Year: 1862

through the whole period during which
the Democratic party held the power and
ADM inistered the Federal Government
such has been the history of that party
tits Union party, for it preserved the
Union, by wisdom, peace, and compromise,
for more than half century.


Then neither the ancient principles, tie
policy, nor the past history of the Demo
cratic party require nor would justify its
disbandment


Is there any thing in the present crisis


which demands it? The more immediate


issue is, to maintain the Constitution as it


is, and to restore the Union as it was.
TO maintain the Constitution is to re-


spect the rights of the States and the lib


critics of the citizen, 1t is to adhere faith.


fully to the very principles and policy


which the Democratic party has professed


for more than half century Let its


history, and the results, from the begin


ming, prove whether it has practiscd them.


We appeal proudly to the record.


The first step towards restoration Of


the Union as it was is to maintain the


Constitution as it is. So 'ong as it was


maintaiued in fact, and not threatened


with infraction in spirit and in letter, ac.


tual or imminent, the Union was unbro.
| ken.


Tc 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 consolidated Democratic


party which for six years dill secure the


property, rights and liberties Of the State


and of the people and thus lid maintain


the Constitution and preserve the Union,


and with them the multiplied blessings


which distinguished Us above ali other


nations?


TO restore the Union is to crush out
sectionalism 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 arc


fed still from the unclean fountain ii
, abolitioni SIN. That fountain must be
. dried up, Armies may break down the
, power Of the Confederate Government in


The South but the work of restoration
can only be carried on through politica
, organization and the ballot in the Nortl
and West. In this great work we cordi


ally invite the co operation Of all men q
every party who are opposed to the fel
spirit OF abolition, and who, in sincerity
. desire the Const ttution as it is and Tho
Union as it was. Let the dead past bury
its dead. Rally, lovers Of the Union, tho
Constitution, and Of liberty to the standard
of the Democratic party, already in thu
- uClu dul COulIS-uI VI SlSJOlJ. nav pul
is the natural and persistent enemy Of alb
clifton. Upon this question its recorc
: as natioua organization, however it maj
have been at times with particular States
is clear and unquestionable. From th'
, beginning of the anti slavery agitation t.
the period of the last DemocIatic Natona
D Convention it has helG but one languag,
, in regard to it, Let TIE record speak
7 "Resoived, That Congress has no power
I under the Constitution to Interfere with ol
q control the domestic institutions Of tht


several States, and that such States are
the soe and proper judges of every thins
appertaining to their own affairs no
= prohibited by the Constitution; that al
. efforts of the Aboitionists or others made
to induce Congress to interfere with Quos
tious Of slavery, or to take incipient step
relation thereto, are calculated to lea
to the most alarming and dangerou
: consequences, and that all such effort
have an inevitable tendency to diminisl
the happiness of the people and endGnge
, the stability and permanency OF the Union


and ought not to be countenanced by any
. friend of our political institutions"
Upon these principles alone, SO far a
r relates 20 clavery, can the Union as it wa
be restored and no other Union, excep


the UNITY OF DEspoTIsM, can be main
, tanned in this country and this last W
: will resist, as our fathers did, with ou
: lives; our fortunes, and our sacred honor
But it is said that you must disband tn
Democratic party ''to support the Govern
S ment." We answer that the Democrat
y party has always supported THE GOVERN
Q MENT; and while it was in power preser
o we'd the Government in all its vigcr an
0 integrity, net by force and arms, but b
; wisdom, sound policy, and peace. But
|, noUar Ala admit on1 navar will aud tbi