The Richmond palladium., 1863-10-02
The Springfield Union Meeting.


ward Everett, written to the Speing6eld
Union Convention;
Bosros, Aug. "a, 1868.
James Conkling, Esq, de-:
My DEAR SIa: received. . few days
ago, your letter of the goth, inviting me to
attend the grand mass mseiing OF the an
conditional Union men OF the State of Hi
nois, to be held ON the Sd Of September. at
Springfield.
1t will not be in my power to attend the
meeting. but its objects. as explained by you
have my cordial sympathy.
The elections soon to be held will be of
more than usual Importance. They will
throw light on the great q iestion, how far
1T is possible for free Government. consti-
tuted in it's legislative branches by popular
,choice, to prosecute with vigor a war OF
considerable duration. and which entails
heavy burdens on the community. As a
Representative Government is mainly carried
on By party organizations. the great interests
of the community, both in peace and war;
are to become the arena in which the op-
posite parties strive for the mastery. Ques
tions, in themselves of secondary impor
tance to the general welfare, are often con-
tested with vehemence and passson. and
that by men of ability and patriotism,
workina themselves up 10 the belief that they
are contending for matters of vital impor-
tance. Within my experience, the politics OF
the country have successfully turned upon
four or five questions, regarded at the same
time as of the greatest moment, but now
utterly obs, lete and forget,on.
These unfortunate conteset, while they
last. the source Of great embarrassment
to the Administration of the General Gov
ernment for the time being, which finds
itself thwarted in all its measures, however
patriotic and beneficial their tendency. by
indiscriminate opposition. aiming only at an
electoneering triumph. This is very
serious evil in time of peace, greatly enhanc-
lite. and highly detrimental to ,hs public
interests.
In time Of war, the evil becomes one Of
tremedious magnitude. The questions that
then present themselves naturally more
important than ordinary political issues in
time Of peace. while every blow struck at
the measures OF the Government, though
designed only TO effect change Of admin.
istration, really affords aid and comfort TO
the enemy.
This will b. the case when the opposition
to the Governmental measures is sincerely
dictated bv honest difference of opinion.
Nay, it will ever be the case when the
opposition is directed against measures
palpably mistaken either grounds of
principle or policy. No administration is
Tree from error. aud if party spirit is allowed
to prevail, its errors will be severely crticis-
ed. usually exaggerated, and often fercely
denouced till the attention Of the country
instead OF being fixed on the great and main
questions on which all good patriots are
agreed, is turned TO side issues OF minor. or
often fictitious Importance. In this way
the admnist ration Of the Government is
weaken ned and embarrassed. and the vigorous
prosecution OF the war. which every patr,-
otic citizen admits to be the paramount OBJ
iect. is in some degree psralyzsd.
have doubted the policy Of some meas
ures Of the Administration. and strongly
disaprroved others; but regarding the pr
sons in power Cor the time being as the
constitutional agents Of the people for car
rying on the Gpvernmcn--consider the
war. which has been forced upon US by the
ambitious demagogues of the South, as a
question Of nstional life or death-thst to
have the doctrine of secession established at
the mouth of the cannon is simply to con-
sign the country to a future Of eternal bor
der war, and to lay its dishonored fragments
at the feet of foreign power-I cannot
sake Of a party triumph to make political
capital out Of the difficulties, or, if you
please the errors unavoidably incident to the
conduct of war Of such gigantic dimsu-
sions.
Itis pretty safe test, in cases of this kind,
to ask how the views and measures Of par
" are regarded by the common enemy.
Applying this test in the present case, moth
ling is more certain than that the triumph,
at the approaching election. of any party
Organization aud operating for the prostra
ton of the Administration would be regar
ded with unmingled satisfaction by the
leaders OF the rebellion aud their sympathi-
zers abroad.
Candor requires me to add that if it is
the duty of good citizens to abstain from
fsctious opposition, it is in time of war, no,
less the duty Of an administration. as well
in civil as military and naval Affairs. to as
sumo position wholly independent OF party.
am afraid it is impossible.in time OF peace,
to carry on representative government ex-
cept on parry basis.
During the existence of the war, especi-
ally Of . war whch taxes TO the utmos the
energy and resources of the country. party
support in pr roPortion as it is relied upon. is
an elemen, not of strength but of weakness.
II all good men and good patriots in the
loyal States, whether in Office or out OF
cffice-sacrifcing when necessary a little
pride of personal feeling and OF party as
sociations, would cordially rnite for the
sttinments of the objects which they all
approve, viz: The vigorous prosecution and
successful termination OF tie war. the ns Il
New Years dsy would witness tire prostra-
ton of the rebellion and its leaders; the
return of peace and the restoration OF the
Union.
With the bes, wishes that the meeting a
Springfield may promote these ends, re
main dear sr. very respectfully.
Your friend and fellow citizen.