The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-08
Grtuiua telegraph
THURspAY, SEPTEMBER s, 1854.
TIE ADDRESS OF THE UNION STATE
CENTRAL COMMITTEE.


II /
heart of the commonwealth lie right in the fearful
and bloody struggle now going on to preserve the
republic, and that these brave men worthy to
help govern the country for which they make 30 |
many secrinces and suher so many privations.
The friends Of the Union have brought about this
result while the Opposition have used their pow
erful organization 70 prevent It, with the evident
object Of weakening the Union armies, by distran-
shising the soldier, and thereby strengthening
themselves at the approaching Presidential elec.
tion; and in connection with this election let us
reason together.
The campaign OF 1864 is now fairly opened. The
issue upon which the campaign is to be made is
clearly indicated. The enemies Of the government
have publicly and authoritauyely declared their
purpose in the contest. That declaration places
the duty Of patriots in light broad and clear
that Of noon. There is no mistaking either the
spirit the object of opponents; 1t Is the same
that impeed the chiefs Of armed treason TO attempt
the overthrow OF free government this continent
in IsG0-6i. Neither time, reelection, nor re-
gard for the peace of society In the loyal States nor
tho desolations which have devoured the prosperity
Of the south in the grip OF war have wrought anv
modification of their hatred for government
founded upon the opinions Of the people expressed
through the ballot box
IL Is the part OF wisdom 70 anticipate evtl and 70
prepare TO destroy before II grows too formidable
10 overthrow. The attitude o. the parties to the
Presidential contest gives rise TO serious ques-
tion--ths most serious Of any which cur engage the
attention of the patriot and good citizen That
question is briefly stated-"Shall we have lasting
peace through vigorous prosecution Of this war
for national life, or interminable war through
peace based upon disunicnI
The issue is sharply defined. The utterances cf
the Baltimore Con vention1 decisively declare fer
peace through effective war the utterances OF the
Chicago Convention decisyely pronounce for
the alternative presented in the question stated
They that or they are without meaning.
The opposition 70 Mr.. Lincoln contemplates dis
union as a cure for the ills under which we lie
His defeat would divide the continent into factious
States. Nor is this mere assertion. The political
history of the country for the last four years is
mass of overwhelming evidence in support of its
entire, its disgraceful truth.
And first, in evidence of its truth, we have the
declaration, informal but not less weighty (be-
cause reiterated and unyaTying), of the rebel
chiefs, that the south viii not treat for peace
upon the basis of recognition of Its independ-
ence The press OF the south omits no opportunity
70 impress upon MS, and upon the world, that
peace only come through recognition. Recog-
milton is but another name for separation. And
finally every European nation has come to regard
the result of this certain to be one of two
things-either subiugation or disunon. 1t is the
clear conviction which truth brings 10 every
uonai, enlightened mind. 1t is therefore, entitled
Ito greet weight, second only to the resultant fact
tits due 70 the opponents OF Mr. Lincoln to state
that they pretend TO believe in the probability of
peace and union through some compromise, the
terms Of which not clearly stated.
1t will be easy TO show the futility of such hopes,
IL 1t has not already been done It will not be a
difficult task to show that such belief does not
take root in conviction. The leaders of the Oppo-
sition are men Of great ability, and more than
dinary sagacity. They cannot, therefore, be igno-
rant Of the facts which of public record.
Those facts efectually preclude the possibility of
peace and Union through any compromise, unless
the terms involve recognition and that would be
disunion.
But let us thoroughly consider this question of
peace through compromise 1t is reasonable to
suppose that the chiefs of the rebellion would have
accepted terms in the outset If at ALL 1t is alleged
by our opponents that MIR. Lincoln hurried the
nation into war, not only without constitutional
warrant, but against the wishes of the rebel
chiefs themselves. They reproach the Congress
then in session with having refused to adopt the
Crittenden Compromise measure and thus forced
the south into rebellion in exercise Of the right
of self-defence and self-preseryation. Il is unne
cessary 10 pause TO show that all this transpired
while the reins Of power were held by southern
men, most OF whom now in arms against the
government. Let that pass. The question hinges
upou the responsibility of the rejection Of the Grit
tenden Compromise. 1t rejected. BY whoml
Reference TO page aO9, part first Of the Congress
sional Globe of the second session of the Thirty
sixth Congress, will place the responsibility for
the rejection of that Compromise where 1t properly
belongs 1t will be that the Crittenden Com
promise was defeated by the substitution (in effect
of what is known the "Clark amendment
The record shows that the vote the motion u
substitute was-yeas 25 nays 80. The vote on th
adoption Of the Clark proposition, taken directly
afterward, was-yeas 25, nays y. The presump
tion would be, naturally, that If the south ha'
votes enough reject the substitute, it would ais
have had enough TO reject the proposition whsi
offered independently. There was a falling OF Ii
the negative vote the proposition, as compared
with that ON the first motion to substitute, of ssce
votes This is accounted for by the fact that Sena
tors Benjamin and Sidell, OF Louisiana; Wgfal
and Hemphill, of Texas; Iverson, of Georgia, an
johnson, of Arkansas-si1 southern Sendtors-sdtt 1
ueir seGts and refused TO uoe Had these six south
men voted ''no,n the CLARK proposition woul
have been defeated by majority of four votes, an
the Crittenden Compromise could have been take
mp and carried by the same majority. IL appear
of record, then, that the Crittenden Compromis
was rejected because six of the leading Senator
from the south virtually refused 10 vote for IL.
motion reconsider carried some weeks late
and direct vote upon the Compromise was takei
The proposition was lost by single vote. b.
one OF the six Senators referred TO voted IN;
occasion, nearly all Of them having withdrawn o
the secession Of their respective States. Had the
remained to vote for the Compromise, it woui
have been adopted. ..
The chief object in alluding 70 this matter is
show that when before the overt act of war WI
committed, the south had the election Of comprC
mise war, she, through her highest dignitarie
deliberately chose war.
h. The south would not have compromise then.
It reasonable TO suppose that 1t would accept sue
accommodation nOwl Her rulers have th
southern masses by the throat, and can mould theI
TO their imperious wall. They playing for
great stake. They couId not withdraw from III
contest now unless forced into withdrawal. Prid
love Of povyer-both inbred and fosiered by the IN
stitution of slavery--would force them TO elect,
they declare they do esect, .exteTminati0n rath,
than submission and UNION.
Early in the struggle-befoTe The government ha
taken the ggressiye-President Lincoln offere
peace in most liberal terms. The terms wer
briefly, the laying down OF arms and the abandon
ment Of their hostile attitude. The world know
how those terms met IL need not be repeate
here. The desolation Of southern fields, and IN
vacant seats in thousands upon thousands
homes both north and south, bear the record. Sh
later, amnesty and pardon have been offered b
the President still the chiefs OF Rebellion abae nc
a title of their energy TO maintain themselves 4
their wrong. They demand recognition and inde
pendenee Of government they hate. intimat
knowledge,of the directing minds Of the rebellio