The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-10-27
DEMOCRACY.
WHY ALL CONSERVATIVE MEN
SHOULD RALLY UNDER ITS
BANNER.
Letter from Judge EdmOuds.
NEw YORK, % Nassau street, Oct. II.

New York, % Nassau street, Oct. II.
To DOUGLAS TAYLOR, ESQ.,:
DEAR SIR.-I have received your invitation TO !
be present at the democratic ratification meet |
ing tomorrow evening Mt Cooper institute.
I rejoice exceedingly to behold the party back |
again-away from the injurious issues which have
50 long distracted its councils and impaired its
usefulness-and, if l ever intended again 10 taie
an active part in politics, would, on this occa-
sion, accept your invitation.
left the ranks of your party and Joined myself
to the republicans a few years ago because OF my
feelings on the subject of slavery. / could no
longer indorse the subserviency of the democrat
ic party to the pTo-savery power of the south,
and so l associated myself with those with whom
/ sympathized on that subject.
That question being, however, now disposed OF
forever in this country, have no longer any rea-
son for continuing my departure from the demo-
| cratic ranks.
| AS early as 1888, when member of our legis-
| lature, while the notification heresy of South
| Carolina was in full force, had occasion to ex-
| anime that and the doctrine of secession, and
! also, 10 see how far they were likely to disturb
the country in the interest of the slaveholding
| aristocracy.
Therefore it that opposed the admission
| of Texas, Thy signing the ''secret circular" so
called y that l warned Mr.. Polk, just before his
Inauguration, that the prO-savery policy of the
democratic party, if persisted in, would yet
cause its overthrow that Joined the free-soil
party in the support of Van Buren, and Adams
and that, finally, seeing no hope of cessation
of that policy, except by adversely, joined my
self with the republicans, where. alone, | could
expect to be of any in the effort to eradicate
from among US an Constitution" which not
only disgrace TO a free people, but was fraught
with immense mischief in the future.
At length, at a vast sacrifice of blood and
treasure, slavery is dead in the land. But the
slave aristocracy is not 1t lives still. IL Is
already showing itself at the elections of the
al .I,a = llp
weaned from its subserviency to it by the mis-
fortune of unprecedented defeat at two
I cesSive presidential contests, il will agan
achieve power and will again compel the cOun-
try TO make sacrifice in order TO establish and
| perpetuate a substantial union.
There some thinking as / do on that sui
ject, who yet doubt the publication of the demo
cratic party from its past evil policy, and sus
pect the sincerity ofits present professions
| do not agree with them in their suspicious
| hope and believe in the sincerity of the avow-
| ais openly made, and am accordingly pre-
pared to resume my place among my old associ
ates.
But do not see any use in making any parade
of my views, or of my change OF party attach
ments. l am not aware thatit would be of any
avail TO any to do So leave that to Others,
however, TO determine But, as made public
avowal when left the democratic party. and
gave my reasons for doing so, it seems 20 me but
Just that should put 1t IN the power of those 10
whose opinion in this matter / am willing TO de-
fer to state the fact of my second change, and
my reason for it.
You will not question the sincerity of my
ton when you reflect that, in both instances, my
change has been from the party in power to the
party out.
And you must not regard my willingness to
return 10 the democratic party as the result mere
IL of habit. have long looked upon that party
as identified with the prosperity OF the country
For half d century its principles guided our gov
ernment, and led US, in that time, to become the
mighty nation we have shown ourselves to be
1t was ever faithful to the compromises OF tine
constitution IL always was carefully regardful
Of the rights of the states and of individuals. 1t
! was always hostile to the imminent danger of
Capitalization of power, and it was always pa
triOtic.
Nv hat stronger evidence of its patriotism could
| be required than what this city has afforded
Giving two TO one of its votes against the admin
istraton which was conducting the war, it yet
contributes its millions of money and its tens of
thousands ofmen TO the support OF the cOnstitu-
, ton and the union.
Even when separated from it, by its pro-sla-
| very prOclivities, Twas not unmindful of the
soundness and value OF its other principles; and
| ii is something more than mere habit of associa-
/ ton that prompts my action now.
am, very respectfully, yours &c,
J. W. EDMoNDs.