The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-07-04
Douglas Letters--P atriotic to the
~ Last

The following letters and dispatches Will
sufficiently explain themselves:
WASHINGTON, June 22-93 A. NJ.
To Dean Richmond, Chairman of Delega-
ton, Baltimore The steadiness with which
New York has sustained ne will justify a word
of counsel. TIL safety of the cause is the
paramount duty of every Democrat. The
unity of the party and the maintenance Of its
principles i~nviolate are more important than
the election or defeat of any individual. If
my enemies are determined to divide and de-
stroy 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 its
ascendency perpetuated by dropping my name
and, uniting On some other reliable Non-inter-
v~ention aud Union-loving Democrat, 1 be-
seech you, in consultation with our friends, to
pursue that course which will save the party
and tie country, without regard to my indi-
vidual interests. I mean all this letter i'm
plies. Consult freely and act boldly for the
right. 9as 4j
[Signed.1 s. A. DOUGLAS.
TPrivate.1
WASHINGTON, June 20-11 p. NJ.
My DEAR SIR:-I learn there is imminent
danger that the Democratic party will be
demoralized, if not destroyed, by thebreak-
ing up of the Convention. Such a result
would inevitably expose the country to the
perils of sectional strife between the North
ern and Southern partisans of Congressional
Intervention upon the subject of slavery in
the Territories. I firmly and conscientiously
believe that there is no safety for the country,
no hope for the preservation of the Union, ex-
cept by a faithful and rigid adherence to the
doctrines of non-intervention by Congress in
the Territories. Intervention means disunion.
There is no difference in principle between
Northern and Southern intervention. The
one intervenes for slavery, and the other
against slavery, but each appeals to the passion
and ~prejudices of his own section against the
peace of the whole country and the right of
self-government by the people of the Terri
tories; hence the doctrine of non-intervention
must be maintained at all hazards; but while
I can never sacrifice the principle, even to at
tain the Presidency, / will cheerfully and joy
fully sacrifice myself to maintain the principle.
If, therefore, yeu and my other friends, who
have stood by me with such heroic frmness at
Charleston and Baltimore, shall be of the
opinion that the principle can be preserved,
and the union and ascendancy of the Demo-
cratic party maintained, and the country saved
from the perils of Northern abolitionism and
Southern disunion, by Withdrawing my name
and uniting upon some other Non-inteIven-
ton, Union-loving Democrat, I beseech yon to
pursue that course. Do not understand me
asiwishing to dictate to my friends. I have
implicit confidence in your and their patriot
ism, Judgment and discretion. Whatever you
may do in the premises will meet my hearty
approval; but L c%onjure you to act with an eye
single to the safety and welfare of the country,
and without the slightest regard to individual
interests or aggrandizement. My interests
will be best promoted, and my ambition graft
fed and motives INDICATED, by that course on
the part of my friends which will be most eff
fectual in saving the country from being ruled
or ruined by a sectional party.
The action of the Charleston Convention,
in sustaining me by SO large a majority on the
platform, and designating me as the first chosen
of the party for,the Presidency, Is all the per-
sonal triumph I desire. This letter is prompt
ed by the same motives which induced my dis
patch four years ago, Withdrawing my name
from the Cincinnati Convention. With this
knowledge of my opinions and wishes, you
and other friends must act upon your own
convictions of duty.
Very truly your friend,
TSigned.1 IS. A. DOUGLAS"
ssTo Hon. VIM. A. Richardson, Baltimore"
The spirit breathed in these letters is so
self-sacrifcing and noble, that the Democracy
of the country will be untrue to themselves