Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-09-05


Intervention in our own affairs, and ALI
ances with the rebels in arms against US,
great God what an hour is this for
loval men to organize and embitter politi-
cal parties hostile to the only Admins
tration which can save the Government,
for be it overthrown by rebellion or by
foreign intervention, either or both to-
gether, it must occur within the next two
wears Of Mr.. Lincoln's Administration.
We must be saved or lost before another
Administration can begin.
But, my fellow citizens, it is my solemn
duty to declare that, great as our danger
is from the power Of the rebels; great
as our ipiurieshave been and may still be
from the navy set ahoat by British sub
iec:s from British ports, under rebel col
ors, to prey upon our commerce; great
as 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 he
apprehended from the hostile political
organizations in the free States, of which
such papers as the New York Worid.
the Dubuque Herald aud the Milwaukee
NewS are the organs. and of which such
men as VaIIandieham Il Fernando Wood
are true, frank, ana outspoken represent
atives.
Loud in his protestatons in favor of
the Union. Vallandigham asserts his belief
that there is not ''man, woman or child
in the Seeded States in favor of re-
turn to the Union" and in the same
breath ha-says the "South cannot be
conquered by force Of arms" He IS for
Union, but The "Union is impossible"
The people of these States will not re
enter it, and the Goyernmnt cannot force
them to do so.
What for the Union, and yet against
the Union. Strange paradox Little
short of madness must rule the brain of
.one who enteltaines it.-What does he
mean? Is ValIandigham. tn IN SO foolish
or insane as to utter words without mean
ing? No gentlnen, no. He means
what lie SAYS, and has The boIdneSS to
avow it. lie believes in the Union, but
in n Union which is to come from recon
struction upon the basis Of the Southern
Confedecracy. First, he would acknowl-
edge the Independence of the Southern
Corfederacy. Second, he wonld allow
the States one by one, to vote to join the
Southern Confeleracy, believing that
Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and Mary
land would first do so; then that Illinois,
Indiana. Ohio, and all the States drain
cd bv the Mississippi, would soon follow,
and the that Pennsylvania, and New
York would from interest follow
her example, and that is the Union born
of reconstruction which he believes in; to
which lie, Buchanan, Powell. and all who
cry Union, Unionp no coercion. no
coercionp Reconstruction, reconstruction =
are looking, and have been looking from
the beginning, and from before the be-
ginning Of this war.
It was part of the great conspiracy
which led to the rebellion to which Blu
chanan lent lis influence, if he was not
a party. Such Union and such recon
struction, Of necessity yields al to the
rebellion, consents to the overthrow Of
the constitution, and tramples tho 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 intervention AMI ALI
ances.
1t was in view, therefore, of the great
danger to our cause and country, TO arise
from hostile political discussions among
the loyal people of the free States, and to
avoid them in Wisconsin that the call un-
der which this convention assemblies,
wisely declared. "There is no reason
why those who concur substantially in
opinion upon these subjects should not
now act together politically, whatever
NAV have been their antecedents," and
cordially invited "All electors to unite in
the election Of delegates who approve of
the following propositions:
That the Union be preserved in its
integrity;
That the constitution and laws of the
United States be enforced throughout the
whole national demain;
That the rebellion be suppressed, not
By compromises with or concessions
to traitors, but by the sword whose
agency they have themselves invoked;
That the national administration
should be heartily and ge nerously sup
ported, in its efforts to put down the re-
belion,"
Under chat call we are now assembled
and, | trust, and have every reason 10
believe, tive action Of this body will prac-
tical.y demonstrate, by our nominations
rs well as by our resolutions. that we
meet together as patriots, rs the faithful
representatives Of the people of Wiscon
sin "ho endorse those propositions,
Indeed those propositions are so well
and 50 briefly stated as to constitute
platform Of themselves, neither SO mar
row a. to exclude any loyal Democrat
nor So broad as not to hold even the
most earnest Abolitionist who is loyal to
the Constitution; constituting q solid
ground work upon which 10 build: not