New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-20
DOUGLAS on THE PRESENT CRISIS.

Mr. Douglas, having received from some Of the
citizens Of NewOrieaus invitation to address them
replied by the following letter.
t,eu;lemen: Your request 10 address the citizen OF
EewOIleaus on the present condilon OF the an"irs
of onr country" has Just been pldcedin my hands An
a.. ,aiou 70 numerOusly signed by the most eminent
business men Of tins great commercial clty Implies
compliment which 0uiy appreciate, ana am eAceeu-
iully reluctant 10 decliuo. -
Itese arc Lot the times for patriotic TO affect
inGheaeuce 10 degenerate Into dependency or TO
rush uadly into widest aud extreme inesnres Just
in Proportion as our common country Is eh'rVneu WIN
Isiil il BECOMES the imperative dHty OF every paIlot
IN the hand 10 increase nis eJrts ad exert ms utmost
powers and energies rescue the Republic from the
disasters which threaten Its integrity.
No III America regrets tie te1llOn oi MI lAn
coln more than 40; made more strenuous eXer-
tons TO defeat hn none dlier Win him more rad-
cally and irTeeoncably upon all the great Issues
involved in the contest. No living prepared 10
resist by All the legitimate means sanctioned by the
Constitution aud bts oil our country, the aggressive
policy which lie and Ills party are understood 10 repre-
cent. But willie say tEi-, am bound, as good ci-
aud iaw-abdlne mar, 10 declare my CONSCIENTIOUS
conviction that tie eleclJn OF any man 10 the
Presidency by the American people, IN accordance
with tho Constitution ana Laws, docs not OF itseI iur
uish any Just reasonable ground ior dlssolVlng
the EeGefAl Union.
n j. moi ,rtei Ged 40 far as am informed, that any
nroyiaon u the Constitution has been violated IN the
recent election No at mas been done when lnPalrs
or destroys tie constitutional lights vi any state OF cit
from his oath of fidelity TO the Constitution Of the United
Staes which il the supreme law Oi every State ana oil
every citizen But while II Is conceded thai no aetna
vet been Done which iulRlfs the u3ht or endangers
the Ieale and safety Of any portion OF our country u Is
apIIeLeIOed that election OF hf IlhCVn CARRIES
with il tie assurance that the pohcy ana principles
Of the party by which be elected VIII prevail, ana
be carried mo practical effect III every department Oh
the IedeTal GDye1lnlrnt, ana thereby VIII endahgef
The Ie6,e safety slayehOding Sates lsthls
apprehension We IUunOedI DO the re5ts OF the recent
election Justify ppreeutiJni The President can do
uotLiBg but what the law authorizes. His duty lst0 see
the laws fothully executed. Ii he fills 20 perform
this duty be will nO himself prisoner before the
UiVh Court VI imIeaChmeut. Fortunately that tIlbun-
81 s 40 constituted 10 command the confidence Of the
reolle If tie entire South, a. well ar Of the
toDseryatiye men Of the North. We have this
secrIity that the existing Laws will be faith
fullv Executed have Vet % learn that the people OF
lie th COM lain Of the acts OF Congress nor ON the
ststuie box upon the suDJecI OF Slavery applicable
10 The States or 1eFlUres, or 10 me District OF Co
lpu,iis These laws were enacted mainly, II not en-
,aIy h lie mini action OF the conservative members
M re North and SOUTH IN Oppolon TO The Aooln III
iss and Fre.-Soilers and have been acquSccd IN by
the Southern people as Wen as " te, 2.tDa anu a
REPRESENTATIVES, unGer the Presenl a1u Pe,''"s fp
oiiiistr,,ii,ns Of the Federal Government Conse-
n,I !, r. fir 20 presume that the South, solar from
nan1Gino the Ie1eal If the existing laws upon me
sht - Saver ms essential 10 her safety ana equal,
i,v in The Jtion will inrist npOn tier being rsu
- ~ st.tnte hook and faithfully eXeculed NOT
sia no ,syitted 20 fer that the Southern people re-
Si,s snv additional legislation by Congress on tnIs
srIisct Tor the reason that Inc southern oei"oH @
IeiTes1rtaiiyes have moi Introduced ana hlsp'.'se
any change IN the existiug q htion upon 'ne o'ee
question under the present Administrator '" '''