Year: 1862

We address you IN a time of great trial and
calamity. We address you in time of ma
tional suffering and sorrowing. We address
you in crisis of fearfal peril to the Union,
and to the free institutions established by our
fathers in the several States. We do so with
a solemn sense of the responsibilities resting
upon us In common with the whole American
people. We do so with the single design of
contributing all our aid to the preservation of
the Union, the Constitution and the liberties
of the States. And we propose to do so, ac-
cording to our lights, fearlessly and openly,
let whatever new power frown upon the
ancient American birthright of freedom of
Ieech,


Our State Constitution, asserting the in
violable right of liberty of political discussion,
adopts an American maxim as old as Ameri-
can Independence, when it declares that 'the
blessings of free government can only be
maintained by frequent recurrence to funda-
mental principles" And whosOever, in what
soever position, asserts that there has come a
time in American history, when freedom of
speech should be suppressed, when the safe
guard of political opposition should be aban-
doned, and the voice of all parties, except
one, should be silenced; when the Admins
tration Of the Government should pass un-
censured and unquestioned; when loyalty to
the institutions of our country should give
way to passive submission to our rulers, has
little sympathy with the spirit of the liberty
won by the valOr of our fathers, or of the free
institutions established by their wisdom. In
a free country the freedom of the people
abides in peace and war, in domestic tram
guilty and civil discord. The Constitution
of the United States, and the Constitutions
of the several States, provide alike for all the
exigencies OF peace at home and abroad, of
foreign war, and of domestic insurrection.
The Constitution of the United States, and
the laws enacted in pursuance of it, are the
supreme law of the land in all conditions OF
the country. The Constitution is inyiolate in
all circumstances of the people and the gov
ernment. State necessity has no power to
suspend the Constitution or abridee the free
dom of the people. State necessity, as an
excuse for invading popular liberty, has been
in all history the tyrants plea. When popu-
lar liberty succumb5 to the cry of State ne
cessity, the land has already ceased to be free.


Loyalty, in America, is the franchise of NO
Office or officer. American loyalty Is que to
the Constitution alone. Fidelity to the Con-
stitution is loyalty to the Union. There is NO





sutton is the Union. And whatever man, off,
Ger, or party, assumes to be true to the Union
and not to the Constitution as our forefathers
made it, and our fathers enjoyed it, is disloyal
to both. Blind submission to the Administra-
ton of the Government, is not devotion to
the country or the Constitution. The Ad-
ministration is not the Government. The
Government is established by the Constitution
md ba Il
ton is as subject to the Constitution, and a:
responsible for Its observance, as the people
the Administration may err, but the Consti
ministration violates the Constitution, loyalty
to the Administration may become disloyalty
to the Union. Devotion TO the Constitution
Is the only American loyalty.


In times Of peace and prosperity, there il
little danger of the loyalty of the people for
saking the Constitution for the principles of /;
party, or the policy of an Administration
But in days Of civil discord and CONFUSION
there danger of patriotism being blindfoIded
mistakIng the objects Of Its faith, and trans
fsrring to the servant of its altar the devotion
due only to the altar itself And in sucl
days it is the duties Of all parties to conside
well their position, and to determine how ia
Ilelr lOydlIY 10 the OOnoUIuJlOn Is cOnSisIen
with their support If the Administration O
the Government.


Almost as old as the Union, founded in tn
broad principles of the Constitution, identifies
with all the prosperous history of the Unite'
States, the Democratic party has no ne'
principles to enunciate, no new loyalty +
pledge. 1t has always been, as it is, the part
of the Constitution. In all its career, tn
Constitution has been its only creed. 1t ha
been depressed by defeat and elated by sue
cess, and has at times mistaken the true pat
Of duty. But it has never lost sight OF tn
Constitution, or wandered far from its way.
It's history chronicles devotion to the Con
stitution, and a sympathy With the spirit Q
the people, as just and steadfast as human de
v0tion and sympathy can attain. If not al
ways right, it has not been often or lon
wrong. Human history can say no more 70
any party, in any age or country. The Dem
oeratic party needs to-day no platform but il
history. But in this unprecedented and tel
rible crisis, it becomes as to consider the az