North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-03-18

Club, on the celebration of WAsHISCToN's
Birthday:
To P. MCCALL, Esq, Chairman of the Com
mittee -
Dear Sr:-In response to your friendly
invitation, have to express some views upon
public topics, which may be submitted to
your meeting on the 2ad instant And I
cannot know that any words of mine will
deepen popular conviction upon the necessity
OF changing our rulers and overthrowing their
present policy, or quicken popular zeal for
the ACCOMPLISHMENT of these important OBJ
jects.
a conviction that the country is mis-gov-
| erned, the war mis-managed, and liberty it.
self IN peril, is growing up in the public
mind, and thousands are alert, inquistive, and
critical, who gave to Government uncalcula-
ting and enthusiastic support founded upon
complete confidence, twelve months ago
The day of blind, headlong passion, and of
confident, unquestionlng trust in our rulers
has passed, and the electoral duties of the
citizen will now be discharged with more in
telllgent comprehension than was possible in
the earlier months of the war.
The result Of this war will be to perfect
the the political revolution in the North and
West, begun by the late elections, and to ex--
clude the Republican party, with its fanatic
Ism, its corruption, and its incapacty, per-
manently from power.
But can this be accomplished in time to
save the country2 to preserve its unity and
liberty2 And if these vital objects can be
secured, either sooner or later, by the resto-
ration of the Democratic party to power, up
on what policy shall that party act in their
attainment These questions are timely and
important enough to occupy the space and
leisure now at my command. Complete con-
troll in the State Government can be secured
to our party in October next. Control of the
Federal Government can be obtained by it
year later, in the election Of President, as
suming that the renovation of Congress, now
begun shall go on and be consummated by
that time.
The time here mentioned must elapse be-
| fore power can be completely lodged in safe
| hands; before the work of reconstructipp the
Union, and thoroughly reforming the Govern
ment can be performed. In the meantime.
| how much of calamity must we undergo T.
10 what measures of evil must we be subject
ed2 The public debt will be swollen epor-
mously, financial crash may come, sweep
ing away private fortunes, and Gripping pub
| lie credit ard power; and it is not imposs-
BILE that in an hour of desperation our rulers
may abandon the war, and place the barrier
| of bad treaty, or the impertinences of q for
eign mediation, IN the way ofre-union. I'm
questionably, there are great dangers in the
immediate future, and apprehension of evil is
timely, and justified by the events of the past
two years. But during this period of danger
of trial. of peri-this interval which separ-
ates Us from the day of reiefan securitv-
what shall be the attitude cf our party to-
ward the Administration and the war These
questions may reasonably be asked by the
thousands in this State, and by the thous
ands in other States who are willing to ioin
in and assist in the redemption of the count
ry.
The question may be answered, in part, by
referring to the past. The object of the war
was announced in the outset by Resolution
of Congress, which went out North and South
and to foreign countries, as the platform of
the Government in its prosecution. That re-
solution announced the object of the war to
be, the defense and maintenance of the supre-
macy of the Constitution and the preserva-
ton of the Union, with all the dignity equal
ity and rights of the several States unmpair-
ed, and explicitly denied that it was wagcd
in any purpose of conquest or subjugation, or
purpose of everthrowing or interfering with
the rights or established institutions of the
Southern States. This clear and emphatic
resolution was accepted and approved by the
Democracy of the Border States, and by con-
servative men generally, and thereupon all
the magnificent resources of the country in
men and money were put at the disposal of
wv AoA PAVoCSullOh VI tllc
war in accordance Herewith and it has had
command of those resources unopposed and
almost unquestioned down to this hour.
But the time came when this ground, of
contest for the supremacy of the Constitution
and the preservation of the Union became. in
the policy of the Administration, connected
with if not subordinate to, another and diff
ferent object. The tinsel rhetoric of Sumner
the dlctatorial utterances of Greeley and the
rabd violence of Phillips and Garrison, be-
came of more consequence at Washington
than the views Of the great majority of the
people and the pledged faith of the nation
A policy of emancipation was announced, in
volaing enormous expense, doubling the diff
ficulties of the contest, and in flat contradi,
t;op Of tho colamn daclara ION unon the oh