Year: 1861




The following reply of the New York De-
ocracy, 10 the proposition of the " Peace y
party for fusion in that State, should be read
carefully by all, as it is a true exposition of
the position occupied by Democrats wherever
they may be found Nowhere within the con-
fines of these United States does Democracy
and treason revel in social converse, and the
events Of the times are ominous that they nev-
er will When the As-Kentucky Goes Sol
Go party have grounded their arms of treason
and taken the oath of loyalty to the United
States, Democrats will respectfully consider
their proposition of an unconditional surrender
and perhaps, receive them on probation. The
reply is as follows:


But there is even stronger reason why the
Democratic Republican General Committee
cannot unite with your Association. Tammany
Hall is honestly and earnestly in favor of pros
ecuting the war for the preservation Of our
National Union, now being maintained by the
Constitutional authorities of the country. 1t
Yields to the Government, in all its legitimate
measures to accomplish the success of the ma,
tional arms, jealous vigorous, and unhinch-
ing support. 1t has no sympathy with the
rebellion of the Southern States, nor with the
traitors who stand in armed hostility to the
nation who would not only destroy our glori-
ous Union, with all its inestimable blessings,
the source of so much greatness, power and
prosperity to our whole people, but who would
also strike fatal blow at the cause of Consti-
tutional liberty and Republican Government
throughout the world. Tammany Hall would
do no act, euen to attain the most complete
party success, which would embarrass the Gov
ernment in achieving victory for the Union
and the Constitution, or which would give aid
for single instant to the enemy, at this SOL
emn and critical juncture. 1t holds the cause
of the country first and paramount, that Of
party second and subordinate.


The causes of the present war and the re-
sponsibility of the measures of the Administra-
tion will be adjudged at the appropriate period;
this as not the time to consider that question:
We have now hut one duty to perform. and
that is to do with all our hearts and with all
our energies what we may to save the country
and preserve all its constitutional guarantees
to every section of the Union. This our ore
ganzation has constantly done and will do un-
til the end. If any man does not entertain
these views, he can find no place in Tamany
Hall. If compromise and concession would
preserve the country, Tammany Hall would
most gladly take the lead in rendering them,
in the same spirit as that which existed when
our Union was founded but in the present
coudition of the struggle, it considers all pre-
lenses of compromise to be idle and only in
tended to weaken the moral support which
every patriotic citizens should yield to the
Government.


In all these respects we understand your
Associations, as indicated by its representative
men to stand opposed to Tammany Hail.
Y our association stimulated the rebellion by
encouraging the Southern States to hope for
Northern support in their treason, and sought
to have it believed that the principle of Ma
tional dissolution was so popular that the city
of New York was prepared to secede, and set
itself up as a free city," In every way by
which aid and comfort could be given to the
rebels, your leading men, with but three eX-
ceptions, have been active and efficient. Its
representative in the State Committee, Mr..
Benjamin Wood, refused 10 support the mode
rate resolutions in favor Of the Union and
against Secession, introduced in that body, and
in Congress and elsewhere has been the North
ern friend of our Southern foes Your Asso-
citation may pass unmeaning resolutions, but
in the face of such facts can occupy but one
position before the country Tammany Hall
can have no afilation with an organization
maintaining such principles, or fellowship with
men engaged in such acts of practical treason
to the country.