The mountain Democrat., 1863-10-24
rrnltarn UnInasked.

/ AAe@SS@N
Not many years ago the leaders Of the
present Administration party advocated
dissolution of the Union, and urged the
North to organize an Independent Gov
erpmsnt" Then they had no love for
tour glorious Union"-no respect for
"the best Government on earth"-no re-
gard for "the old flag" New England
then was full Of traitors, and Massachu-
setts was EteT>M-' s.St.-:;.=--- ~iSP treason.
She threatened to secede from the Union
if the Government" annexed Texas; and
in the war that followed with Mexico she
bitterly opposed and denounced the Gov
ernment. Her swindling shoddy con-
tractors and robber Generals and merce-
nary representatives and venal editors
now find it profitable to sustain the Gov
ernment, and they do it solely because it
is profitable. Not spark of patriotism
animates them. In 1850, and subse-
quently, the following petition was gene
orally circulated in the Northern States,
and received the signatures of the enc
mics of the Government-the leaders and
supporters Of the Administration party
of to-day:
"To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives Of the United States: The un-
dersigned, citizens and inhabitants ol
-, respectfully submit to Congress
that, in the nature Of things, antagonistic
institutions can never unite.
"That an experience Of more than three
score years having demonstrated that
there can be no real Union between the
North and the South we therefore be-
lieve that the TINE HAS CONE for a new
arrangement Of elements so hostile, of in
terests so irreconcilable, of institutions so
incongruous; and we earnestly request
Congress at its present session, to take
such initiatory measures for the speedy,
peaceful and equitable DISSOLUTION OF THE
EXISTING UNION, as the exigencies of the
case require, leaving the South to depend
on her own resources, and to take all the
responsibility in the maintenance of her
existing slave system, and the North to
organize an Independent Government, in
accordance with her own ideas of justice
and the rights of man"
Accompanying this document was the
following:
IN. B.-The person to whom this doc.
ument is transmitted, is earnestly re-
quested to circulate it for the signatures
of men and women, and see that it is
speedily sent to either Senators Wade,
Wilson, Hale, Seward, Fessenden, or TO
any other suitable representative in Con-
gress."
Those same Senators who were to take
charge Of this disunion paper-Wade,
Wilson, Hale and Fessenden-are still
members of the Senate and champions Of
the Administration, and are now palmed
off as unconditional Union men," while
the fifth of them (Seward) is the Premier
of the present Administration and all
"loyal" men are called on to render them
their hearty support in the cause of the
Union and the Constitution! Can they
be trusted? Are they friends of the
Union ? Do they desire its reconstruc-
ton? They say "there can be no real
union between the North and the South"
and they petitioned Congress to "take
measures for the speedy, peaceful and
equitable dissolution of the Unlon." In
1850 they wanted to dissolve the Union,
and in 1868, it is fair to infer, if they are
honest, they are opposed to its restora-
ton. And does any one doubt that they
reflect the sentiments of their party p
They are its representatives; their senti-
ments were well known, and they were
honored with Office by it because it en-
dorsed their sentiments. This clearly
demonstrates that the Administration
party desires the dismembermen Of the
Union.
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