Year: 1864

WASHINGTON. May %. 1861.


To UTy Democratic and Conscryq,,re Cclrg
Of the Tinted States:


Sir: From the enclosed copy Of our


Articles of association you will perceive
the nature Of the effort we are endeavor


ing TO inaugurate. Your prompt and
Jealous cooperation is earnestly inyit
ed.


There is no nope Of success in the ulti-


mate chJect in view, except through an


carly and thorough organization. This
should not only extend TO States, cities
and counties, but should be ramifed into
every township and village, and even, as
far as practicable into every school dis.
lrict throughout the country. If clubs
or associations Of the nature CONTEMPLATED
are not already in exlstance and success
ful operations in your State and in all its
organized subdivisions, we urge YOU to
lose no time in aiding to effect such orga-
nl2atlons at once. Situated as we are, in
this political centre, we shall be able to
yield you valuable assistance, and shall
take pleasure in doing 90 as soon as YOU
shall place yourselves IN communication
with Us for that purpose. Any docu-
ments within our reach viii be forwarded
with promptness. TO the extent of the
means which we may find at our disposal
we shall also distribute gratuitiously such
information and documents as shall be
thought most useful. This can be most
etiectually done through the organiza-
ton above suggested. By furnishing us
with copy OF your articles Of association
the names and post office address of
your officers, and 10y keeping US posted as
to the number Of your members and 9TH
er matters which will tend to show the
character and extent of your operations
we shall be able 10 get more understand
ingIy and more efficiently in concert with
you.


Cur antagonists are already in the field
with not only thorough but secret Or
gauization. We do not recommend an
imitation Of this course in this lattor par
particular, unless open action and delib-
Grafton shnl! be prevented by threatened
or actual violence which we do not autici-
pate. An open aud manly declaration Of
our opinions is iar more consistent with
the character Of the objects we are seek
ing to attain.


Let those court couccalment who feel
that their contemplated acts are
who are plotting revolution
and mischief, and conspiring against the
welfare Of their country and its cherished
institutions. We have no designs which
we need hesitate to avow before the whole
world. Our objects are altogether anti
revolutionary. We are endeavoring to
Perpetuate tho Government which was
Oequeathed to US by our fathers. We op-
pose all revolution or change in that ven
Grated system except such as may Ge el-
lected ln tnat peaceful method pointed
out IN the great instrument on which that
Government is founded 1t sprung into
existence through the exercise of the
highest order Of human intelligence and
cannot be improved or even preserved by
turning loose the brutal passions of men
or by an appeal to their selfish animal in
slincts.


Here then let us take our stand and call
upor the friends of law and order, of
good government, of constitutional liber-
ty, and of the old Union, TO rally around
us. We know that in this course we can
not be in the wrong, and we shall not call
in vain. Popular madnose, however fierce