The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-09-28
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.
Appeal OF the National Union Commit-
tee TO the i'coplc of the United States.


than three years has wrapped the nation Ia
the aames of civil war, draws near its cri.
sis. Its armies have been beaten, its ter
rltory has been conquered, the forts aud
posts which 1t treacherously seized have
been occupied and held by the soldiers of
tho Republic, it's foreign nlles have been
detached from its support, and its hostile
arm, parali2ed by exhaustion and discour.
aged 10y dolcat, ia upheld solely by the
hope OF political victories to be achieved
by its allies in the Presidential election of
Novemher next.
Ii the People in that election sustain the
Government, if they reassert it's Just au
thority and reanrm their purpose TO main
tain IL by war so long as war assails l.. the
Rebellion will speedily end. Ii they falter
in this determination, or leave any room
for doubt on this vital point, the Rebels
will take fresh courage and prolong the
contest Every uttcrahce OF their organs
aud their agents ahirms and confirms this
position. Every Rebel in arms and every
rebel in oilice--every Rebel organ in tho
Rebel States or in foreign lauds--evory
hOtor of Democratic Freedom and the rights
of man, longs aud labors FOR the over throw
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
Convention. That Convention gives u ST.
| lent approval of tho rebellion itself, and an
open condemnation OF tho war waged for
| its suppression. Without word of CEN
sure for the conspirators who plotted the
nations death, it brands with unspariRg
| dcnunciation the patriots and heroes who
defend its life. While it passes in utter 81
ence the gigantic usurpations of Jefferson
! Davis and his confederate traitors-while
it overlooks entirely, aud thus, by Just aud
necessary inference, approves their abroga-
! ton of political rights and personal libcr-
| ties 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 meas
ure, upon every act by which the Constitu-
tional President OF the United States has
sought TO defend and protect the life and
! liberties of tho nation, whose executive
| power ia placed in his hands.
That Convention had no words of exuta-
| ton for our victories; no thanks and honors
for tho soldiers and sailors, who have shed
their blood to achieve them. While it de-
nounces our Government for neglect of duty
toward our fellow citizens, who are now,
and long have been, prisoners of war in u
suffering condition. it has not even syl-
| liable OF censure for those rebel authorities
who, with more than savage cruelty, and in
utter disregard of every dictate of human
ity, as well rs of every usage of civilized
warfare, have deliberately and with sys-
tematic purpose inflicted upon those pris-
oners all the tortures of exposure, Of neg
I...,1 ,l.x.v a
miums for their murder to the brutal
guards to whose grim custody they have
been consgNcd. Aud, on the very eve OF
the most glorious victories that have ever
crowned our arms--after three years OF
bloody, costly and successful war. when
threc-fourths of the territory originally
held by tho Rebels has passed into our
hands; at the very moment when tho Rebel
lion itselfis tottering to its fall and the
iiag of our country is rapidly advancing 10
its old supremacy the party represented al
Chicago demands that immediate Efforts be
male for q cessation Of hOStiiitieS "a STEP
which would Instantly arrest our conquer
ing armies and snatch from them the glo
res of u final triumph, repeal the blockade
/. and throw the whole Rebel frontier open to
the supplies they SO sorely need, secure the
recognition of foreign powers, and either
accomplish their independence or give
them the ability to fight for it four years
longer.
We appeal to tho people of the United
States--lovers of Union aud friends Of Free
! dOm--against tho consummation of the
foul crime against both which the acts and
declarations of the Chicago Convention in
volve. We invoke them not to sanction
these principles and sentiments by electing
the candidates put forward to represent
them. We iRplore them, as they love theil
country, as they seek the renewed integri
ty of its territory, as they desire the peace
ful protection of its flag, and the blessings
Of its free institutions and its equal laws
FOR themselves and their posterity, not tC
arrest the blow which is just ready to dc.
scend upon the rebellion now tOttering to
its fall not to give the rebels time to renew
their strength fer fresh conflicts not to aid
those who would aid them in oyerthrowing
our Government, in destroying our Union
in plunging into chaos OF anarchy the
great communities of which the COnstitu
ton makes one great and glorious Nation
and thus extinguishing, finally and forever,
the hopes of all who have faith in Freedom
aud the Rights of Man.
We call upon the people to bear in mind
that, by whatever sophistries they may
cloak their purposes, the Chicago Conven.
ton neither condemns the action of the
Richmond Robels, nor purposes to eXpel
them against their will, or by any exercise
Of force, from the seats of power they have
usurped In all essential respects the ac
ton that Convention took accords with
tie results the Rebels seck. Both desire
q cessation of hostilities Both deuounce
with unsurpassing bitterness, the Govern
ment Of the United States, and both alike
seek its overthrow Both demand that the
Iattempt to conquer armed Rebellion by
force of arms shall be abandoned. And
both demand that, when the Government
OF the United States shall have passed into
the hands of men opposed to an armed de
Tense OF the Government against rebellion
the war shall eId by peaceful conference
OF those allied powers. What more than
this could the Rebels ask or need for the
consummation of all their plansg We Cal
upon the people to bear in mind that il
they elect the candidates of the Chicago
Convention, they arrest the Government in
the execution of its plans and purposes on
the very eve of their fulhlment and one thirC
Ofay year before any new administration cal
take it's place. The interval will be one 0
hope and confidence for the rebels, and o
exutation for their allies in the loyal States
In the Western States armed preparation
have already been made by the disciples
and advocates of secession, to follow the ex
ample Of the South. and sever the Wes
from the Federal Union, The succe~s o
the Chicago programme in November, wal