Year: 1862




the Union by wisdom, peace and compromise for
more than half century.


Then neither the ancient princi pies, the policy,
nor the past history OF the De mocratic party re-
quire nor would justify its disbandment.


Is there anything in the present crisis which
demands iE The more immediate issue is to
maintain the Constitution as it is, and to res tore
the Union as it was.


To maintain the Constitution is to respect the
rights of States and the liberties of the citizen.
1t is to adhere faithfully to the very principles
and policy which the Democratic party has pro-
fessed for more than half century. Let its his
tory, from the beginning. prove whether it has
practced them. We appeal proudly to the record.


The first step towards the restoration of the
Union rs it was, is to maintain the Constitution
as it is. So long rs it was maintained in fact,
not threatened with infraction in spirit and in
letter. actual or imminent, the Union was unbro-
ken


To restore the Union, it is essential. first, to
give assurance 10 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 dOub-
ly sure us the restoration to power of that ancient
organized consolidated Democratic party, which
for sixty years did secure the property, rights
and liberties of the States and of the people:
andithus did maintain the Constitution and pre-
serve the Union, and with them the multiplied
blessings which distinguish us above all other
nations.


TO restore the Union is to crush out sectional
ism North and South. To begin the great work
Of restoration through the ballot box is to kill
Aboitionism. The bitter waters of sec esson
flowed first. and fed still from the unclean
fountain Of Abolitonism 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 political organizatio on and bal
lots in the North and West. In this great work
| yp ioll 40 nj Ill
men of every party who are opposed to the
fell spirit of Abolition, and who in sincerity de-
sire the Constitution as it is and the Union as it
was Let the dead past bury its dead. Rally,
lovers Of the Union, the Constitution and of lib
erty; TO the standard Of the Democratic party, al
ready in the field and confident of victory. The
party is the natural and persistent enemy of Alb
clifton. Upon this question its record rs a ma
tional organization, however it may have been at
times with particular men, or in particular States
is clear and unquestionabe. From the begin
ming Of the anti-savery agitation to the period
of the last Democratic National Convention it
has held but one language in regard to it, Let
the record speak


Resolved. That Congress has no power under
the Constitution to interfere with or control the
domestic institutions of the several States. and
that such States are the sole and proper Judges
| Of everything appertanng to their own affairs,
not prohibited by the Constitutions that all efforts
by the Abolitionists Others made to induce
Congress TO intcfere with the question Of slavery
to take incipicnt steps in relation thereto, are
calculated to lead to most alarming and danger
Gus consequences and that all such efforts have
an inevitable tendency to diminish the happiness
of the people and endunger the stability and per
manency OF the Union. and ought not to be cOun-
tenlnccd by any friend of our political insitu-
tiOns.


Upon these principles alone, so far as relates
to slavery, can the Union as it was be restol ed,
Il Inin fl,n mi ifv nf crf,t-
ism, can be maintained in this country; and this
last we will resist, as our fathers did. with our
lives. our fortunes and our slcred honOrs


But it is said that you must dsband the Demo-
cratic party ito support the Government" We
answer that the Democratic party has always sup
ported the Government; and while it was in pow
er, preserved the Government in all its vigor and
integrtv-not by force Of arms but by wisdom,
sound policy, and peace. But it never did admit,
and never will, that this Administration, or any
Administration, is ''the Government" 1t holds.
and ever has held that the Federal Government
is the agent of the people Of the several States
composing the Union; and it consists of three dis
tinct departmens-th the Legislative, the Executive,
and the cal-each equally part OF the Gov
ernment, and equally entitled to the confidence
and support of the States and the people; and
that it is the duty of every patriot to sustain the
several departments Of the Government in the
exercise of all the constitutional powers Of each
which may be necessary and proper for the pre-
servaton OF the Government in its principles and
in its vgor and integrity. and to stand by and
defend to the utmost the flag which represents
the Government the Union, and the country.
| In this sense the Democratic party has always
sustained and will now sustain, the Government.
against oil foes, at home and abroad. in the north
or the South, open or concealed, in office or out
of office, in peace or in war.


1t this is what the Republican party mean by
supporting the Government it is an idle thing
| +o ,b,ul lo, ha olI nd triad Dnmocr 10 rtv
which for so many years and through so many
trials supported preserved and maintained the
Government of the Union? But if their real pur-
pose he to aid the ancient enemies OF the Demo-
cracy in subverting our present Constitution and
form of Government, and, under pretense OF saw
ing the Union, to erect strong. centralized des-
potsm on its ruins, the Democratic party will re-
sist them as the worst enemy to the Constitution
and the Union, and to free Government every
| where.


| We do not propose to consider now the causes
| which led to the present unhappy civil war A
filter time will come hereafter for such discussion
But we remind you now that compromise made
your Union, and compromise fifteen months ago
would have saved it. Repeated efforts were made
at the last session Of the Thirty Congress to
this end At every stage, the great mass OF the
South, with the whole Democratic party, and the
whole Constitutional Union party of the North
and West, united in favor of certain amendments
to the Constitution, and chief among them was
the we'll known "Crittenden Propositon," which
would have averted civil war and maintained the
Union At every stage all proposed amendments
inconsistent with the sectional doctrines of the
Chicago platform were strenuously and unani-
mously resisted and defeated by the Republican
party. The "Crttenden Propositions" never re-
ceived single Republican vote in either House.
For this proof we appeal to the Journal of Con-
gress and to the Congressional Globe.


We scorn to reply to the charge that the Demo
cratic party is opposed to granting aid and sup
port to the Federal Government in maintaining
its safety integrity and constitutional supremacy,
and in favor of dsbanding our armies and sue
cumbing to the South The charge is libelous
and false. No man has advocated any such pro-