The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-08-21
A News6er Of tie Csitfor~ts Dewecrafte
HiwsrY Tsr 0rant ssd Collar.

Tho following communication was al.
dressed by p. u, Sibley to the Democratic
State Central Committee Of California, OF
which he has been until lately members
Gentlemen Of Ms Democratic cemtra' Cow
miiies:
I would be doing violence to my own
feelings, and guilty Of unfair conduct to
you, did ! continue longer TO share your
eounsels and possess myself OF your plans
In the coming political campaign. In sen.
,imsnls and sympathies ] am no longer with
you. My Judgment neither approves the
platform ofprinciples put forth by the New
York city convention. nor does my sense
OF duty to the country justify me In aiding
to advance Horatio Seymour to the office OF
President Of the United States. In rcmem-
bering that am Democrat, ] cannot for
get that 1 owe higher allegiance TO the
American Union. should be glad to re-
main in the Democratic party, could be-.
lieve that in doing 80 ! am not sacrificing
those principles Of patriotism that ara high.
er and bolier than any sentiment OF mere
party fealty. :,
I I,eIleve that the war was inaugurnted
by the South in the interest OF slavery. l
believe that II was the duty Of the govern.
ment to resist The heresy Of secession by
arms. believe tho calling out Of troops,
the dra0 Of soldiers, the prosecution OF
war against rebellion, was constitutional and
necessary for The preservation Of the repub
lie. believe the emancipation OF slaves
was necessary and unavoidable as war
measure. believe the creation OF q ne.
tional debt grew out Of the exigencies OF .
long continued and desperate conflict. l
believe the issue Of paper currency was an
evil incident to the struggle. lbeIieve that
the national ,lebt should be paid to the last
dollar in coin ofthe national mint, and that
no fonn or measure Of repudiation Is con.
sistent with national honor.
l am opposed 10 the taxation Of govern.
ment bonds as breach OF covenant made
with the bondholders. and am opposed to
paying those bonds with currency instead
Of gold. ! am not in any degree fearful Of
negro supremacy, nor do ] believe that u to
the negroes are conceded their Just rights
under the law, there will be any danger Of
elevating them to social equality with any
any superior ruce. am and have ever
been opposed to mob violence, and never
will cast my vote nor use my influence TO
advance to higher honors any man who, 10
Governor Of great Commonwealth, could
iraternize with mob or encourage oppo-
sition to Just laws, or who, when the nation
needed It's last man to put down the rebel
lion, could, by opposing tho draft, put him.
self and the State In hostility to the General
Government.
lcould have supported q war Democrat
like Hancock or Hendricks. could sup
port Republican like Frank p. Blair, yr.,
your candidate for vice.Prcsident. His
early stand for the rights Of the black man;
his opposition to slavery; his brilliant war
record, commencing IN the streets OF 81.
Louis and ending in Sherman's march
through Georgia, approve; but, ms ! can
not sustain Fiair without sustaining Scy.
mour, feel In duty and conscience com.
PEELED to vote for Grant and Coifax.
. shall expect the bitter aniinadversions
Of all who love the Democratic party better
than they love their country. shall OK.
pcct to have my motives questioned and
my honor imPugned. shall expect to DO
nssailed by partisan malignity, and to have
heaped upon me an unlimited amount Of
personal abuse hut conscious Of the recti-
Jude Of my motives, and in tho confident
belief that am but doing my duty, have
deemed It proper to resign my position as q
member Of the Democratic State Central
Committee. ! therefore respectfully tender
you my resignation, gratefully remember
ing our past pleasant relations, and enter.
tanning for you all only kind personal feel.
inVs,
1 ani, very respectfully, gentlemen,
p. II. SIBLEY.
San Francisco, July l3, 1868.