Year: 1862

stitution maintained and the Union OF the
States preserved.


Such were the choice fruits Of Democratic
principles and policy, carried out through the
whole period during which the Democratic
!: party help the power and administered the
T Federal Government. Such has been the
history of that party. 1t is Union party,
for it preserved the Union, BY wisdom, peace,
and compromise, for more than half CEN
tury.


Then, Democrats, neither the ancient
principles, the policy, nor the past history oil
the Democratic party require nor would JUS
tify its disbandment.


j Is there anything in the present crisis
which demands it? The more immediate
issue is, TO MAINTAIN THE CONSTITUTION AS
1T Is, AND TO RESTORE THE UNION AS IT
WAS.


To maintain the Constitution is to respect
the rights of the States and the liberties oil
the citizen. 1t is to adhere faithfully to the
very principles and policy which the Demo.
cratic party has professed for more than halt
century. Let its history, and the results,
from the beginning, prove whether it has
practiced them. We appeal proudly to the
record.


The first step toward restoration Of the
Union as it was is to maintain the Constitu-
tion as it IS. So long as it was maintained
in fact, and not threatened with infraction in
spirit and in letter, actual or imminent, the
Union was unbroken.


To restore the Union, it is essential, first,
to give assurance to every State and to the
people Of every section that their rights and
liberties and property will be secure within
the Union under the Constitution. What
assurance so doubly sure as the restoration
to power of that ancient organized consoli-
dated Democratic party which for sixty years
aid secure the property, rights and liberties
OF the State aud of the people, and thus did
maintain the Constitution and preserve the
Union, and with them the multiplied bless
ings which distinguished US above all other
nations?


To restore the Union is to crush out sec.
tionalism North and South. To begin the
great work OF restoration through the ballot
box is to kill abolition. The bitter waters
of secession flowed first and are fed still
from the unclean fountains of Abolitionism.
That fountain must be dried up. Armies
may break down the power of the Confed err
ate Government in the South; but the work
oil restor alton can only be carried on through
political organization and the ballot in the
North and West. In this great work we
cordially invite the co operation of all men OF
every party who are opposed to the full spirit
Of abolition and who, in sincerity, desire the
Constitution as it ia and the Union as it was.
Let the dead past bury its dead. Rally,
lovers OF the Union, the Constitution and
Liberty, to the standard OF the Democratic
| rfu al 6xys in ha GalI a.l e
victory. That party is the natural and per.
sistent enemy of abolition. Upon this ques.
tion its record as national organization,
however it may have been at times with par
tlcular men or in particular States, is clear
and unqueseionable. From the beginning Of
the anti-slavery agitation to the period of
the last Democratic National Convention, it
has held but one language in regard to it
Let tbe record speak:


"Resolved, That Congress has no power
under the Constitution to interfere with or
control the domestic institutions of the sew.
eral States, and that such States are the sole
and proper judges Of every thing appertsin
to their own affairs not prohibited by the
Constitution; that all efforts OF the Abol.
tionists or others made to induce Congress to
interfere with question of slavery, or to take
incipient steps in relation thereto, are calcu
lated to lead to the most alarming and dan
gsrous consequences, and that all such efforts
hove an inevitable tendency to diminish the
happiness Of the people and en1anger the
stability and permanency Of the Union, and
ought not to be counisnanced 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 Union, except the
Unity OF Despotism, 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 that you must disband the
Democratic party ito support the Govern
ment." We answer that the Democratic
party has always supported the Government; i
and while it was in power preserved the
Government in all 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 Administration. )"
1t holds, and ever has held, that the Federal
Government is the agent Of the people of the
several States composing the Union, that it |
consists of three distinct departments-the
legislative. the executive, and the judicial
each equally part OF the Government, and
each equally entitled to the confidence and
support OF the States and the people; and
that it 10 the duty OF every patriot to sustain
the several departments OF the Government
IN the exercise OF all the constitutional pow
ers OF each which may be necessary and
proper ior the preservation OF the Govern
ment IN It's principles and in its vigor and
integrity. and TO stand by and defend to the
utmost the nag which represents the Gov
eminent, the Union and the country.


IN TINS sense the Democratic party has
always sustained, and will now sustain, the
Government against oil Toes, at home or q.
broad, 10 the North or the South, opsr or
concealed, in Office or out OF office, in peace
or m war


II this is what the party mean BY support.
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