The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-07-04
Letters from n Patriot.

than the following letters. They furnish
unanswerable evidence of his willingness
to make any personal sacrifice consistent
with honor, for the perpetuity of the Union,
and the salvation of the Democratic party
These letters are most whitening rcbuke
to the host of fip-penny-bit politicians
who are so constantly exercised about the
ambition" of the Little Giant" The
idolators ofnegro slavery, the Slave Code ad-
vocates, Lccompites and Buchanan hirelings,
were determined to defeat Mr. Douglas
nomination at Charleston, and they done
so, only by sneaking out of convention
which was too patriotic to admit Of their
control. AT Baltimore, after the friends of
Douglas appealed to the people, and Douglas
was sustained, the administration sought to
compass his defeat, and destroy the last hope
of national party by the combined ele-
ments of money, official patronage, and fine
ly gilded promises of "place" and power"
But, thanks to the steadfast patriotism, the
unimpeachable integrity of the Democracy
of the Union, the Vaccinations of the cne-
my were defeated, the integrity of the par.
ty and honor of the country preserved invi-
Olate.
Nine out Of every ten intelligent voters in
the country, in all extremes of the Union
recognized in Stephen A. Douglas the pro
per standard bearer of the great conserva-
tive party Of the nation, and outside OF
Federal office holders, Or those owned by the
government, every delegate In the Balti-
more convention endorsed his nomination
and labored for that end.
Yet, with all these facts before him,
knowing that he was the choice of the con-
vention, and that the people would ratify
the nomination at the polls, by trium-
plant election, having the Presidency in
fact within his grasp, he advised his friends
that if harmony could be restored to the
party and the country, by doing so, he
would willingly sacrifice himself. He
says:
But aoAik I can nerer sacrifce the
pr1nctpl, eren to attain the Presidencv.
aoW cheertully and joyfully sacrifice myself
to maintain the principle I"
There is not nobler example of disin-
tercsted patriotism on the records of the
worlds history than this. The delegates
OF the people in convention assembled have
made him. the nominee, and the people will
not fail to elect him. Here are the letters
above referred to:
To Dean Richmond, Chairman of Dezeqa-
tion, Baltimore.
The steadiness with which New York
has sustained me, will justify word of
counsel.-The safety of the cause is the par.
amount duty of every delegate. The unity
OF the party, and the maintenance of its
principles inviolatc, are more important
| than the elevation or defeat of any indi-
vldual. If my enemies are determined to
divide and destroy the Democratic party.
| and perhaps the country rather than see
me elected, and if the unity of the party
can be preserved, and its time-honored
principles maintained and it's ascendencv
perpetuated, by dropping my name and
vention, Union-loving Democrat, | beseech
you, in consultation with your friends, to
pursue that course which will save the par
ty and the country, without regard to my
personal interests. l mean all this letter
implies. Consult freely and act boldly for
the right
Signed, S. A. DOUGLAS.
WASHINGTON, IL A. NJ, June goth.
Privatc)
My DEAR SIR I'll learn there is immi.
| nent danger that the Democratic party will
be denoralzed, if not destroyed, by the
breaking up Of the Convention. Such a
result would inevitably expose the country
| to the perils of sectional strife, between the
Northern and Southern partisans of Con-
gresslonal intervention upon the subject
of slavery in the Territories.
l firmly and conscientiously believe that
| there Is no safety for the country-no hope
Tor the preservation of the Union-except
| by faithful and rigid adherence of the
doctrine OF non-intervention by Congress
| with slavery in the Territories. There is
difference in principles between Northern
and Southern intervention: the one inter-
venes for slavery and the other against
slavery, but each appeals to the passions
and prejudiccs of his own section. against
the peace of the whole country, and the
right OF self-government by the people of
the Territories. Hence, the doctrine of
Intervention must be maintained at all
hazards. But while | can never sacrifice
the principle, even to attain the Presiden-
cy, Will cheerfully and joyfully sacrifice
myself to maintain the principle. If.
therefore, you and my other friends who
have stood by me with such heroic firm
ness at Charleston and Baltimore shall be
OF opinion that the principles can be pre-
served, and thc unity and ascendency of
the Democratic party maintained, and the
country saved from the hands of Northern
Abolitionism or Southern Disunion, by
withdrawing my name, blending upon some
other non-ntervention, Union loving Dem
acrat, desire that you pursue that course.
DO not understand me as wishing to die
tate to my friends. have implicit conf
dence in your and their patriotism, judg-
ment and discretion. Whatever you may
10 IN the premises, will meet my hearty
approval; but conjure you to act with an
eye single to the safety and welfare of the
country, and without the slightest regard
to my individual interests or aggrandize-
ment My interests will be best promoted
and my ambition gratified, and motives in
dlcated by that course on the part of nv
friends, which will be most effectual in
saving the country from being ruled or ru-
ined by a sectional party. The National
Democrats of the Charleston Convention
in sustaining me by so large majority on
the platform, and designating me as the
first choice of the party for the Presidency
) is all the personal triumph l desire. This
letter is prompted by the same motives
which induced my despatch four years ago
; withdrawing my name from the Cncinna.
ii Convention. With this knowledge OF