Year: 1861




! Commu nication from senator Ha1n~
mer ON Party Organizations.
McGREGoR, June ~, 1861.
EDlToRs OF THE TINES:


On the 22nd Of June letter from the
Hon. Reuben Noble to the Press, defines his
position, and commits him to party policy
during the war. lfparty nominations are
made, they will undoubtedly embarass thu
Administration. All agree that it is our
duty to support the Administration in en-
forcing the Constitution and the Laws, ana
in preserving the Union; but the same d'i-
ference exists as to the meaning OF the
Constitution and the Laws, (that are not
plainly written, that existed in the minds
Of the political parties during the late Pres
idential canvass, and if party nominations
are made all the old issues will be received
and ordinations and recriminations Will
be the order of the day. Each man enlis-
ted to battle for the preservation ofour Glo-
ious Union would sympathize with his par
ty friends during the canvass in the sever
al States, and especially in his adopted
State. Camp quarrcls and camp discus
sions would be the order of the day.


Every section of the Constitution OF
doubtful construction would be discussed
on the tented field as on the stumps or at
the polls. Whatever tends to engender
bad feeling at home will enter largely into
the feelings of the Army, and may defeat
the object Of the war.


l will not furnish q bone Of contentious
for my friends in arms to quarrel over
tEey have enough to do to contend against
the rebels.


The President would be continually an
noyed with vextcd political issues that
would distract his army, and might posi-
bly, be compelled to define his position to
satisfy the demands of the two great politi-
cal parties in his army this would embar'
ass the Administration and weaken the
forces and no one could be benefited by it
but the rebels.


In the formation of the Southern Conft-
deracy they did not expect the North would
unite to put down rebellion. They relied
as much upon our division as they did up
on their own ability to sustain their govern
ment. A party contest among ourselves
would revive their hope of our division,a and
cause them to fight with renewed vigor
and energy, and would protract the war
many months. With this view Of tie
question, cannot consent to engage in a
party contest that might result so disas-
trous to my friends and my country.


United we stand, divided we fall. Let
us be united and we shall succeed. five
arc divided we may not. We should do
nothing, during the war, that would des.
troy our harmony


In this State the committees appointed
to call conventions for the purpose of max
ing party candidates could do nothing less
than they did, as they were appointed for
the express purpose of calling party con-
ventions. When the conventions meet
they will be the best judges Of what the
people arc in favor of, and I have no doubt
but that they will act in obedience to the
will of their constituents.


regret that any arc so weak minded in
the Republican party as to suspect any por-
ton of the Douglass Democracy being un-
friendly to the war to sustain the Union
They are the most devoted friends of the
Union. IF the Douglas Democracy had
been blessed with prophetic knowledge du-
ring the late presidential canvass, they
could not have predicted the resul. of the
election of a sectional President woitId have
upon the Union with more certainty; they
believed bankruptcy and war would be the
result. They believed there were men,
North and South that were determined to
dissolve the Union. They pledged them
selves to protect the Union in the most sof-
emn manner, and to put down every party
that was opposed to the Government, and
they will do it or will die in the attempt
And if all political parties would lay down
their arms, and refuse to defend the Union,
the Douglas Democracy will redeem the
pledge they made to the people during the
last Presidential canvass to preserve the
Union, at all hazards, and as long as there
is enough Of them left to run up the Stars
and the Stripes, they will be found stand
ing ready to fight for the Union which our
fathers created


On every stump, during the canvass last
fall, they were told that there was no dan
ger of dissolution in this their opponents
were mistaken, and it is strange that some
of them believed themselves the only loyal
men in the government. Their own vanity
has blinded them, and we should regard
them as weak minded, and pity rather than
dcspise them.


The President has disregarded party eli.
tirely in all his army appointments. This
is, as it should be, satisfactory to all.


Loyal Men: let our Republican friends
act in as good faith in this State and all
will end well.


Yours truly.