The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-09-29
Appeal of the National Union Committee to
the people of the United Mates
HEADQUARTERS OF THE, NATIONAL
IN UNION COMMITTEE, N.Y.

| flames or civil war, uraWS near iIS CTiS4Sj Ats
armies have been BEATEN its territory has
been conquered, the forts and posts which
| it treachefoQsly seized have been occupied
and held by the soldiers of the Republic, its
foreign allies have been detached from its
support and its hostile arm, paraIyz by ex-
haustion, and discouraged by defeat, is up
held solely by the hope of political victories
to be achieved by its allies in the Preslden-
tial election of November nextyb" q eve
If the people in that election sustain the
government, if they re-assert its just author
| ity and re affirm their purpose to maintain
it by war so long as war assails it, the rebel
lion will speedily end. If they falter NTH
determinations or leave any room for doubt
on this vital point, the rebels will take fresh
courage and prolong the contest. Every
utterance of their organs and agents afirms
and confirms this position. Every rebel IN
arms and every rebel in ot1ice7-7every 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 OK
pulsion of Abraham Lincoln from the Presl-
Dental 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 silent
approval of the rebellion itself, and an open
| condemnation Of the war waged tor'its sup
| preston. Without word of censure for the
conspirators who plotted the nations death,
it brands with unsparing Remuneration the
patriots and heroes who defend its life
While it passes in utter silence the gigantic
usurpations of Jefferson Davis and his con-
federate traitors-while it overlooks entirely
and thus, by Just and necessary inference,
approves their abrogation Of political rights
and personal liberties over. that portion of
the United States in which they have been
able thus Far to sustain their usurped author
ity, it pours out its wrath, without stint or
measure, upon every act by which the Con-
stitutiona President of the United States
has sought to defend and protect the life and
liberties of the nation, whose executive pow
er is placed in his hands. ~ ,'
Tie 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 1t de-
nounces our Government for neglect OF duty
toward our "felow citizens who are now,
and long have been, priSoers OF war III a
suffering condition." it has not even syl-
liable of censure for those rebel authorities
who, with more than savage cruelty, ana III
utter disregard of every dictate OF humanity
as we'll as of every usage OF civilized war
fare have deliberately and with systematic
purpose, inflicted upon those prisoners all the
fortunes of exposure, Of neglect and starva-
ton, and have offered premiums for their
murder to the brutal guards to whose grim
custody they have been consigned. And on
the very eve Of the most glorious victories
that have ever crowned our arms-after
three years of bl oody, costly and successful
war when three-fourths of the territory orig
inalIy held by the rebels has passed into our
hands at the very moment when the rebel
lion itself is lettering to its fall, and the flag
of our country is rapidly advancing to It's
old supremacy, the party represented at CHI
cago demands that immediate efforts be
made for a cessation of hostilities"-a step
which would instantly arrest our conquer
ing armies and snatch from them the glories
of final triumph, repeal the blockade, and
throw the whole rebel frontier open to the
supplies they so sorely need secure the rec
ognition of foreign powers, and either ac-
compIish their independence or give them
ability to fight for it four years longer.
We appeal to the people Of the United
States-lovers of the Union and friends OF
Freedom-against the contamination 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 electlng
the candidates put forward to represent
them We implore them, as they love their
country, as they seek the renewed integrity
of it's territory, as they desire the peaceful
protection of its flag, and the blessings OF Its
free institutions and its equal laws Tor them
selves and their posterlty, not to arrest tne
blow which is Just ready to descend upon the
rebellion now totteriug to Its tall ; not 10
give the rebels time to renew their strength
for fresh conflicts not to aid those VINO
would aid them in overthrowing our gov
eminent, in DESTROYING our Union, IN piuug-
ing into chaos of anarchy the great com
munities of which the constitution makes
one great and glorious nation. and IN thus
distinguishing, finally and forever, the hopes
of all who have faith i'll Freedom and the
Rights of man.
We call upon the people to bear IN mind
that, by whatever sOphistnes they may
cloak their purposes, the Chicago, Conven-
ton neither condemns the action OF the Rich
mond rebels, nor proposes to expel them
against their will, or by an exercise Oh force,
from the seats Of power they have usurped.
In all essential respects the action That con-
vention took accords with the results the re-
bells seek. Both desire a cessation OF hostll-
tiles. Both denounce with unsparlng bitter
ness. the Government of the United States,
and both alike see its overthrow. Both de-
mand that the attempt to conquer armed re-
bellion by force Of arms shall be abandoned.
And both demand that when the Govern
ment of the United States shall have passed
into the hands Of men opposed to an armed
defense of the Government against
rebellion, the war shall end by peaceful con-
ference of those allied powers. What more
tban this could the rebels ask or need for the
contamination of all their plans We call
upon the people to bear in mind that, if they
elect the candidates of tfle Chicago Conven-
ton, thew arrest the Government in the ex-
ecution of its plans and purposes on the very
eve of their fulfillment, and one-thlrd OF a
wear before any new Administration can take
its place The interval will be one OF hope
and confidence for the rebels, and OF exulta-
ton for their allies in the loyal States. In
j the Western States armed preparations have
already been made by the disciples and ad-
vocates of secession, to follow the example
of the South, and sever the West from the
Federal Union. The success Of the Chicago
programme in November viii be the signal
for carrying these designs into execution,
and the 4th OF March will dawn upon.a new
Western Confederacy. aiming at indepen-
dence, defying the power Of the national
arms and cooperating with the slave power
of the Southern States in blotting from ex-
istence the free Republic of the Western
world.
I We call upon the people to crush all these
schemes, and to brand their authors and al
lies with their lasting reprobation. we call
upon them to support the Government to
quell the rebellion, to defend and preserve
the Union. We call upon them to stand by
/ thn President who. under Circumstances Of