The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-08-20
Letter from ScnatGr Douglas.

Following is the letter from Senator
Douglas to John L. Peyton, alluded to in
our last 1t states concisely the views of
its distinguished author on two of the
most prominent topics Of the day.
WASIuNGToH. AUGUST >, 1889.
Col JoHN l.. PEyToN. Stanton, Va:
Ny DEAR SIR: You do me no more than
justice in your kind letter. for which ac-
cept my thanks in assuming that do not
concur with the Administration in their
views respecting the rights of nattlralizcd
citizens, as defined in the lie Clerc letter
which, it is proper to observe, have been
since materially modified.
Under orr Constitution there can be no
.just distinction between the right of ma
tive-born and naturaiized citizens to claim
the protection of our Government, at home
and abroad Unless naturalization releas-
es the person naturalized from all obiiga-
tons which he owed to his native country,
by virtue of his allegiance. il leaves him
in the sad predicament Of owing allegiance
10 two countries, without receiving protcc-
ton from either-a dilemma in which no
American citizen should ever be placed.
Neither have you Inexperienced my
opinions in respect to the African slave
trade. That question seriously disturbed
the harmony of the Convention which
framed the Federal Constitution. Upon
it the delegates divided into two parties,
under circumstances which, for a time rem
dered harmonious action hopeless. Ihe
one demanded the instant and uncondl-
tonal prohibition OF the African slave
trade, on moral anI religious grounds,
while the other insisted that IL was Il leGlt
innate commerce. involving no other con-
sideration than Il sound public policy.
which each State ought 10 be permitted 10
determine for itself. 20 long "a II was sane
toned by Its own laws. Zach party stood
firmly and resolutely by lis own position
until both became convinced that TIN, VeX-
ed question would break up the Conyen-
ton. destroy the Federal Union. blot out
the glorieS of the Revolution. and throw
away all its blessings. unless some fair and
Just compromise could be formed on the
common ground Of such mutual conces-
sions as were indispensable to the p:o-e rya-
ton OF their liberties, union, and ludcIeu-
dcnce.
Such q compromise WAS Effected and IN
corporated into the Constitution. by which
it was understood that the African slave
trade might continue rs & legitimate com
lneiCP III those states WHOSE ltlN> SANCTION
ed it until the year l>ON from and after
which time Congress might and would pro
hihit it forever throughout the dominion
and limits Of the United States. and Ia--
all laws which might become necessary 10
make such prohibition etiectual The har-
monv OF the Convention was restored and
the Union saved by this compromise, with
out which the Constitution could never
have been made
stand firmly by this compromise and
I by all the other compromises Of the Con
s;itution. and shall use my best efforts TO
carry each and all OF them into faithful *
ccuti0n. IN the sense and with the under
standing in which they were originally
adopted. Inaccordance with this compg"-
mise. am irrcconcilah!y opposed 10 the
revival Of the African slave trade i'll any
form and under any circumstances.
/ l am, with ercatTespect, yours, truly,
: Z DOUGLAS.