, 1860-09-10
LETTER PROM 8. Z. FLAEN1GAN. ESQ.

7othe Hokersef tAs 1XHith judicial Circuit Of
Of lAinois:
FEl1ow CITIZENS: 1T has been announced to
you that I am candidate for the Office OF
scented to you By myself and others that Ste
phen A. Douglas was ny first choice for the
Presidency. It il tfue. am candidate for
the ef6ce Of States Attorney, and Stephen 4.
Douglas is my first choice tor The Presidency,
and have been doing what little I could IN
and would continue to do so, only find myself
siding = disunionist, and by this mean am
be, to John G. Breetinridge and joseph
Lane, who have been nominated ana presented
before the American people, by men who have
openly avowed their intention to dissolve our
hlppy Union. prefer then to support man
who has influence and strength enough to put
down the disunlon element which we find in our
happy and at this time prosperous land. And.
finding it an impossibity 10 accomplish this
end By supporting Stephen A. Douglas, the
man wo all 80 much admire, am constrained
from \ sense Of duty to my God and my couu.
Lincoln, tie nominee Of the Republican party.
This, no doubt, will surprise many Of you at
frat glance, but feel assured that when you
come to examine my reasons, many il not all Of
you will Justify me in the step am now taking
in ths present political battls Of the country,
fGueG<
ton, join me in humbling to tho dust the party
which seeks to destroy our Federal Unicn. and
spread civil war, anarchy and confusion
throughout the land.
Ths reasons which will guide me in the pres-
ent political contest are based upon tLe fact
th1t We cannot elect Douglas
We have four candidates IN the field. and It
is now ascerta1ned that Breckinridge md Lane
will carrJ every Southern State with two OF
three exceptions, and they will be carried for
Bell. unless Douglas carries Missouri. Then
Douglas must depend for his support On the
Free Slater, and We Ill know It to he conceded
bJ some Of bis leading friends, that he cannot
there will have 10 be stroag effort il his be-
half, hence ECU see, the fight is to be made be-
tween Breckenridge and Lincoln the two strong.
est candidates, and it becomes our duty at once
to decide which Of these candidstes ne prefer.
have decided to support Lincoln. l would
port Of him can hare no other effect than Of
earring the election into the House Of Repre-
seutativeR, which will either elect Brectinrdge: :
or if the House should fail to elect by the 4sh
Of March, as is probable, the Senate will elect
10. Lane, who becomes President Of the United
hands Of the Disunionists, to accomplish
their one idea Of breaking up tie Contedezs-
| CT and erecting the Slave States to. ether,
With our Western country, into separate and
independent government. 1eay to you fellow
citizens, that it is my honest d6ment, that
movement, and I know this opinion Il not in
compatible with the judgment Of large ma
iority Of the men y ho are now supporting cur
distinguished Stephen 4. Douglas, and 80 it is
the opinion Of tho press. Thensthis Breckin.
ridge ticket having than 1 destruction Of our
fathers years and yeaIs Of toll and blood
shed. cannot, and will not directly,
nor Indirectly, support thu Breekinridge
ticket know ne have men who prefer Bel ever
Lincoln. 1tetieve myself, John Bell IL pstri-
| OF. but this cannot be sufficient reason why
wo should support him in the p1cscat contest,
because. like Douglas, be cannot carry but two
House OF Representatives, hence Jou see, ua-
less We support Lincoln, NC are aiding the dis
union ticker. Douglas has no strength in the
House Of Representative, and ask you in the
nAme OF Heaven, where are We to get votes
to elect him By the psople1 i cannot be dons
be disunionist. But it Is charged that Lincon n
is IN Aooltionist. This is not true, be oulY
wishes to prohibit slavery in the Territories,
Whils they aro in Territorial condition, and
haa no desire or inclination to interfere with
slavery where it exists. He il pledged to the
doctrine that slavery is a local institution, and
that each State has right to retain 1t as long
~ they please And again, 1t is said that be
voted against bill in Congress, which was iu-
tended to supply the soldiers in the Mexican
wiz. This is nottrue. And will satisfy any
ons Of it Who will examine his acts while ID
Cong1ess.
James Buchanan has destroyed thu Demo.
cratic party in the present contest-hs haa
ussd tbe influence Of his high positisn, and ex.
erted all his snergies 10 accomplish tlis end
Every man who holds Federal Office muAt rive
evidence of his intention 10 destroy the Demo.
cratic party, elss his head il taken of 1t once
From this We bshoid the ussal incidents Of ap.
preaching tyranny.
Our land il dIed with spies and infornezs,
! and det1sction and denuncistioo are the ortei
Of tbs day. Psopls, md especially oAcial in
9uM - *