Year: 1862

constitutional sovereignty of the Federal
States, and subverting the whole Federal
system.


The tendency of the policy of the Re-
| publican party, conceal it as they may, is
to these results, and to unite with them
in war policy. without at the same tmo
preserving its distinctive attitude of defence
ana conservatism upon all questions of
civil policy, would be suicidal to the pow
or and usefulness OF the National Democ-
racy, and probaly destructive to the Re-
public


When the civil war shall have done its
work and the whole American people,
sick of strife and bloodshed, and the hor-
rors of war shall demand peace, and
peaceful, flaternal thoughts, as eventually
they must do, the high and holy mission
OF the National Democracy will lie to
stand as mediators between the extremes
of partizan and sectional antagonisms
for be assured my friends, that if the now
broken and distracted Union is ever again
united in peace and fraternaI good will
upon true national and constitutional
ground, the National Democracy will be
'"O HCulull VI CHlOn anu ln0 unitl0R
power, and its principles and its policy
will be the ground upon which the res
tored Union will be made to stand.


Let it then be understood, that in tho
impending civil contest, the Democratic
party, with the aid of all conservative
men who approve its principles and poll
icy, proposes by peaceful and constitu-
tional means, to wit an appeal to all
political power of the people through
their legimatc instrument--the ballot
box, to restore the ascendency Of Demo-
cratic and conservative principles, in all
departments of the Federal government.
1t proposes to place the Federal power in
the control Of true Union men, who will
use political power for the sake Of the
Union, and not for the sake of party,
to the end that the Union as it was, and
the Constitution as it is, may be speedily
restored


In the mean time all true Democrats
will yield obedience to the Federal ad-
ministration, in all its constitutional re-
quirements. They will continue as they
are daily doing, to fight the battles of the
Union, on the basis of the declarations of
Congress ofJuly, 1861. The Democrat
ic party will never concedo to the people
of the Southern State, the traitorous her.
esy, that the Federal Union and Consti-
tuition can be broken by any other power
than that which formed it, tile consent of
tile people. 1t will never yield to the
Confederate States, or any other States,
the right to exclude the people of tho
United States from access to the sea ports,
harbors, lakes and rivers OF the whole ter
ritory of the United States. 1t will as
sert the supremacy of the Federal Con-
stitution for the National purposes for
which it was created, and no other, over
every foot Of the soil bought by the COM
mon blood and treasure of the people of
the United States.


Rising at all times above all passion,
prejudice and fanaticism, it will never,
under any circumstances or provocation,
attempt to take from, but will cheerfully
yield to the people of every State or or
ganizcd territory of the United States,
full and free right and power to form,
regulate and control their domestic insti-
tutions and local policy in their own
way, subject only to the cardinal princi-
pies of Republican Federal Government,
embraced in the Federal Constitutions
1t will irown npon and put down all caus-
os and questions, tending to the excite
ment of sectional animosity, or to tho
conflict of sectional interests, or the form
alton of sectional parties. 1t will never
concede as true the unconstitutional and
revolutionary dogma, that war coniers
upon the Federal G Government and extra
constitutional powers. twill ever MAIN
tain the principle that the Constitution and
the laws are to be obeyed by the rulers and
the people, in war, as well as in peace,
and that the military is ever to be the
! subject and arm, not the master Of the civil
| power, and that no war, civil or foreign,
should be prosecuted for other than con.
stitutional means. 1t will endeavor to
maintain and illustrate in the character
and conduct Of its chosen magistrates, ex-
ecuive and legislative, that public virtue
is cardinal principle of American Dem
ocracy, and that therefore fraud, pecula-
ton and extravaganza in the public SER
vice, should ever meet with Just condem-
nation and punishment from an outraged
and indignant people.


Such, my fellow citizens, are as hope
and believe the principles and purposes
Of all true Democrats in this great crisis
and peril of our country, and it is in
hope to cluciate and support these princi-
pies and to carry out these purposes, that I
have consented at no small expense of
time, and labor and personal interest and
convenience to undertake to bear the ban
ner of the national Democracy of this
district in the coming campaign for the
preservation of ou. well nigh lost Union
and Constitution. Is tho cause right
and good ? Is it worth our efforts p
Let me then have your countenancc and
CO. operation Do each of you what
you can to hold up my hands and to
cheer my heart, and | will pledge to you
what ability possess, to win success to
our righteous cause,


DEAN SWIFT was at one time solicited
TO nreach n sermon for the benefit of the