Year: 1862

86Z. ...


political organization and the ballot of the
North and West. In this great work we
cordially invite the cooperation Of all men of
every party who are opposed to the fell spirit
of abolition, and whs, in sincerity, desire
the Constitution as it is and the Union rs it
was. Let the dead past bury the dead. Raj
". lovers of the Union, the Constitution and
of Liberty to the standard Of the democratic
party, already in the field and confident of
victory. That party is the natural and per-
sistent enemy of abolition. Upon this ques-
ton its record as national organization
however it may have been at times with
particular States, is clear an d unquestionable.
From tie beginning Of tho anti-slavery agta-
ton to the period of the last democratic ma.
tional convention, it has held but one Ian
guage in regard to it. Let the record
speak: ............, ........-.


"Resolyed. That Congress has no power
under the Constitution to interfere with or
control the domestic institutions of the several
States. and that such States are the solo and
proper Judges of everything appertaining t."
their own affairs not prohibited by the Con-
stitution that all the efforts of the abolition
lists or others made to induce Congress to in
terfere with questions of slavery, or to take
incipient steps in relation therstn. are calcu-
lated to Iced to the most alarming and dan.
gerous consequences and that all such ef-
forts have an inevitable tendency to diminish
the happi.ess of the people and endangel the
stability and permanency of the Union, and
ought not to be csuntenanced by any friend
Of our political institutions"


Upon these principles alone, so far as re-
lates to slavery, can the Union as it was be
restored; and no other Unien. except the
unity otdespotisn,, can be maintained in this
country; and this last We will resist as our
fathers did, with our lives, our fortunes, and
our sacred honor.


But it is said you must disband the Demo-
cratic party ITO support the government"
We answer that the Democratic party have
always supported the government; and
while it was in power preserved the govern
ment in all its vigor and integrity, not by
force and arms, but by wisdom, sound policy,
and peace. But it never did admit. and
never WILL that this administration, or any
administration. is ':the government 1t holds
and ever has held, that the Federal govern.
meat is the agent of the people of the several
States comprising tho Union that it consists
Of three distinct dcpartments-ths legislative.
the executive, and the judicial-eaeh equally
entitled to the confidence and support of the
States and the people and that it is the duty
Of every patriot to sustain the several depart.
ments of the government in the exercise Of
all the constitutional powers of each which
may be necessary and proper for preservation
of the government in its principles and in its
vigor and integrity, and to stand by and de.
fend to the utmost the flag which represents
the government, the Union and the couu-
try.


In this sense the democratic party has al
ways sustained, and will now sustain the
government against all foes, at home or
abroad, in the North or tho South, open or
concealed, in Office or out Of Office, in peace
or in war.


If this is what the republican party mean
by supporting the government. it is an idle
thing to abandon the old and tried Democrat
ic party, which for so many years and through
so many trials supported, preserved, aud
maintained the government Of the Union
But if their real purpose be to aid the ancient
enemies of the Democracy in subverting cur
present Constitution and fern Of government,
and, under pretonce Of saving the Union, to
erect strong centralized despotism on ITS
ruins. the democratic party will resist them
as che worst enemy to the Constitution and
Union, and to free government everyw here.


We do not propose to consider now the
causes which led to the present unhappy civil
war. A filter time will come hereafter for
such discussion. But we remind you now
that compromise made your Union, and com.
promise fifteen months ago would have saved
it, Repeated efforts were made at tn, last
session of the Thirty sixth Congress to this
end. At every stage the great mass of the
South, with the whole democratic party, and
the whelc constitutional Union party, and the
North and West, united in favor Of certain
amendments to the Constitution, and chici
| among them the we'll known "Crttendon
Propositions which would have averted
civil war and maintained tho Union. At every
stage, all proposed amendments Inconsistent
with the sectional doctrines Of the Chicago
Platform were strenuously and unanimously
resisted by the Republican party. The "Crit


tenden propositions" never received single
Republican vote in either House. Fer tht


proof we appeal to the journals Of Congress


and to the Congressional Globe.


We scorp 10 renly 70 the charge that tbl