Year: 1862

The Political Contest tn this State
What Ought 70 be Doncs


We are engaged in no ordinary war. The
result of the present conflict decides the life
or death of the nation. The object for which
! we fight is the very existence Of the republic
The triumph of the rebellion is not merely
the loss of a few States, but is practically the
destruction Of the country. Before this great


issue all others sink into insgniGcance, as stars
| fade before the sun. Over o million OF Ameri-


cans are now in the field, in the Union and rebel
| armies carrying on this dreadful, fratricidal
war. All the mighty energies of this great
| country North and South, arc devoted to the
| maintenance and sustenance Of this immense


military force. Battles, more bloody than any


in history, gain double horrors from the fact
that VIC are combating no foreign foe. but arc
slaughtering or arc slaughtered by our own
brethren. Every day the telegraph wires
shudder with the news of our sad victories or
our sadder defeats. 1t 10 for our interest, for


the interest Of the South for the interests Of the


nation, of the world, Of civilization, Of liberty,
of Christianity, that this horrible war shall be


ended 1t never can be ended save by the
| suppression Of this rebellion. The suppression
of the rebellion can never be accomplished
until we all devote ourselves to the work,
| body, mind, heart and SOUL


And yet, with these stern, undeniable cruel
facts appealing to them from every side and
rebuking their criminal frivolity, two misera-


BILE, dwelling political parties In this State
are disputing about an Office worth but few
thousand dollars year, stealings, pickings and
patronage included. We declared before the
nomination of any candidate for Governor, and
we repeat that declaration now, that the ap-
preaching State election does not affect the
absorbing question of the war one way or the
other. We insist therefore, that no honest


patriotic man can have the slightest interest in


this election. We believe, moreover, that the


political squabbles, the recriminations, the


animadversions, the accusations Of treason, the


mutual reproaches, billinsgate, jealousies and


i'll will which have already distinguished the


present canvass have greatly assisted the re-


bellion and retarded tho vigorous prosecution


of the war. We fear that the result of the un-


bridled license and bitter rivalries Of political
contest at this time will seriously injure the
Union cause no matter which candidate may
be elected. If, as both Of the gubernatorial can
didates have declared, the sole issue of this
election is the prosecution Of the war, then
there need be no Contest; for both Seymour
and Wadsworth are loyal men, both are in favor
Of suppressing the rebellion by armed force,
and both are deeply interested in restoring and
perpetuating the Union. For the outside issues
which both candidates have attempted to drag
into the contest we have no sympathy what


ever. The negro question, introduced by


Wadsworth cannot be decided until our own


safety as nation is secured. The questions In


regard to habeas corpus, letters de cdchet and


government espionage, agitated by Seymour


will all be reviewed and settled when the war


is over. Now it is fatal to stop to discuss them.


While the doctors disagree the patient disss..


Let US try the remedies at hand fairly and i'm


partially. If they do no good we shall find
others. The great thing is to do something i'm
mediatcly. When the crisis is passed and the
Union saved we will argue about tcchnicalities
of treatment and remedies.


AS this CANVASS is therefore, not only no as
sis.ance, but really positive detriment, to the
Union cause, we should desire the election to
be postponed until the conclusion Of tho war,
if such q postponement were possible. All


honest patriots would join us In this desire; for
they can see, il politicians cannot tho baleful
effects Of canvass in which the republican
leaders call all democrats traitors and threaten
to hang them and the democratic leaders call


republicans tyrants, and hippantly talk of a
Northern revolution. We know that the great
body of the people care nothing and think moth
ing of this disgusting bluster of few political


swindlers; but the effect at Washington, at
Richmond and in Europe is none tho less in.
furious Tho people Of this State are too busy
with the war to sympathize with this scramble
for Office between the candidate Of insane fa-
naiics and the candidate Of that corrupt Albany
Regency which refused to avert this war; two
years ago, by nominating popular democrat
| like Dickinson or Seymour for the Presidency
Why, then. should the people be tempted from
their labors for tho country into . detestablo
political riot, for tho sake of two parties, for
whom no one, except few dirty Office hunters,
cares snap of the tngersg But, as the election
cannot be postponed, what can be done to re-
move this dangerous temptationf II we i'm
agined that our advice would be fol-
lowed, we should advise both the present
candidates-for whom VIC have no feelings per-
sonaly but respect to withdraw in favor Of
a new man, generally and deservedly popular
and shacklcd by no party chains. We cannot
suppose, however, that such advice would be


heedcd, and we therefore appeal to Mr.. Sey
mour alone to rise to the greatness OF the occa-
sion and give tic country the convincing proof
Of bis patriotism by desissug from any further
canvass, allowing the election TO 60 by default
| in favor d bis opponent, and thus permitting
the administration in power at Washington to
bayc full liberty 10 carry on and settle this war