The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-08-24
Letter from Gen. Henry Dodge

Letter from Gen, Henry Dodge.
The fo.io~ing letter from Tie venerable
Gen IlEShY DuDGE-the first territorial
Governor Of Wisconsin, and for many
Years a representative Of the State ia the
United Safes Senate-wil be read with
interest. Gen. DODGE is now nearly
eighty years o. age, and for many years
has been too feeble to take part in political
affairs, bu, it will be seen that his mind
still maintains the vigor which character
lied 1t in its prime
MINERAL poIST, WIS, Aug. 6, 1896
Geo. Hyer. Esq Chairman Democratic
State Ctmmuttc
LEAR SlR:-Yours, in reference to the
Onion Convention, to be held in Phiia lei
phia, on the l4,h inst, under date Of the
30lh uIt, is ,; hand. The declared oil Jet
of the Convention being to support the
President 10 his patriotic efforts TO restore
the Union under the constitution, ana
maintain the rights, dignity, and equality
Ct the states, there appears to be no good
reason Why good Union men men norlh
and soath, nh0, taking the national sltua
ton a. The war Jeff it, are now true TO the
Union AID the constitution-sto Guild not
meet In convention aud counse! together,
and tx upon eonle general principles upon
which they can give the President a united
and effective support. II hey are sincere
In their professed devotion to the Union
and the constitution, no period, possibly,
will ever arrive in the history of the
country when their united and determined
Efforts will be more lmPerauVeIy demand
ed to aid capable, honest and wel-tried
chief magistrate to cCunteract the mis-
rhlevoua efforts of fanatics and radical
revoiulonSts to destroy onr democratic
torn Of government. established 10y the
sages and fathers of the revolution, and
sustained by Washing on. Jefferson,
lison, Jackson and their iiu>t,iops
npeers.
1t was supposed that the federal armies
re Fighting 10 preserve the Union, aud
1t if they couIt! put down the rebellion,
Union would he preserved. II was for
It purpose thai 81 much blood was shed,
much treasure expended Yet, although
war Is ended and peace proclaimed,
tne states lately in rebellion having reor-
gahlzed their state governments. elected
senators an. representatives to congress,
and complied with the terms prescribed
by the president the radicals IN congress
refuse to let them take their proper place
IN The legi,. ative department Of the gov
eminent. They are not permitted TO have
Voice In the making Of laws made es-
pecIalIy 10 govern them. Tie rights Of
all the states, their dignity, their equality
~ the Union, are sought 10 he trampled
upon the constitution, which constitutes
the Union, is disrecaricd, and many i'm
portant provisions violated. And this is
The work Of faction 10 n congress repre-
sentlng only portion Of the states. 1t l.
tins rcv, dictionary faction that the PRESS
dent i endeavoriug to put down, in order
to save our democratic form of govern
ment, - save the country from another
civil war, to re-estabIish fraterna feeling
between tie difereut sections Of
the country, to insure peace, to
restore business of every kind over the
de>oIate SOUTH and to place the whole
country upon a solid basis for future
prosperity and happiness. 10 all, the
President is truly democratic, and should
receive th' unhesilatiDg support Of every
true friend Of the country. am
therefore in favor Of the PhiIadeI phia
convention As means of uniting the cons
servaive men of ailparties with the great
democratic party in an undivided support
of President Johnson ia restoring the
Union aud preserving the integrity of the
constitution.
am, however, very Reluctantly com
PEELED To decline taking an active part 10
the convention, on account Of nv inability
TO undergo the fatigue incident upon such
q journey.
IluIy, your fiiend and ob't serv't,
Henry DoDGE.