The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-09-23
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.
Appeal of the National Union Committed
to the people of the United States.
HEADQUARTERS NATIONAL


to the people Of the United States.
HEADQUARTERS NATIONAL }
UNION COMMITTEE,
New York, Sept. 8. )
The great Rebellion, which for more than
three years has wrapped the nation in the
flames of civil war, draws near its crisis. Its
armies have been beaten, its territory has
been conquered, the forts and posts which it
treacherously seized have been occupied and
held by the soldiers of the Republic, foreign
allies have been detached from its support,
and its hostile arm, paralyzed by exhaustion
and discouraged by defeat is upheld solely
by the hope Of political victories to be achie-
we'd by its allies in the Presiden tial election
of November next.
If the people in that election sustain the
government, if they re-assert its just author
ity and re-aftirm their purpose to maintain it
by war so long as war assails it, the rebellion
will speedily end. If they falter in this de-
termination or leave any room for doubt On
this vital point, the rebels will take fresh
courage and prolong the contest. Every ut
terance of their organs and their agents
atfrms and confirms this position. Every
rebel in arms and every rebel in office-every
rebel organ in the rebel States or in foreign
lands-every hater of democratic freedom
and the rights Of man, longs and labors for
the overthrow of the administration and the
expulsion of Abraham Lincoln from the
Presidential chair.
In the Northern and Western States this
hostility has been embodied and organized in
the acts and declarations of the Chicago Con-
vention. That Convention gives silent appro-
val of the rebellion itself, f,and an open condem-
nation Of the war waged for its suppression.
Without a word Of censure for the conspira-
tors who plotted the nations death, it brands
with unsparng denunciation the patriots and
heroe, who defend its life. While it passes
in utter silence the gigantic unsurpations of
J Jefferson Davis and his confederate traitors
while it overlooks entirely, and thus,by Just
and necessary inference, approves their abro-
CATION of political rights and personal liberties
over all that portion Of the United States in
which they have been able thus far to sustain
their usurped authority, it pours out its
wrath, without stint or measure, upon every
act by which the Constitutional President of
the United States has sought to defend and
protect the life and liberties of the nation,
whose executive power is placed IN his
hands.
That Convention had no words of exulta-
ton for our victories no thanks and honors
for the soldiers and sailors who have shed
their blood to achieve them. While it de-
nounces our government for neglect of duty
toward our "feliow citizens, who are now land
"long have been, prisoners of war in suffer-
ing condition." it has not even syllable OF
censure for those rebel authorities who, with
more than savage cruelty, and in utter dlsre-
gard of every dictate of humanity, as we'll as
of every usage of civilized warfare, have de-
iberately and with systematic purpose IN
lcted upon those prisoners all the tor:ure'
of exposure, OF neglect and starvation, and
have offered premiums for their murder t.
the brutal guards to whose grim custod!
they have been consigned. And, on the yer!
eve Of the most glorious victories that hav'
ever crowned our armies-after three year
Of bloody costly and successful war, whel
| three-fourths of the territory originally hell
by the rebels has passed into our hands; a
the very moment when the rebellion itself
tottering to it's fall, and the flag OF our coun
try is rapidly advancing to its old supremac
the party represented at Chicago demand
, that immediate efforts be made for a cessa
| ''tion of hostilities"-a step which would In
stantly arrest our conquering armies and snatc
from them the glories of final triumph, re
peal the blockade and throw the rebel front
ier open to the supplies they so sorely neet
secure the recognition of foreign powers, an
either accomplish their independence or Civ
them the ability to fight for it four yeal
longer.
We appeal to the people of the Unite
States-loyers of the Union and friends {
Freedom--against the consummation OF th
foul crime against both which the acts an
declarations Of the Chicago Convention il
volve. We invoke them not to sanctio
these principles and sentiments by electin
the candidates put forward to represent then
We implore them, as they love their countr
as they seek the renewed integrity Of its te
ritory, as they desire the peaceful protectio
of its flag, and the blessing Of its free ins,
tutions and its equal laws for themselves al
their posterity, not to arrest the blow whi'
is Just ready to descend upon the rebellie
, now to,terins to its fall; not to give Il
) rebels time to renew their strength for fire.
conflicts; not to aid hose who would a
! them in overthrowing our government,
destroying our Union, in plugging into
. chaos Of anarchy the great communities
/, which the Constitution makes one great a