Year: 1864

! We sometimes hear members Of the
| Democratic party says; The Democrats
| can elect a President this fall; they had
| better make no nomination; just keep up
the State and county organizations; let the
/ Abolitionists have full sweep; it is their
war and let them have whatever honor or
dShOnur may attach to it, Lincoln can and


will control the army for his own bchoof. "
There seems to be no disagreement among
! Democrats as to the fact that the country is
on the high roads to ruin and running down
an inclined plain with the breaks up. All


of them are sort Of holding their breath in


anticipation of the fearful crash Is it wise,
therefore, in view Of this lamentable condi-
ton Of things, to fold our arms and inter


pose no effort to save the country from the


destruction that seems to await it? Grant


that it is not a war Of our begetting; grant


that our advice has not been followed IN its


prosecution; this does not relieve us from


the responsibility of trying to displace from


power through the agency prescribed by


the Constitution, the men who now hold it


as with an iron grasp Noe one whose mind,


intelligence and Judgment are not dwarfsh


in proportions, believes that the Govern
ment will survive at the end Of four years
from now if the present party is perpetual


ed in power and it administers its affairs
with the rccklessness with which it has adj


ministered them since the party came into
power And shall we make 10 effort now
to bring about Il change? viii we stand ac-
quilted in history we stand justified
with our own conscience-ca We expect
the approval Of heayen--if We shall refuse
to take advantage Of the opportunity that
sa. tp r.-gl.o bol1 ,-irD.,pl1C pH.
to dispiace the pArty iu power? There is
too much at stake to Justify Incidence or
apathy Constitutional Liberty dor our
selves and for unborn generations is at stake
-! prize the most glorious that ever pcaled
out an invocation to man to labor resoiutely
and untiringly to win. Shall we, then,
play the sluggard?


The army will be thrown against us, and
there is no hope for us. y Considerations
Ike these, if even wcll-grounded, carry with
them no eXtenuating force for inditfcrences
on our part, Ostr duty Is to Iador for the
right, and no consideration can relieve US
from the performance Of that duty. Ii un-
successful we shall not be afflicted with self
accusing rGproaches.


County, Districts and State organizations
are not only right they are necessary. Can
GlQdlpS lOf congress SHOULD pc nominated
and elected who will reflect the will Of their
respective constituencies. But Of equal if
not Of far greater, importance is it, that
candidate shall be put in nomination for
the Presidency who will as nearly as posi-
bic reflect the views 0f majority OF the
Democrats. 1t is important that that nom
inec should be a man who not only thorough
ly understands the Constitution and the
history touching its formation and adoption,
but who, if elected, will make his admins
trQtion conform to it in spirit and letter.
That instrument was formed to meet the re-
quirements Of iron-handcd war as well as t.
minister to the piping times Of peace.
We have men in our ranks who never iusti-
fed or palliated a single lnflaction Of the
Constitution, OF CLOSED over its peversion
strict constructionists men who would
not take into the Presidential chair either
the feelings Of prejudice or resentment of
enlarged and generous views, who would
bind up and heal the wounds OF our bleed
ing country who would give peace, tran
guilty and prosperity to a torn and distract
ed Republic. This is the sort of a man the
mass of the Democratic party want put in
nomination, and we have high hopes that
the Chicago Convention will present then
@uch nominee.