Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-08-17
A Letter ON tho Political "situn-

cruel years OF Ol00Q anu Clfh "oif o'ooN
by and maintained the integrity OF the
Government, so long as that party main.
tains true, sound, liberal and National
doctrines. ut is better to be right thar
TO be President" was the sentiment OF
that great orator and statesman, Henry
Clay, and so I think in reference to point
ical parties-that 1t is better to DO right
than to be successful. At least 30 Tar as
I am concerned, l had rather act with an
unsuccessful party in the right than with
q successful party in the wrong.
Now the question is presented for our
consideration, "What is right for the
Union party in this State to do under all
the circumstances of the situation" In
order to determine this question correctly,
it will become necessary for US to travel
over the history, policy and principles OF
the party for the past five or six years
since the originating Of the rebellion till the
present time. Prior to the rebellion there
existed four p~arties-the Republican, the
Douglas Democracy, the Breckenridge De-
mocracy and the Bell and Everett. Att the
breaking out of the rebellion the present
Union party was formed, or rather came
into, or was brought into, existence by
the force of circumstances. 1t consists OF
men from all of the four parties which ex-
listed just prior to the outbreak OF the
rebellion, Of Douglas and Breckenridge
Democrats, of Bell and Everett men, and
Of Republicans. Now what was the o.
ject and aim Of these men in laying aside
all past political opinions and differences
and coming together and forming the pre-
sent Union party? II we can solve this
question satisfactorily to ourselves, should
we not in good faith and as good Union
men carry out the common aim and object
and abide the logical results thereof. and
not seek to WELD the organization for
other and illegitimate n new purposes!
Can any man be said truthfully to be un-
true to his party when that party is WELD
ed and controlled for objects and purposes
never heretofore within the scope Of the
party organization? I think not. II new
questions have com up and must be met,
and issues formed and sides taken on
them, then any one Of any party which
was not formed or which came no into
existence on such questions and which
has not heretofore embraced them within
the scope Of its organization, is and can
freely take any side Of such questions
which he may honestly entertain and not
truthfuHy subject himself to the charge Of
being untrue to his party. But to return
to the main question, upon the solving Of
which correctly, and a yielding thereto by
all parties or persons in the Union party,
its integrity may be preserved and success
crown its banners as heretofore.
Well then, what was the aim and object
Of the men who formed the party, and
what has been the declared aim and object
and policy Of the party since and during
its organization and existence?
Mr.. Lincoln, in his proclamation Of the
10Th Of April, 1861, calling for 10000
men, declared the object to be to preserve
the Union and to maintain the authority
of the Constitution and Laws of the
United States. The Congress of the
United States, controlled by men repre-
senting the Union party, on the 26th day
Of July following, adopted, by an almost
unanimous vote, the following resolution,
presented by President (then Senator,)
Johnson. and it received the hearty approval
Of President Lincoln:
Resolred, That the present d~eplorable
civil war has been forced upon the coun-
try BY the disunionists of the Southern
States, now in revolt against the constitu-
tional government and in arms against the
Capitol; that in this national emergency
Congress, banishing all feelings Of passion
or mere resentment, will recollect only its
duty to the whole country; that this war
is not prosecuted on our part in any spir-
it of oppression, nor for any purpose Of
conquest or subjugation, nor for the pur-
pose Of overthrowing or interfering with
the rights or established institutions of
those States, but to defend and maintain
the supremacy Of the Constitution and all
laws made in pursuance thereof, and to
preserve the Union with oil the dignity,
equality and rights Of the several States
unimpaired; and that as soon as these OBJ
jects are accomplished the war ought to
cease.
Here, it will be seen, that the one idea,
aim or object Of maintenance Of the su.
premacy Of the Constitution and all laws
made in pursuance thereof, and to pre-
serve the Union with all the dignity,
equality and rights Of the several States
unimpaired," is empharically and posi-
lively declared to be the object for which
the war was prosecuted on the part Of the
Government, and then 1t is stated, to
make it more emphatic and positive. il
possible, in q negative form, that the
war is not prosecuted on our part in any
spirit of oppression, nor for any purpose
Of conquest or subjugation, nor for the
purpose of overthrowing or interfering
with the rights or established institutions
Of those States" etc. How could any
thing be more clear, emphatic and posi-
tive as to the declared object and policy OF
a party and a peoplel Here the preserv-
alton Of the Union and the General Gov
eminent in all Of its constitutional pow
ers, and the rights, the dignity and equal
ity of the States unimpaired, is too SOL
EMMY, emphatically and plainly asserted
to be the object for which the war was
prosecuted on the part Of the Government,
which was then in the possession Of the
Union party, to be now denied, or evaded,
or escaped. Our honor as a party, as a
people, as q Government, is pledged to
this as being the object Of the war for the
suppression of the rebellion.
But again, as cumulative evidence on
this subject, the Union party, in its Balti-
more platform of 1854, says: "That it is
the highest duty of every American citi-
zen to maintain, against all their enemies,
the integrity Of the Union and the para
mount authority Of the Constitution and
laws of the United States; and that, lay
ing aside all differences Of political opin-
ions, we pledge ourselves, as Union men,
animated by a common sentiment and
aiming at a common object, to do every
thing in our power to aid the Government
in quelling by force Of arms the rebellion
now raging against its authority"
Here again the Integrity OF the Union
and the paramount authority Of the Con.
stitution and laws of the United States
is set forth in the most solemn and EAR
nest manner known to political parties;
to-wit: in its national platform, as being
the one common sentiment and the one
Common aim and object Of the Union
-.-. say without fear of contradict