Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-03-07
Overthrow Of the Letter from " q R Ruci
NlCW

The following is the letter Of the Hon.
G. X. Buckaiew, to the Central Democratic
Club, on tue celebration of WAsHINGpoN S
TO P. McOALb, Esq, Chairman Of Com.
mittoe -
Dear Sir In response to your friend
ly invitation, | have to express some views
upon public topces, which may be SUBJ
mltted to your meeting on the 23d Instant.
And cannot know that any words OF
mine will deepen popular conviction upon
the necessity Of changing our rulers and
overthrowing their presence policy, or
quicken popular zeal for the accomplish
ment of these important objects.
A conviction that the country is mis-
governed, the war mismanaged, and liber-
ty Itself in peril is growing up in the public
mind, and thousands are alert, iDquisltive,
and critical, who gave to Government un-
calculating and enthusiastic support ioun-
ded upon complete confidence, twelve
months ago. The day ofblind, headlong
passion, and of confident, nquestioning
trust in our rulers has passed, and the
electoral duties of the citizen will now be
discharged with a more intelligent com
prehenson than was possible in the ear.
ler months of the war;
The sure result of this will be to perfect
tho political revolution in tho North and
West begun by the late elections, and to
exclude the Republican party, with its
lana;icsm, its corruption, and its incapa-
city, permently from power.
But can this be accomplished in time to
save the country to preserveits unity and
liberty? And if these vital objects can be
secured, either sooner or later, by the
restoration OF the Democratic party to
power, upon what policy shall that party
act in their attainment These questions
are timely and important enough to occu-
py the space and leisure now at my com
mand. Complete control in the State
Government can be secured to our party
in October next. Control of the Federal
Government can be obtained by it a year
later, in the election Of President, assu-
ming that the renovation Of Congress, now
begun shall 90 on and be consummated
by that time.
The time here mentioned must elapse
before power can be completely logged in
safe hands; before the work of reeonstruc-
ting the Union, and thorougly reforming
the Government can be performed. In
the meantime, how much of calamity must
we undergo! 10 what measures Of evil
must we be subjected The public debt
will be swollen enormously, financial
crash may come, sweeping away private
fortunes, and gripping public credit and
power and it is not impossible that in ar
hour of desperation our rulers may aban
don the war, and place the barrier of q
bad treaty, or the impertinenccs OF a fore
ign meditation, in the way of reuniou.-
Unquestionably, there are great dangers
in the immediate future, and apprehension
of evil is timely, and justified by the
events of the past two yeaIs. But during
this period of danger, of trial, of peril
this interval which separates us from the
day of relief and securi'y-what shall bt
the attitude Of our party toward the Ad
ministration and the war : This question
may reasonably be asked by the thousand!
in this S ate, and by the thousands in other
States who are willing to join in and assis
IN the redemption of the country
The question may be answered, ir
part by referring to the past The obec
of the war was announced in the outset by
Resolution of Congress, which wen
out North ard South and to foreign
countries, as the platform of the Govern
mont in its prosecution. That resolution
announced the object of the war to be, til,
dofonse and maintenance of the supremacy
Of the Constitution and the preservation
Of The Union. with all the dignity, equalit,
and i5hts of the several States unlmpair
ed, and explicitly denied that it was wagec
in any purpose of conquest or subjuga
ton, or purpose OF overthrowing or inter
fering with the rights or established insti
tutions of the Southern States.
This clear and emphatic resolution wa
accepted and approved by the Democracy
of the Border States, and by conservative
men generally, and thereupon all tn,
magnificent resources Of the country il
men and money were put at the disposal Q
the Administration, for the prosecution Q
the war in accordance Herewith and i
has had command OF those resources unop
posed and almost unquestioned down t.
this hour
But the time came when this ground, o
contest for the supremacy of the Consti
stitution and the preservation of the Uno
became, in the policy of the Admnistra
ton, connected with if not subordinat,
to, another and different object The tin
sci rhetoric of Sumner, the dctatorial ut
terances OF Greeley and the rabid vioenc
of Phillips and Garrison, became Of NOR,
consequence at Washington than the view
Of the great majority Of the people ant
the pledged faith of the nation. A pol
: icy of emancipation was announced, in
volving enormous expense, doubling th
difficulties of the contest, and in fat con
tradition Of the solemn declaration upo
the object of the war, just rected. An,