edge the receipt Of your polite note, on behalf
of the Loyal League of Union citizens in the
city of New YCrk, asking my co operation as
Generai-in-Chief of the veterans of the wal
OF 1912, to procure their attendance at mass
asaemblage Of loyal citizena 10 be held at Utica
on the 9th Of May inst, for the purpose OF
manifesting o fixed determination to sustain
the Government in its rlghtful efforts to quell
tho rebellion, and sustain the Union, tho Con-
stitution, and the supremacy of the national
flag.
In anewer to the invitation, | beg leave to
remark that the necessity Of the contemplated
assemblsge at Utica, unless 1t be political
movement for partisan onds, ia not very appar-
ent to me; at NO period OF the rebellion has
greater unanimity prevailed in the Northern
States than at the present time, to preserve the
integrity Of the Union and the constitutional
rights of its citizens; and equally unanimous
appears to be the conviction OF the utter nonm.
potency of the national Administration to con-
duct our civil and military affairs, 80 as 10 bring
the cruel civil war, which is rendlng asunder
our great republic TO a successful termination
The devoted loyalty of the veterans requires
the indorsement OF no man. At the dawn of
manhood they riaked their limbs and lives TO
vindicate American rights and independence
against foreign enemy; and on every political
Issue which has sinoe agitated HE country they
have always been found sustaining the Union,
the Constitution and the supremacy Of the
laws
At the frat announcement of John Browne
raid into Virginia, in the autum Of 1859, the
General-in' Chief of the veterans Issued to them
q general order, which was widely circulated,
warning them that civil war was at hand, and
pointing out their duty in these emphatic words:
In the event of insunecIion or rebellion, need
not tell You what your duty will be- you learned It in the
war Of l6l", when you were mustered and armed not
only to repe British invasion but to punish il neces.
saIy Domestic Treason Of the Hartford convention
coinage.
You will therefore respond to the call of your coun
try In person II you can or by your grandsons
you cannot and you will counsel tnem that no sac.
rihce OF and treasure can be too great 10 main
tain the Union; the Sheet Anchor OF our safety at home
and the Pillar Of our national strength aud
abroad.
Fail not to impress their minds as on tables Of brass
that after passing through feeble infancy with all the
institutions we now have and attained the gigantic
stature OF colossal manhood and taken rank amongst
the rst nations Of the earth, to ema5culate now thai
manhood by dissolution OF the Union on account Of
negro slavery, would be act Of madness and folly thai
would cause enduring regret and expose us
ly to the deriaon OF the civilized world.
The lesson taught them 10 the war OF 1879
n eat 1sr,A A..
Union, as q guarantee Of national strength snd
greatness, but experience has alsu taught them
that lncapacity in civil and military leaders, is
as fatal to the succesS OF d glorious cause and q
gallant army, as treachery, venRlity or coward
leej that stern rebuke and public censure, not
fattoTy and tame acquiescencs, we're the way
to correct aelt-conceit and ignorance, in its co.
reer OF blindness aud mistakes.
The Veterans, as far as l represent them, 90
for the entire Union, aud the suppression of tho
rebellion by force of arms, il practicable, but
they regard the Administration OF President
Lincoln In reference to these ends, patriotic
though it DO, as miscaculating and inefficient,
and to support 1t by large mpjoritieB would be
10 confirm it In palpsble error, and that q
change in its disastrous policy may be effected
by throwing il into minority at the elections,
and thus showing is that u had lost the conf
dence of the Nation. %
Fer these reasons Ifeel bound IN the nest re-
speetfni terms, to decline issuing an order ha
commander of the Veterans OF 1872, requesting
them to accept OF your polite Invitation to m eet
the New York City Loyal League at Utica. On
Wednesday next.
Very respectfully, your Ob't aarv't,
JOHN S. VAN RENSSELAER,'
Genernl-in-Chisf, etc.
Albany, May 25, 1863.