Year: 1862

To The Democrats and all other friends Of


the Constitution and Union IN Peusyl-


ra,i0.


The Democratic State Central Commit.
tee address you upon subject of the graz
vest moment The life Of our beloved
country is in danger The Nation writhes
under the throes Of wide spread civil war
All our patriotism; and our wealth all
our phys cal powers; all Of Whatever vir.
tue exists in the Republic is invoked, and
should be promptly afforded to save the
National Constitution and the Union of the
States from utter overthrow.


Is there Pennsylvania who values
the title of American oitizen-who reveres
the memory OF the men Of the Revolution,
who values civil and religious liberty
whs abhors anarchy or dcspoti. ti.m-or,
who claims to possess 4 manly, patriotic
heart, that is not prepared to pledge life,
fortune aud sacred honor for his country,
in this, her hour of greatest need and per-
il None can withhold such assurances Of
Il Just estimate OF the Importance of pre-
serving the existence of our Republican
institutions, We approach you with the
full conviction, that the hearts of the great
body of the people of Pennsylvania are
with their country in this great crisis of
her destiny that all that is needed, to be
satisfied of feasible mode Of relief and
extlcation and of the most effective organ
ization to combine all the forces that can
be applied 10 speedily and e1cctually yield
the happy fruits Of returned peace and
prosperity.


To clearly indicate the mode of relief it
would appear to be proper to first deter
mine the cause or causes Of our present diff.
fcultics. Understanding the causes, it
would seem to be in the order of nature +,
that restoration should follow up their re-
movaI. 1t is not compatible with the prac.
teal efficiency of an address, such as this,
to engage in any elaborate exposition, or
historical account of the gradual progress
of antccedent causes, that have at last cul
minated in the dreadful results we now be-
hold. We shall, therefore, necessarily be
brief, and best discharge our purpose BY a
statement of facts, which you will all rec
ogAize as correct, and by the assertion OF
propositions and conclusions which we
maintain, cannot be successfully ccntrover-
ted, The troubles that are now upon us
are those that the fathers Of thit country
foresaw might arise upon the dec~y of pa
triotism, and against which they under
took to guard by the Constitution OF the
United States, and the establishment there
by of what was deemed by them-and has
until recently, proved, to be the harmoni-
Gus action of States and Federal Govern
ment-in their refined aud just relations to
each other. Washington, in his farewell
address, pointed cut these dangers; and (,
above all, indicated as the evidence OF a
waning attachment for the Union and as
the precursor of its fall, the creation of
sectional parties. 1t was in view of prob
able efforts in this direction that he appeal
ed to his countrymcn 'io Indignantly
frown upon the first dawning of every at"
tempt to ALLEVIATE any portion of our coun,
try from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred
ties which link together the various parts
Had the countrymen of Washington suili =
cently appreciated his patriotic warning,
the widespread civil war that now aftilrts
us would never have exi,ted but on the
contrary, we should, at this time, under
the support which a most bountitul ProVl'
deuce is extending to US, be in the enjoy
ment of degree of prosperity aud happi