Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-03-12
Letter OF Union Members Of Pennsylvania
Legislature to tho President

Legislature to tho President.
The following is the letter addressed by
the Union members of the Pennsylvania
Legislature to President Lincoln:
To His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, Pres
ident of the United States-Dear Sir: The
undersigned. members of tho Legislature Of
Pennsylvania, thus early in the session of
that body, hasten 10 congratulate you on the
success Of the policy of the National Admin
istration and the auspicious circumstances
under which the second Congress of your
term has been organized. When it is fairly
considered that the policy of your Admins
tration was made the issue in the late cleo
tions-when it is known that in the contest
for the most important State as we'll as the
most insignificant municipal Office. the issue
involved all the essential principles of the
policy of your Administration, the result must
be the more highly appreciated by the friends
of freedom abroad and cheering to The defend
ers of freedom, the Union and Constitution
at home. We would be unlnindtul of the
duty we owe our country if We hcsitatcd TO
acknowledge the force of that policy in the
elections which placed us in our present leg
islative positions. When fearlessly advocated
and set before the people, it won lis victory
in the face of the most persistent and bitter
opposition from tho foes of free government.
You need not be reminded of the effect which
the late election in Pennsylvania had on the
destination of the nation, The triumph at
the ballot box aroused the ardor and seemed
to breath fresh valor into the hearts of our
soldiers for the achievement of victory on the
battlefield. And if the yoke of Pennsylva-
MIA became thus potential in endorsing the po-
lcy of your administlat alton. we consider that,
as the representatives Of those who have so
completely endorsed your official course, we
are only responding to their demands when
we thus publicly announce our mistaken pre-
ference for your reelection to the Presidency
in 1864.
Thehope and life IF tie american f'coplc
are now centcrcd to tile purpose and the etorf
Of tie Government to crash rebellion. In
more than two years of Struggle VIC have dis
covered that the rebellion is ont:nued for an
object more important than that of redressing
real wrong. 1t is waged for the establish
ment of dogma and the recognition Of a
barbarism. 1t is carried on against the Gov
ernment for it's absolute destruction. In such
a struggle there can be no compromise de-
viscd to Offer or considered for acceptance.
One or other Of the contcndng parties must
triumph. Justice must be vindicated by the
full recognition and operation of the Govern
ment in all the States, or the claims Of the
traitors maintained, this magnificent struc-
ture of our Government destroyed and tho
rights of man forever ignored. TO make a
change in the Administration, until its author
ity has been fully established in the revoltcd
States, would be to give the enemies of the
Government abroad the prctcxt for asserting
that the Government had failed at home. To
change tie policy nov IN operation TO crush
tie rebellion and restore the hand to peace,
yo'ad be to G6ord the traitors IN arms time TO
gather new strength, if not for immediate ric-
t0ry at least fDr ultimate success IN tier cfSrfs
permanently to dissolve the Union. Having a
firm faith in the logic aud the reason of these
petitions, we are frank in our cndcavors thus
TO urge on you the acceptance of reelection
to the Presidency. We believe that the po-
Icy of your Administration rendered lis vic
torious at our last election. and we now insist
that the policy, if represented by yourself in
all the States, would give the victory to the
Government in November, and thus forever
put an end to all hope Of the success of trea-
son.
We do not make this communication at
this time to elicit from you any expressions
of opinion on this subject. Having conf
dence in your patriotism, we believe tina. you
will abide the decision of the friends of the
Union, and yield consent to any honorable
use which they may deem proper to make Of
your name, in order to secure the greatest
good to the country, and the speediest success
to our arms. Pennsylvania hns always WELD
cd a potent influence in the politics Of the
country. H~r preferences have been tanta-
mount to the success Of tue statesman to
whom she attaches herself-and her voice
has never failed to give the victory to the
right. And while We, the representatives of
the great majority Of the commonwealth thus
avow our confidence and reliance in your Off
cial action, and capacity, we feel that we are
responding to the clearly expressed preferences
of those masses, and that Pennsylvania would
hail your reelection as the omen Of complete
victory to the Government. Expressing
what we feel to be the language not only of
our constituents but also OF the people Of all
the loyal States, we claim to indulge the ex-
psctation that you will yield to tho preference
which has already made you the people, 8
candidate for the Presidency in 1864.
Hoping, sir, that you may live to see the
full triumph Of your efforts to rescue your
country from rebellion, and enjoy many years
thereafter of it's TRANQUIL peace and prosperity,
we remain your friends and fellow citizens.
....
A NEW QUEsTIoN.-"Ma," said little
girl to her mother. ''do men want to get mar
ried as much as the women T. ......
"Pslsw what are you talking about T.
"Why. ma, the women who come here arc