Year: 1862

Continued


But we have right to demand, it is our
duty to demand, and we do demand, that this
war be carried on by the Government for the
Constitution alone, and under the Constitution
alone. To that end, amongst others, we retain
our political organization, and will use our
best efforts from time to time and at all times,
to regain for the Democratic party, under the
forms and sanctions Of the Constitution, the
control of the legislative and executive de-
partments of the Government OF the United
States


In the meantime, the war must be carried
on, and sustained with all the energies of the
United States, and the people thereof No
blood or treasure is too dear price to re-pur-
chase the Union inherited from our fathers,
and to transmit unimpaired to our children.


1t is not our province to relate the history
of the war, or to criticise its movements.
Many hundreds of thousands of our loyal
brethren have patriotically gone forth to bat
tie for the Union. All have done nobly, all
have suffered nobly, many have died nobly.
The angel of death has made bloody vacancies
In many Northern home. Few have es-
capped without the loss of some near dear
friend. American liberty has been re-bap-
/ tized in loyal blood; and hundreds of thou
sands of LOYAL men are now in the field, or
Fastening thither, to conquer or die for the
Constitution. We owe it to the memory of
the dead, we owe it to the living hosts in the
field, we owe it above all to the Constitution,
to respond with cheerful alacrity TO every
constitutional call for men, to submit to every
constitutional exaction of treasure. We owe
all that we have, and all that we are, to the
| Union; we must pay the whole debt If it be
necessary.


But war is not our whole duty We owe
political debt to the Constitution, and that too
must be paid. We adopt the language of
Gen. jackson, that war alone cannot preserve
the Constitution against disunion. War can,
and we hope speedily will, subdue the armies
of the revolted States. War can, and we
hope speedily will, disarm every traitor, pos
sess every place of strength, and uphold the
grand old flag on every flagstaff in the United
States But when war shall have accom-
plshed all that war can do, the Union will
not be fully restored. The participation of
the revolted States in the Government of the
Union must of necessity be voluntary. War
has no power to compel such voluntary action
The peace and permanency of the restored
Union will depend, in great measure, on the
VI tht VI tut TtCONeTtu
States, in the justice of the General Govern
ment, and in the faithful observance o. their
/ Constitutional rights. War has no power to
inspire this confidence. The stability of the
Union, then, as in times past, will need the
mutual good viii and affections of the people
OF the several States. War has no power to
control the affections. Tne people of the
South viii return to the Union, when they do
return. wounded in their pride. and embitter-
ed IN their feeling. When they return. they
will return as brethren. and merit the treat
ment of brethren. The law may demand its
victims, but those guiltless of the war, and
those forgiven by the law, will again be our
political brothers. The restored States will
return to the Union with all the rights of other
States To win back the confidence and af-
lection OF their people, and TO restore the
Union in the spirit of the Constitution, the
sectional party at the North must be vigor-
ously combatted, and in due time overthrow
at the ballot-box by the Democratic party,
the only national, constitutional party left In
the land If the Democratic party should be
disbanded, or should suffer itself to remain in
active, the South would retain It's old distrust
of the Republican party, and Its old aversion
TO the General Government administered by
IL Ii would then believe that the whole
North was indeed given up 10 abolition. and
that the weaker South would receive no jus
tee from the stronger North. But if the
South sees the Republican party defeated,
and the ancient defenders of Its rights against