Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1860-11-29
Letter Of Mr. Douglas.


Orleans, dated Nov. 2,h,> sfsspse.iss d
party ,ssking hisyie Won lie present con.
di;iOn, Of gaairs. " 81 81
GtsrLraES:-SY our request 10 sidres.
Tie citizsnse New Dfteanssaon She pre-.
sent conditionio f the affairs of our coun.
try" has iuspbeen placed in my hands
An invitation SO numerously signed by the
most eminent business men of this great
commercial city, implies a compliment which
duly appreciate, and am exceedingly, re-
luciaptto decline. I uAA8JA NV
These are net the, times fer pairIntic men
10 affect Indifference. or TO degenerate into
dependency, OF to rush inadly into violent
md extreme measures. Just in proportion
as our common country is environed with
peril if becomes The impeEstiss-daty of
every patriot in The land 10 increase, his ef-
ferts and exert Iii. utmost powers and en-.
ergiss torescue the republic from the dis
asiers which threaten its integrily.sp D
No man in American regrets the cleo
tion of Mr.. Lincoln more than do; none
made more Strenuous exertions 10 defeat
him, none differ with him more radically
and irreconcileably upon all the ereatissues
INVOLVED in the contest. Norman living is
prepared to resist, by all the legitimate
means sanctioned by the constitution AID
laws OF our country, the aggressive policy
which he and his party ars understood 10
represent Bat while say this I am
bound, as a good citizen and lsw-abidins
man, 70 declare my cons cieptious conviction
that the mere election of any man, to the
Presidency BY. The American people, in ac-
cordance with the constitution and laws,
does not Of itself furnish any just cause or
reasonable grounds for dissalving the Fed
eral Union. .,.,. : -. f-,..,. T.
II is not pretended, as far as !, am, in
formed, that any provision Of the Constitu-
lion has been violated in the recent cleo
ton. No act has been done which impairs
or destroys the observation-disclosures Of any
State or citizen Nothing has yet OCCUR,
red TO release any citizen from his oath OF
hdelity To- the Constitution of the United
States, which is the supresaelLQw of every
Stale and Of every citizen. But while it is
conceded that no act has yet been done
which inpsirs the rights or endangers the
peace and safety Of any portion Of our coun-
try, it is .GpPrehsnded that the election of Mr..
Lincoln carries with it the assurance that
the policy and principles OF the party by
which he was elected wiz prevail, aad
be carried into practical effect in every de-
partment Of the Federal Government, and
thereby Will endapger.,he peace and safety
of the slave holding States. Is this sppre-
hension? The President. can do nothing
except what the law authorizes. His du-,
ty is to see the laws faithfully executed
lIhe fails TO perform this duty he Wilson
find himself prisoner before the High
Court Of impeachment. Fortunately that
tribunals so'constituted as to command the
confidence Of the, people Of the entire South
rs well as Of the conservative renl of the
North. We have this security that the
eristng laws win be faithfully exsouted.--I
Ihapeyst 10 learn that the people of The
South eonplainof the acis7 of Congress now
on the statute book, upon fac subject Of
slavery, as applicable 10 the States or the.
Territories, or 10 the District Of Columbia.
These laws were enacted, mainly, if not
entirely, BY fhejoint cotton the conser-
vative members of The North and South, in
opposition 10 the .Abolllionists and Free.
sOilers, and have acquiescsd in BY the
Southern people as well as by their Sena-
tors and Representatives, under the pre-
sent and preceding administrations Of the
Federal Government. Consequently, it is
fair TO presume that the South, so far from
demanding The repeal Of The existing laws
upon the subject Of slavery as essenti al to
Ter safety .and, equality in the Unicns will
insist on her being retained upon thu state
ute boek, aad faithfully executed, New
are we permitted 10 infer that the South
ern people require any additional legiiss,a,
iion by Congress- ON this subject, for the
reason that the Southern Senators and
Representatives. haze. not introduced and
advocated any charges in, lbe existing leg.
isla'iOn upoa the slavery question under,
the present administration, and that OF Mr.
Pierce, when the A boiitionists and Free
soiiers were in the minority in both houses
Of Congress. ...,-.-...-, -o..r,s.E n
Assuming, therefore, that the Southern
people and their Senator'S and Represents.
lives deem their rights and institutions en-. |
tlrely safe nader The Constitution and laws
as they now stand. and only desire lobe
let alone without any interference by Con-
gress with their domestic concerns, the
question arises whether Mr.. Lincoln and
his party will have the power, even il they
have the disposition, 10 disturb or impair |
the rights and institutions of the South, ell
iher in States or Territories, Or in the Dit
trict of Cclambilp They certainly cannot
do it under the existing Laws. viii they /
have the power 10 repeal or change these
laws, or to enact olhers? II is well knownt
that they will be, a,mlnsriiy an beth houses
OF Congress, with the Supreme Court a.
Rainst them. In the Northern States there
have been Elected alfe,dy sufficient mum.
Der Of Democratic members Of Congress.
bold and true national men, pledged To- lhs
platform and. the doctrines Of
BY Congress with the CUES.
lion Of Slavery in the States and Terrific
ries, andths District Of Columbia, who ad- Il
ded 10 the Southern Rspres en,atiSes, will 4
rive n lea sf fwenfp ifv ar,inst NJ II