, 1864-01-21
TIE NEXT PRESIDENCY.
Letter Of the Union Members OF the
Pennsyly.an1n LeSIslaturoto
mr. Lincoln,

The following IS the letter addressed by the
Union members Of the Pennsylvania Legisla-
ture to President Lincoln:
ToHis Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President Of
the United States:
Dear Sir: The undersigned, members Of
the Legislature of Pennsylvania, thus carly
in the session Of that body hasten to con-
gratu1ate you on the success of the policy of
the National Administration, and the auspi-
clous circumstances under which the eecood
Congress of your term has been organized
When 1t is fairly considered that the policy
Of your Administration was made the issue
In the late elcctions-when 1t Is known that
in the contest for the most important state
us we'll as the most insignificant municipal
office the issue involved all the essen
tlal principles Of the policy Of your Admins
tration, the result must be the more highly
appreciated BY the friends of freedom abroad
and cheering to the defenders Of freedom, the
Union and the Constitution Mt home. We
would be nnmindful OF the duty VIC owe our
country if We hesitlted to acknowledge the
force Of that policy in the elections which
places us In CIR present Legislative positions.
When fcarleesly advocated and set before the
people, won US victory in the face Of the
most persistent and bitter opposition from
the foes Of free government. You need not be
reminded of the effect which the late election
in Pennsylvania had on the destiny Of the
nation. The triumph ut the ballot-box
valor into the heorts of our soldiers for the
achievement Of victory on the battlefield.
And If the voice Of PENNSYLVANIA became thus
potential In endorsing the policy Of your ad-
ministration, We consider that, as the repre-
sentatiEes ofthose who have so completely
endorsed your official course, we are only re-
spending to their demands when We thus
publicly announce our pnshaken preference
for your reelection to the Presidency in 1854.
"The hope and the life Of the American
people arc now centered IN the purpose and
the effort of the government to crush rebel
have discovered that the rebellion Il CON
tinued for IN object more important than that
OF redrce6ing eren real wrong. It Is wagcd
for the establishment OF dogma and the re-
cognition or barbarfsm. II Is carried on
against the government for Its absolute de-
struction. In such q struggle there can be
no compromise devised to offer or considered
for acceptance One or other Of the contend
Ing parties must triumph. Justice must be
vindlcAted by the full recognition and opera
tiou OF. the government 10 all the States,
or the claims OF the traitors be
maintained, this magnificent structure
of our government destroyed and the
rights Of men forever ignored To make
change In the Administration, until Its au-
thority has been fully established In the re-
volted states, would be to give the enemies
of the Government abroad the prctc1t Tor
Inserting that the Government had failed at
home. To change the policy now in opera-
ton to crush rebellion and restore the land
to peace would be to afford the traitors In
arms time to gather new strength, If not for
immediate victory, at least for ultimate sue
cess In their efforts permanently to dissolve
the Union. Having firm faith In the logic
and the reason of these positions, we are
frank In our endeavors thus to urge on you
the acceptance Of a reelection to the Presi-
dency. We believe TINT the policy Of your
Administration rendered Us victorious at our
last election, and we now insist that thnt
policy, If represented by yourself in all the.
States, would give the victory to the Gov
crnment in November, md thus forever put
an end to all hope Of the SUCCESS of treason,