Litchfield enquirer., 1863-02-19
Address of the Republican State
 Central C0EMmittee.
HARTFORD, CT., FEBUARY, 186

HARTFORD, Or, FEBUARY, 1868 REPUBLICANS AND UNION MEN OF CONNECTICUT
 A State Election is soon 10 take place, more important than any which has occurred since the foundation of our Government.
 CONNECTICUT is to declare on the first Mon day in April, whether she is in favor of dis- Honorable peace,- e,-submission to the demands ct armed traitors, and dissolution cf the Union, or whether she is determined at every hazard to defend the honor of our National Flag and the Union of these States.
 In this contest Republican and Union Men occupy no doubtful position. Though their ranks have been thinned by thousands of brave men still fighting those perfdious ene- of free government, who have trampled un- der foot our flag, our Constitution and the laws and although there are vacant places in one half the Republican households in cur State-many, alas, ,nevcr again to be filled. yet is the abiding faith of our Party not shaken, nor it's devotion to ou. country weakened.
 The sacrifices of the past have consecrated us anew to freedom. The battles which our fathers fought to establish free government, and which we thought had been settled for all time, must again be fought by us. These of us who remain at home have a work to do not lees important than that of our brave soldiers in the field. WE MUST STAND BY THE GOVERNMENT regardless of differ ences about Pro :lamations, Generals, finances arrests or the conduct of the war at large. These varances have been stimulated by our enemies and turned with great skill against Government But the fatal consequence of seeking remedy from those who hate your cause and of following peace flags into the company of Vallandigham Cox & Co.,, as means of putting down the rebellion, are now better understood and all true friends of the Government, and all National men are casting aside these differences and uniting in one grand effort to crush the rebellion and end the War
 Every man must now take his place for or against the country. If he would aid the Government, he must adopt its policy and not that of its enemies. There''is no middle ground, Peace propositions and compromises are a cheat and snare cunningly devised by men who have always opposed the Administration and given aid and comfort to the rebels.
 Between us and the peri jured traitors who have wasted our country, murdered our breth- ren, and by robberies, piracy and war, have brought debt, taxation and woe upon all, are nc t merely the long catalogue of embarrass- ments to our national and individual prosper ity, but the graves of nearly 100000 freemen struck down while fighting to protect the joy our peace of our fresides and their happy homes And yet, over these graves, the lea ders of these called Democratic party of Con- necticut ask us to reach and shake hands with the rufians, who are destroying our coun- try and murdering our kinsmen.
 Justly then are these partisan leaders cbargeable with all the terrible consequences of the War; for by criminal neglect of duty when treason first unmasked itself and stalked unblusbingly at the Capitol, by wanton dal- lianee with traitors when the whole power of the nation was in their hands to protect what they kneag the rebels were preparing to des- troy, and by suffering with folded arms the opportunity to be. lost when the rebellion could have boen crushed by a word, and tho plotters banged, have all these woes been brought upon us.
 Had the secession serpents been strangled then, we had now. been spared the lives of 2OO,- 900 men and the enormous burthens of debt and taxation by which we are so previously oppressed. Not content however with having been thus early cognizant of the designs of tho conspirators, without applying the reme- dy at their command-these same bad men are even now in full fellowship with Vallan- afghan, Cox, Salisbury, Bright. Fernando Wood and others, who have the brazen efron- tery to advocate still further divisions, propo- sing even that the Western States shali cast of New England and join the Confectionery. What promice then do these antecedents give for boR or able peace, or more successful prosecution of the war by those who ask you to humiliate yourselves by giping then" the resns cf gooernnent. ,;.,;o;. i. proposed under the spacious plea of offering terms of peace to the rebels and threatening direful usngeanes if the terms are not accepted. But ths loyal people of this State cannot 6s thus deceiusd. for who does not know that before such an armistice could be closed, tne term or enlistment for at least one hali oI our army ,o;u haye erpired. Of this the rebels are equal lv we'll advised, and paying no regard to the irmistice. would in the end make us pay for that experiment. by the sacrJfce cf att for which we have contributed so much life and treasure.