, 1863-08-29
THE WASHINGTON STATESMAN
SATURDAY MORNING, AUG. 90 1863
The Great Issue

down the rebellion and restoring the Union,
or for the purpose of destroying slavery re-
gardless of the consequences to the Union,
is now the great issue of the day The
people of the loyal States with the excep-
ton of few secession sympathizers of the
Fernando Wood stripe) are divided into
two great parties upon this issue. The
unconditional Union men are in favor of
restoring the Union at whatever cost, re-
gardless of the effect it may have upon sla-
very. Whatever may become of slavery
is with them not question. Slavery may
stand or fall in the chances of war they
are for the Union, first, last and all the
time. Whatever damage slavery may sus
stain in the natural progress Of the war is
regarded by them as merely Incidental
As an object, then, they would not prose
cute the war single day for the purpose
of Abolition. They would willingly see
the whole South come back to-day iuto the
fold Of the Union with all the rights guar
nnteed it before the existence of the war.
1t 10 their opinion that if the Union is ever
restored it will be by the seeding States
coming back as sovereign States, and not
as conquered provinces despoiIcd of their
rights. The opposition party appropriates
to itself all the Unionism all the patriotism
and all the decency of the country. This
party appears TO carry with it all the soph-
istry, subtlety and hypocricy of the nation
1t first came into power by deceitful means.
Its corner stone from The start was Abol-
tioD, but it has ever kept the main plank
in the creed yelled from the public eye, and
!, has steadily denied that It's object was the
abolition Of slavery and the equalization of
the races Yet it is palpable to every in
,elligent mind that with every step of the
leaders of the party-with every change of
Its party name, the object has ever been,
and still is, the emancipation of the black
race and their elevation to the social and
political standing with white American cit
izens. The abolition party, proper, is
now readily recognized under the name of
"Unon party !" The same men with a
few honorable exceptions) who were leaders
of the Repu bliean party now control and
constitute the head and front Of this new
Union organization. They are the same
fanatcal zealotS the same intolCrant, self
pious radicals. The war is being conducted
now to suit them, and therefore they are
its violent supporters, and will be, so long
as they believe it is conducted on an aboli-
Union without slavery and for disunion
with it. They have nurtured Abolition un-
til they can tolerate no sentiment which
is not 10 harmony with their ideas Of free
dom" Thus, if war democrat is not an
nbolitonist he is with them "copperhead"
or TRAITOR" A man must endorse all
proclamatons and all acts of the officials
to be good Union man" A good Union
man is not allowed scarcely to think for
himself nova days, especially if he does not
think like the radicals. Ye. the great
Union party is for Freedom-of the ne
groes 1t matters but little, however, what
becomes of the white mans freedom, so that
the negro's is made secure. Before the
organization of the Union party, Mr. Rich
ardson, of Illinois, "a War Democrat,
and member of COngrcss) spoke as follows
of the abolition change ofnamc:
Gan these things l hope for,
all these things shall realize, unless the pco
pie are again deceived by abolition under
some new name. Under the name republ-
can abolition can do no more harm; in that
character its role is ended. 1t will next
appear in new dress Already its lead.
ers are calling loudly for the formation of n
so-called Union pariy-this is indeed an at
tempt to steal the livery of heaven in which
TO serve the devil. Let the people, being
forewarned, be forearmed against the next
appearance of abolition. Trust no such af-
filatious. for one more success of the abOli-
tion party, under whatever name it may as
sumo, and our nationality is lost forever,
and the wreck of our Republic will strew
the pathway of nations with those of
Greece and Rome From the cOntempla-
ton of such a future | turn in horror
upon such scenes, Mr.. Chairman, trust
my eyes may never resi-, over such results
never weep"
Mr.. Richardson, in the foregoing para
graph, spoke the words of truth. The
Union party was formed and its aims
its revolutionary acts and tendencies can
not be msconstrued The leaders of the
organization despise the 'Union as it was
and the Constitution as it is )" the "Union
as it ought to be and the Constitution as
1t should be" is their motto. And these
changes are to be for what? Simply that
the negro may gain his freedom and by
the same token ascend in the scale of be-
ing to the dignity of the American citizen
that "the governed may all have an equal
voice in the Government y 1t is claimed
By the leading lights of the party that 'all
men ore created free and equal" There
fore, they argue that the negro is not only
man but that he is also tire equal of the
white American citizen and is entitled to
the same status with him socially and po-
ltcallN Thus, fanatiesm and pGilanthro-
Ht,t