Year: 1860

back to every good mans iresde, will withhold its
hand from the labor2 That this generation of


American citizens awakened by the clamor that


threatens the integrity of our Union, and conscious


of its faculty to command the ending of mad de-


hate, and to re-cstabish the foundations Of health
full Just and bengnant administration of the duties


and benefits of the Constitution will play the slug
J gard in this momenous hour, aud incur the ever
lasting shame Of paosively looking on upon the de-
poltion of this fabric Of confederated States p


That this generation win prove itself false to all
generations TO come rs to permit when 1t has the
! power to forbid the destruction of this glorious
heritage Of many millions of freefhen, with such
immortal memories clustering around the path Of


their history, with such grand hopes lowering over
the career before them the central point of many


blessings the subject of many prayers Of the en-
! Hghtened humanity of the whole word2
! Let all men reflect upon the incredible folly Of
quarrel 's..=s=..1ss.sa.'i 81
Tho country is wrought into a tempest Of excite


ment. Two great political armies are contending
for mastery Botlare ihfurialed with rage that


threatens fearful extremes. The great mass of law


abiding citizens are looking with amazement, and
an ominous apprehension of mischief And yet


there is no danger impending over the Republic
which human passions have not created, and which
human wisdom may not prevent.


We have pointed out the chief source Of the
present agitation, ard think we have sufficiently


shown that neither of the two parties who are now
seeking to obtain the control of the Government
can be safely entrusted with the management of
public affairs. The only way to rescue the country
; from their hands is to organize party whose car


dnal principles shall be: To remove the subject of


slavery from the arena of party politics. and leave


it to the Independent control Of the States in which


it exists and to the unbiased action of the judiciary


To remove all obstacles from the due and faithful


execution of the provisions for the rendition Of
T fugitive slaves.
To cultivate and expand the resources Of the coun-


try by such protection to every useful pursuit and


interest is compatible with the general welfare
|, and equitable to all.
To maintain peace as far as possible, and honor
able relations to all nations.


To guard and enforce the supremacy of the laws
: by an impartial and strict administration Of the
powers granted by the Constitution.
To respect the rights and reverance the Union of


the States rs the vital source Of present peace md
prosperity and the sures guarantee of future power
! and happiness


To teach reconciliation fraternity and orbearance
as the great national charities by which the Union
is ever to be preserved, fountain Of perennial
) blessings to the people.


Let these principles be taken to the hearts of


those who pledge themselves TO the support of the


party, and let them aetuate their private life well
as their public duty.


TO promote this movement, measures should be
adopted with as little delay as possible, such will





trolling influence on the approaching election, and


to select candidates upon whom its vote may be
r effectively concentrated.
: To this end we propose that convention be i'm
mediately held in each State, which shall assume
the duty of embodying the whole conservative


strength Of each in such form as shall make it most
. effective.


That each of these conventions shall make a
nomination of two candidates for the Presidency,
(omitting to nominate Vice President) to be
selected from those most eminent and approved in
: public esteem, one Of which candidates. at least,
shall he citizen of other State than that in
r which he is nominated.


That these two candidates from each State shall
be submitted to the consideration of General Con-
vention, TO he assembled at Baltimore, at a time
that shall be designated by the National Executive
Committee, which General Convention shall he en-


powered TO select from the whole number of the
nominations transmitted to it, candidate for Pres-
dent and Vice President. as the candidates of the
I Constitutional Union party.
I That this General Convention shall consist of a


representation from each State composed Of the
Y same number of members its representation in the
= two Houses of Congress.


That this representation of each State be chosen


either by the State convention ITSELF or in such other


manner rs such convention in view of the short
ness of the time for the proceeding, may appoint
- \ convention constituted in accordance with this
plan we think would be satisfactory to all parts of
the country and altogether competent to the duty
Of discreet and iudicious selection of candidates.
h The people who have much reason, in their
habitua experience, of the nsuiciency of conven-
r tons to feel little disrust of these bodies,
: might prefer some other mode of nomination, if a
: better could now be adopted. But in the present
r emergency, when delay would render any attempt


TO make nomination for the coming election use
: less we are persuaded they will acquiesce in the
l. plan proposed, rs the best the time will allow.
will of tho oh;
S tions to which the ordinary and accustomed COM
position Of conventions is exposed. II will he con-
fined TO the single duty of selecting the candidates
, from a number of eminent citizens presented by
the several States worthy of the first Office in
f the Government; and ii win, most probably, find
in the concurrng opinion Of several State conven-
t. tions in favor Of one or more individuals useful
! guide to the most acceptable nomination. And as
4 il will be restricted in its choice to the names
presented, it will under no circumstances offend the
o public wish by selecting candidates unknown to- or


not respected by, the country.


+ Whetherany other principles than those we have


enumerated shall be enunciated, it will he for Che
d Convention to determine. "Patforms' have been
j so frequently employed as the shallow devices Of
party deception, that they have come to be viewed
c with distrust by the people. We know of no higher
and nobler aim than the restoration Of the peace
- and harmony of divided and distracted country,
o and no platform more acceptable to every true
: patriot than the "Union the Constitution, and the
c enforcement of the laws


Fellow-citizens the task that has been allotted to
. us Is performed. We have pointed out path by


which, in our opinion, the country may he rescued


from its perilous position. 1t is for you to deter
n mine whether you will persue that path or CON
q tinue in one which, however the approaching strug-


gle may terminate, may lead to victory but not to
u peace to brief cessation of strife but not to re-
n storntion of harmony.


WASHINGTON, February 22, 1860.
, JOHN J. CRrTTENDEN, Ny, Chairman.
c WM. g. RIVES, Va. u ~
y WASHINGTON HUNT, N
&c WM. A. GRAHAM, N. G.


c HENRY VI. FULLER. Pa.


o JNO. T. KENNEDY, Md.


r HENRY Y. CRANSTON. r. J.
II ALEXANDER r. B0TELER, Va.
y JOHN A. ROCKWELL, CT.
n JOHN WHEELER, VI