A DEMOCRATIC MANIFESTO

A DEMOCRATIC MANIFESTO. Address From the Democratic Republican General Committee. Dec. 21, 1860 Credit...The New York Times Archives See the article in its original context from December 21, 1860, Page 8Buy Reprints New York Times subscribers* enjoy full access to TimesMachine—view over 150 years of New York Times journalism, as it originally appeared. Subscribe *Does not include Crossword-only or Cooking-only subscribers. About the Archive This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. At a meeting of this General Committee, held at Tammany Hall, Monday evening, Dec. 17, 1860, Judge BRENNAN, from the Committee appointed at a former meeting, consiting of Mathew T. Brennan, J. Winthrop Chanler, Samuel T. Webster, Michael Connolly, Oswald Ottendorfer, John Hardy and Daniel W. Norris, reported the following address, which was unanimously adopted, and ordered to be published: The representatives charged by the Democracy of the City of New-York, with the supervision of their organization for the year now closing, being about finally to adjourn, feel impelled by the unhappy and ominous condition of the country, to address a few words of exhortation and counsel to their political brethren throughout its entire extent. The results of out political contests, during the past year, locally considered, have been of the most gratifying character. In the vital struggle for the choice of our national rulers, which has so intensely convulsed the whole country, the Democracy of this City nobly accomplished the full measure of their duty, and, by the generous aid of the truly national men of all parties, polled for their electoral ticket a majority which, though unhappily not effective to carry the State, has placed beyond cavil the fact that this great City is the very citadel of national principles and patriotic strength. Beyond this, the factious organization, having its head in this City, with only a skeleton of existence through the rest of the State, which sought to obtrude an irregular delegation into the Democratic National Convention, and which was by it disposed of according to the requirements of justice and right, has now been thoroughly rebuked, and finally subdued by the Democracy of this City, who were the most deeply outraged by its pretensions. The Democratic masses have not only manifested to the world their own great strength, as against the fanatics and factionists who are banded together for the prosecution of an unjust and sectional warfare against the people of other States, but they have vindicated the regularity and power of their own organization at Tammany Hall; an organization existing during more than half a century, and never found wanting either in principle or patriotism. In these results, however, which, under other circumstances, would justify the proudest notes of triumph, we are not permitted to rejoice. We cannot light the fires of victory when the nation is shrouded in sadness and gloom. The unfortunate election of ABRAHAM LINCOLN to the Presidency, as the candidate of a sectional and aggressive organization, has been accomplished, notwithstanding our utmost efforts, according to the forms of the Constitution, and is a result to which we must therefore submit without reserve, much as it is to be regretted. We realize as fully, if not as keenly, as the people of the South do or can that they have great and just causes of complaint in respect to warfare waged against them upon the question of Slavery; but we can assure them that any apprehension, whether of danger, or of further wrongs to their rights, from the action of a majority of the Northern people, is without real foundation and we ask them to attach to our assurance the weight due to a solemn declaration of the National Democracy of the City of New-York, made in Tammany Hall, from which sacred edifice there has never been during the period of nearly half a century which has elapsed since its election, a single authorized expression unfriendly to their rights or interests. Whatever may be the actual sentiments of the President elect, or the construction which can be given to the Platform of the Convention which nominated him, we deny that a majority of the Northern people are either hostile to their brethren of the South, or even willing to pursue upon the subject of Slavery, a policy of aggression, where it now exists, or of exclusion in relation to unsettled Territories. On the contrary, it is our firm belief that a large majority of the Northern people feel a deeper interest in the preservation, of our national Government, than they do in any possible condition of the negro race in any part of this country, fully satisfied as they are that the welfare of that race is as carefully guarded in the Slave States as in the Free; and this utter want of sympathy with an Anti-Slavery agitation they will not fail to manifest at the ballot-box whenever the issue can be fairly and purely presented for their decision. Nor does the result of the recent election shake our opinion upon this point. That unfortunate event is due as much to the divisions existing among their opponents, as to the strength of the Republicans; while the vote cast for the candidates of the latter was increased by numerous causes other than a sympathy in the aggressive policy of their fanatical supporters. This want of