Year: 1866

Previous to the elections last fall, we
had the pleasure to commend an able and
generous appeal, to the War Democrats of
the Nation, from the pen of that distin-
gusled and talented Democrat and patriot
Hiram Walbridge, of New York. We all
know the glorious result of the elections
then, under less favorable circumstances
than this fall.


Mr.. Walhridge has now issued SINH
heartily commend, not only to Democrats
but to all.


TO WAR DEMOCRATS.


The political contest now imminent COM
pels us to review our position, and decide
on our future action in the light afforded
by the past.


selves these questions:


Were we right or wrong in resolving to
stand by our country and it's flag when
traitors desperately struggled to divide the
former and strike down the latter?
Were we right or wrong in our deter
mination to spurn all party ties that threat
ened to weaken the efficiency or tramme]
the freedom of our efforts to maintain the
integrity of our Union?


Were they right or wrong who sought
to paralyZe the National arm appraised IN
self-defense against Secession and Disun-
ion, who proclaimed the war to the Union
a failure after having done their their best
to make it so and whose partial, short liv-
ed success were hailed with hearty cheers
along the lines CT the Rebel armies?


Is there q rigilttul difference in your re
gard for tie soldier who died fighting tc
preserve our Nationality, him who pour
ed out his life-blood while battling for the
rebel cause.


My questions sufficiently indicate the
answers ! deem prompted by the instincts
Of true Notwithstanding none; de-
nouncing none; wishing i'll to none yet
love and honor those who struggled and
fought to uphold the Union as [ do not
those who did their worst to overthrow it.
Have we then, who st ood by the old Flag
gained nothing by its triumph, but the
privilege of being ruted by those who
fought for its prostration Do the beaten
rebels return to dubious loyalty, with all
the rights the enjoyed before they plung-
into treason?


I think not. / hold that the loyal States
and a people achieved by their successful
struggle Of right to compel security
agains future rebellions on such grounds
and with such impulses as were held to
Justify that of 1851.


l hold that the present Congress is en-
phatically right in demanding that the
States lately III revolt shall no longer en-
JOY a Fictitious and exceptional power in
our National Councils based on -Four Mil
lions Of their people, whom they Obstinate
ly refuse to educate or enfranchise and
whom they divest of the arms and deny
'the military organization and discipline
required to render them efficient III our
National defense.


In short hold that Congress is substan-
TALLY right.the President generally wrong
in the contest which has alicnated them
and I propose to aid and act with those
who sustain Congress and oppose the Pres
| ident. until the controversy which now
convulses the republic shall have been
brought to q final issue.


Never doubling that such issue Will be
the logical consumation of the victories
achieved by Grant, Sherman, Thomas and
Sheridan, 1 respectfully solicit your con-
currence in securing it.


Yours, truly,


HIRAM WALBRIDGE.


New DIRK, Aug. %, 1866.