Year: 1864

The principles OF self government, for which.
our fathers endured the horrors of seven years
war, have been discarded by portion Of the
American people, and rival government set
up based upoa q despotic principle, which
denies the right of the majority to rule. The
political distinctions which have heretofore
characterized parties have been swallowed Up
10 the great question, paramount TO all others,
Shall the American people surrender the
right Of self government 10 the dic;aiion Of
military despotism?" Such despotlsm the
leaders of rebellion have set up, and are
attempting to establish on 8 permanen, basis.
They are assisted in this unholy work By
large band of conspirators 10 the free States.
who, under the disguise of loyalty to the Union,
are eternally pFating about Peace" aud
Compromise. Many well meaning citizens
are deceived by their sophistry, and join their
ranks in opposition to the measures Of the
government, which are being enforced for the
preservation of our national existence.


The uuconditionally loyal men of all former
parties have laid ASIDE all minor questions, and
united in one great Union party for the defence
aud perpetuation Of the Union. the Government,
and the freedom and liberty Of mankind They
have determined that this Republic shall stand
proud monument Of mans capacity and right
to enjoy the principles Of self government. The
executive authority has presented every oppor


tuuity that can be offered consistently with the
dignity and forbearauce Of a just and generous
nation, for the return Of dsaffected people to
their allegiance, and the enjoyment of peace
under the protection of the Constitution but
every opportunity has been disregarded, the
Union, tie Constitution and the laws have
been spuFned with contempt, and the authority
and power of the Government have been defed


Under this condition of things, who can dis
cover any other proper course for the nation to
pursue than the vigorous prosecution Of tie
war 10 restore peace by their subjugatiou?


On the 10th OF last month, the Richmond
Enquirer, discussing the question OF Peace,
says This Confederacy or The Yankee nation,
one or the other, goes down, down to perdition.
That is to say, one or the other must forfeit It's
national existence and lie at the mercy of its
mortal enemy. We all know by this time the
fate in store for Us if We succumb. The other
party has no smaller stake. As surely as we
completely ruil their armies-and without that
is no peace or truce at al-so surely will we
make them pay our war debt, though we wiring
it out of their hearts And they know it well,
and therefore they cannot make peace except
through their utter exhaustion and absolute
inability 10 strike another blow" The Euqui.
rer speaks by authority the sentiments of the
rebel Conlederacy- government or the
other must 60 down-forfeit its existence-bc
forever destroyed. Which shall it be:


The rebels are fighting to destroy the Gov
ernment aud Union handed down to US by our
fathers. The Government, supported by the
Uuion party, is fighting for the suppression of
the rebellion. What is that faction doing
which styles itself the Democratic party? For
whom are they fighting? For which belligerent
are they bound by secret oath to ight. and for
the destruction of which government are they
secretly armed? They that are not for us are
against Us. That they are not with the Union
party is the strongest proof that they are
against it, and against the government which
looks in vain for any other support than tia;
which it receives from the Union party.


That a large portion of the leaders of Tie
Democratic party are TRAITORS, who have stolen
the livery of the Union TO serve the rebellion
in, is beyond all question. There is another
portion who do not really desire the destruction
of our nalloual fabric, but whose brains are so
crazed, whose minds are SO incapable OF reaIiz
ing an emotion above those of brute, and
whose perceptions of right and wrong are
simply those and those only which have their
foundation in selfish ignorant or ungody
prejudice, that they would rather see this
nation and all its past, present and future
greatness sink into obvious uonenuty, rather
than see it borne out safely from this struggle
by any other authority than that Of the Demo-
cratic party The only argument that is likely
to have any effect on either Of these two classes
is an application OF physical force that will
affect either their purse or their porson. If
there are honest, well meaning men in their
ranks, who are deceived by their ialsehoods
and hypocrisy, TO them We address this epistIe
You find in your platform a declaration in
favor of peace and union; your nominee declares
for war and union. The leaders Of your party
are divided on peace and war policy-one por
tion would have peace and disunion by acknow-
edging the independence of the Southern Con
federacy; the other would have peace and
union If they could have it by authority of the
name of the Democratic party, otherwise they
would let the fate Of Rome be the fate of this
epublc-dyide her people into factions until
she falls an easy prey to the enemies Of self