sympathy is clearly shown by the fact that in this State only about one-half of the Republican voters cast their ballots in favor of allowing suffrage to negroes, a question which was submitted for popular decision at the Presidential election, and which did not fail to elicit an affirmative vote from every elector in favor of agitating the Slavery question. The strength of the popular feeling at the North in favor of a continuance of our National Union upon the basis of a just and thorough recognition and protection of the lights of the South, has been signally manifested in Massachusetts, the stronghold of Abolitionism, where, at the late municipal elections, nearly every city elected the Mayoralty candidate in favor of the Union and the Constitution. While the popular sentiment at the North, therefore, may be relied upon to secure justice to the South at all future elections, no injury can possibly result to its rights from the action of those clothed with power by the recent election. In view of the persistent omission of the President elect to make any effort to quiet the public mind or initiate measures of adjustment and conciliation at the present crisis in our national affairs, no man is justified in attributing to him an earnest and unselfish desire to secure the perpetuation of the Union; but, fortunately, however ready he may be to lend himself to the aggressive views of a large portion of his supporters, he is without power to accomplish any one result, by reason of the decisive preponderance of the Union men in each branch of the next Congress, unless that majority should be lost by the voluntary withdrawal of Southern members. We are aware that the people of the South, who are at a distance front us, and who are without the personal knowledge upon the subject which we possess, do not truly comprehend, as we do, the actual sentiment of the Northern people. It is not strange that they view as an act of deep and deadly hostility to them, and their just and constitutional rights, the election to the Presidency of the candidate of a party whose advent to power in several States has been followed by iniquitous enactments designed to nullity the Constitution and laws of the United States, and whose prominent leaders have proclaimed the most extreme and incendiary sentiments, and also countenanced and encouraged the most violent and treasonable fanatics and agitators of the Abolition school. We realize fully that it is the part of wisdom for them, under such an appearance, to guard against danger; nor is it strange, believing as they do, that they should be apprehensive and excited. We make no complaint that they should unite and act for their own protection; but we call upon them to deliberate like patriots, and act as becomes those who love their country; and not to rush onward, regardless alike of themselves and of those who have so long and faithfully fought their battle. Let them not endeavor to [???]ill down the sacred temple which has sheltered us all, and whose fall will bury their friends as well as their toes in its ruins; but rather let them, with the care and wisdom of statesmen, prepare and present to the North the measures and guarantees which they deem necessary to the preservation of their own rights and their own safety, and we pledge ourselves that they will secure the prompt and hearty approval of this State, and we doubt not, of nearly all the other States. We ask them to remember that the Republicans polled at the recent election not more than two millions out of about five millions of votes; that they were then in a monitory of nearly a million: that that minority is now greatly diminished; that they are a party of antagonizing elements, without moral or political power, and that there is an overwhelming feeling of fraternity and justice throughout the Northern States, ready and anxious to accede to every reasonable demand. We ask them to meet us like brothers, and to work with us to preserve our glorious Union, upon the basis of a faithful performance of the compromises agreed to by our fathers, and the perpetuation, in its spirit as well as its letter, of every right which they established. we do not consider at all the question of what can be or should be done, if anything, to preserve this glorious Union, if every effort for peace and reconciliation shall fail. Far be that evil day from us. We will not ponder, until it is forced upon us as a last necessity, any question of fratricidal strife, disunion or civil war. We appeal to the reason and patriotism of our fellow-citizens of every section, and we implore them to remember that we have common memories from the cradle of our independence, from battle-fields fertilized by the blood of every State and crowned with the glory of victories accomplished by united efforts, and the tombs of departed patriots enshrined in the deepest affections of the American heart; common interests, established by the hand of nature itself, and increased by every year of our national existence and a common destiny, involving the highest hopes and aspirations, not only of our own people, but of the world. Let us all be true to the impulses prompted by considerations so elevated, and justice can be done to all, every right maintained, and a future secured, for our common and united country far brighter than the most vivid glories of the past.