The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-11-30
An Interesting Letter from
Judge DOUGLAS,

SIoSO OOlSo ihS'
To Litter of the Ieading business men
of New Orleans, inviting him to give his
|" views on the present condition of the af-
fairs of our country" in public speech,
Judge Douglas made th- following reply ::
GENTLEMEN; Your request to address
the citizens of New Orleans " on the pres
ent condition Of the affairs Of our country"
has just been placed in my hanls. An
invitation SO ndmerou,ly signed by the
most eminent business men of this great
commercial city, implies a compliment
which duly appreciate, aud am exceed
lngly reluctant to decline.
These are not the times for patriotic
men TO affect Indifference, or To degenerate
into dependency, or to rush madly into
violent and extreme measures. Just in
proportion as ur common country is envi-
roned with peril, it becomes the imperative
duty of every patriot in the land to in
crease his efforts and exert his utmost
powers and energies to rescue the repub.
lie from the disasters which threaten
its integrity.
No man in America regrets the election
OF Mr.. Lincoln more ;han | do none
made more strenuous exertions t. defeat
him n, ne differ with him more radically
and irreconciIeaby upon all the great is
sues involved in the contest 30 man
living is prepared to resist, by all the le
gitimate means sanctioned by the Consti-
tuition and laws of our county, the ac-
gressive policy which lie aud his part,
are understood 20 represent But, while
| say this, | am bound, as a good citizen
and law abiding man, to declare NV con
sclentlous conviction that the mere cleo
ton of any man t. the Presidency by the
American people, in accordance with the
Constitution and laws, does not of itself
furnish any just cause or reasonable
ground for dissolying the Federal Union.
1t is not pretended, as far as | am in
formed, that any provision Of the Const-
tuition has been violated IN the recent
election. No act has been done which
impairs or destroys the constitutional
rights OF any State or citizen. Nothing
has yet occurred to release any citizen
from his oath of fidelity to The Constitu
ton of the United States, which is the
supreme lar Of every State and of every
citizen.
But willie it is conceded that no act has
yet beea done which inpairs the rights or
endangers the peace and safety Of any
portion of our country, it is 0ppreheaded
that the election of Mr. Lincoln carries
with II tie assurance that the policy and
principles Of the patty by which lie was
elected will prevail, and be carried into
practical effect in every department Of the
federal government, and thereby agW en-
danger the peace and safety Of the slave
holding states. Is this apprehension well
founded? DO the results Of the recent
election Justify this apprehension The
president can do nothing except what the
law authorizes. His duty is to see the
laws faithfully executed. If be fails to
perform this duty he will soon fud himself
prisoner before the High Court Of I'm
peachment. fortunatel Y that tribunal is
so constituted as TO command the couii-
dence Of the entire south as well as the
conservative men Of the lorth. We have
this security that the erjs,ing laws will be
| faithfully executed. have vet to learn
that the people Of the south complain Of
the acts Of Congress nor on the statute
book, upon the suhject of slavery, as ap.
! plicable to the states or territories, or tc
the District of Columbia. These laws
were enacted, mainly, if not entirely, by
the io;nt action OF the conservative mem
bers of the north and south, in opposition
to the abolitionists and freesoiers, and
have been acqnesced in by the southern
people as well as by their senators anC
representatives, under the present anl
preceding administrations of the fedora
government. Consequently, it is fair tc
presume that the south, SO far from de
manding the repeal of the existing law:
upon the subject of slavery as essential tc
her safety and equality in the Union, will
insist on their being retained upon the
statute book, and faithfully executed. MOI
are we permitted to infer that the South
ern people require any iIitional legisia
! ton by Congress on this subject, for Tho
reason that the SoutLern Senators ano
Representatives have not introduced anC
advocated any changes in the existing leg
! islation upon ;he slavery question under
! the present Administration, and that o
Mr. Pierce, when the Abulitionists and
Free Soiers were in the minority in both
Houses Of Congress.
Assuming, therefore, that the Southern
people and their Senators and Represent
atives deem their rights and Institutions
entirely safe under the Constitution and
laws as they now stand, aud only desire
to be let alone, without any interference
! by Congress with their domestic concerns
the question arises whether Mr. Lincoln
and his party will have the power, even j
| they have the disposition, to disturb or i'm
pair the rights and institutions Of the
/ South, either in the States, or Territories
or in the district of Columbia They
certainly cannot do it under the existing
laws. VIII they have the power to re
! peal or change these laws, or 10 enact
othersl 1t is well known that they viii
be in minority in both Hou es of Con
gress, with the Supreme Cour. agains
them. In the Northern States there have
been elected already . sufficient number
of democratic members Of Congress, bold
aud true national luen, pledged to the
| Cincinnati platform and the doctrines o