The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-09-04

Letter fo1 Hoa. Reverdy JOhnson...The
Warfare On D0aglas.
LYHDBuRsT. NEAR BALTIMORE,
July 90, 1863
Mr. DEAR JUDoE No one Of your friends
has witnessed with more pleasure than I
have the general appreciation you seem to be
receiving at tbs hands Of the Democracy Of
Illinois.
The impulse to say this to you, il, under
the circumstances, 80 strong that hope to
be excused for yieliing to it. That there
should occasionally be differences OF opinion |
amongst men Of generally concurring senti' !
ments is not at all to be wondered at. The |
only wonder there should be ia, that the diff |
ferences are not Of more frequent occur |
renee. To exact universal accordance in all
measures Of political policy. however con. |
trary they may be to past opinions, sane |
toned at the time by general approval, and
to ostracise those who differ, and especially
on measure from its very nature Of tempe
rary duration and influence, is not only un-
mixed party tyranny, but the very essence
Of folly. And yet, this is the character of
tho hostility which some f the Democratic
presses are now so ruthlessly waging against
you. Pr"fessirg to be, to the very hearts
core, opposed to Republicanisn As UNDER
stood in these times, and to all it's adherents,
they are certainly doing, whether knowingly
or not, all that they can to elect to the Sc
nate Of the United States, from your State.
. leader Of that party. who, judging from
his reported speeches, is deeply and incura-
by dyed liz every one Of its political and IA
tai horrsies. A leader, whose success on
your defeat will be hailed everywhere by his
followers as the death kn-ll OF the Demo
cratic party, aud carly we'll caused alarm to
those who look to the preservation Of the
Union, and be considered the triumph of .
deep settled, bitter malignity, or blind un-
reasoning prejudice TO the Southern States
The madness Of such = course naturally sx-
cites special wOnEer amongst Ill the friends
Of the present administration. who look only
to lis true honor and Success, unin6uenced
by petty motives Of personal spite to one
who. like yourself, has for 80 many Years
with signal ability and unqurstioned good
faith, contributed So much TO further the ge
neral measures Of policy which have Of late
years established. an with truth for tho
party, the title Of NATIONAL.
he excuse, such as il ia. Gt is the only
one,) that you di,l no, agree with the Pres.
dents ultimate policy in the Kansas matter,
! il too hm.y to deceive an honest observer.
/ That policy. il is tn he membered, was not
the one which the President adopted in the
beginning lie assumed il his published in.
stru-uenS to Gov. Walker, a. a fact not
: doubted 10y him, that the constitution which
! the territorial convention would furm, would
4 in good faith aud in lis entirety be submit
ted to the people. He evidently did not
( think it possible. (and who did. ~ho was
not in the &c ret:) that such .hmi.sion
would be in . form tina, would give the p.o-
! PIE no opportunity to pass judgment upon
tie c"n>,tut on Al al, that ssiciy on = celia
/ tersI mstirr, having nothing to do with =
I iuyle clause in the instrument Az = mat
ter Of pol'y. Al we'll rs If justice, that thrs
was . grave error, no zane. unblss, d mind
/ can, think. be found t. QUESTION. But this
hein2 done, and being legal, the President
esteemed il best to submit il arprovingiy to
Congress-. nut in so doing had he the sane
( ttun 81 q ] Of his best friends OF Of the best
and oldest fri. nd> Of the party; No one
viii answer affi,mative'y who WAS in Wash
ington at the time, and an attentive observer
o, all that was then SAID and done.
That the Presd-nt acted conSci. ntouSiy.
and a. he believed for the hest, I have TO
doubt; but very many Of his truest and
f,~'esr fri, nds entertained a din. rent op,n-
ion. These thought thai the proper course
was to submit. the matter to Congress, with.
out executive endorsement or disapproba-
t,"n. {" h- disposed OF as that body mig II
deem the best. confess that this was my
oun opin,on. But when he had decided
otherw's-, final and pretty general acquirs
cence in the measure was given from = de
SIRE to have q matter SO fruitful Of miSchiev-
GUS uneasincss in the country SETTLED, and
from . conviction that in the way proposed
il could be settled. And, ! see no present
reason for doubling the accuracy Of this be-
lief. But are those who continue 10 think
otherwis. to be on that account villificd and
denied communication with the party? Is
that to he the result OF An honest perssver.
ance In an original opinion. coneurred in.
perhaps, At the time, by . majority Of the
party, Are its dsad'iest ioes-foss 10 near.
~ all o. i,s past and probable future policy
to be brought into power through the in
s,rumentaluy Of warfare carried on FROM
the mere indulgence Of the ll-w,ll and per-
sonsl hatred which the pursuit Of homes
convictions may have engendered! Under
such suicidal blindness what parry can long
SURVIVE! Is inability 10 sgrcs in every
measure proposed, which ultimately receives
the approval Of . majority, conclusive evil
,,~nce Of want Of proper feslty. If SO. how
can so many now be favored members Of the
Democratic party who at the frs, did not
sanction the policy Of repeating the Mssou-
ri slavery restriction? These are, I knets, 10
he found South as we'll a. North, and
amones, these doubtless can be ranged the
President himself Who helieves, bad he al
that period been in the legislative councils
Of the nation, that he would have given tina
treasure his support! | certainly no more
believe it than that had been there, South
ern man - I am, not blindy ] hope. but
strongly and sfiectionateiy. with equal at
tachmrnt to the other States. it would have
received my support. But yet, Is the Presi
dent, because Of such difference With hit
party, less to be esteemed an honest ant
faithful and honored member Of it!
cannot. therefore, but marvel at, .!
much as lament. the bitterness and mad
ness Of the opposition to you Of former Po
,, litical associates. | trust. however, sincere
. ly trust, shat their unreasonable enu,ity vii
be Of no avail. and that . triumph will fol!e~
, your prudent, bold, manly, and patriot,
, Canvass triumph SO vital to the con'inu
ing success Of patty, and as involved m i
. the continuing peace and prosperity of th'
country.
. With grea. regard, your friends and OBJ
serv't, REvERpY JOHNSON.
Hon. STEPHEN A. D,uGLAS, Chicago.
The wheat anl oats crop throughout VI
gina il represented as most unfavorabir
Corn looks better.