The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1860-11-29
Judge Douglas On the Duty and Position
Of the South.
New Orleans. Nov, 12, 1860

New Orleans, Nov. l2. 1860
Hon. STEPHEN a. DOUGLAS:
Sir-We the undersigned. citizens Of
New Orlean-. irrespective Of party, being
desirous of hearing your views on the
country, would earnestly request you to
designate time when it would be agreea
BILE to you to address your fellow citizsns:
Here follow the names of about sixty of
the business men and politicians of all par
ties of New Orleans, which we omit:
REPLY.
GESrLENEN--Your request TO address
the cilizens of New Orleans con the pres :
ent condition OF the affairs Of our country"
has jus. been placed in my hands. An
inviislicn SO numerously 81 gned Ivy the
most eminent business men of this great
commercial city. implies compliment
which l duly appreciate, and am exceed
ingly reluctant 10 decline.
These are not the times for patriotic
men to affect Indifference, or to degenerate
into dependency. or to rush nadly into
violent aud extreme meaenros. Just in
proportion as our common country is envi-
roned with peril it becomes the impera-
tive duty of every patriot in the land ;e in
crease his efforts and exert his utmost
powers and energies 10 rescue the Repub
lie from the disasters which threaten lis
integrity.
No man in America regrets the election
of Mr.. Lincoln more than 60; none made
more strenuous exeriions TO defeat him !:
none differ with i'm more radically and
irrec"ucilably upon all he great issues III
prepared to resist, by all the legitimate
m, ans sanctioned by The Constitution and
laws Of our country. the aggressive policy
which lie and his party are understood to
represent. But while say this. ] am
bound, as good ciiz-n and law abiding
man. TO declare my conscientious convic-
ZION that tho mere election Of any man 10
i.e Presidency by the American people
In accordance with the Constitution and
laws, does not Of itself furnish any just
cause or reasonable ground for dissolving
the Federal Union.
|; is no; pretended. so far rs am in
f'rmed. that any provision If the Consti
tuion has been ,ivlaed in the recent el"c
Lion. No act has been done which i'm
pairs or destroys the constitutional rights
Of any State or citizen. Nothing has yet
occurred to release any citizen from his
oath of fidelity 10 tie Constitution of the
United States. which is the supreme law of
every State and OF every citizen. But
while it is conceded that no act has yet
been done which impairs the rights or en-
dangers The peace and safety of any por-
tion of cur county it is oppreh nded that
the election of Mr. Lincoln carries with it
the assurance that the policy and princi-
p es of the party by which he WAS elected
will prevail. and be carried into practical
eject in every de 7ariNent oe the Federal
Government. and thereby wW endanger
he peace and safety Of the slaveholding
States. Is this apprehension well found :
ell? Do the resuls Of tie recent election
justify this apprehension? The President
can do nothing except what the law au
.horizes. His duty is to see the laws
faithfully executed. Ii he fails to perform
this duty he will soon find himself pris>
oner before the high court of impeacment.
Fortunately, that tribunal is SO constituted
as to command the confidence Of the peo
Pile of the entire South, as well as Of the
conservative men of the North. We have
this security that the existing laws will be
faithfully executed. have yet to learn
a; the people Of the South complain OF
he acts OF Congress now on the statute
book, upon he subject of slavery. as appl-
cable To the States or the Territories. or 10
the District Of Columbia.
The Sc laws were enacted mainly, il not
entirely. by the joint action OF III conser-
alive memb rs oil the North and South. in
opposition to the Abolitionlsts and Free
Soilers, and have been acquesed in by
the Southern people as we'll as by their Sen
ators and Representatives under the pres
ent and preceding adminislrat ons of the
federal government. Consequently. 1t is
fair 10 presume that the South. SO far from
demanding the repeal OF the existing laws
upon the subject Of slavery as essential to
her safety All equality in the Union. will
insist upon their Icing retained upon the
sa ute book and faithfully executed. Nor
' are We ptt TIittcu luiST tutt the OOu
people require any addi ional 10 eyislation by
Consres on shis subject. for The reason
that tie Southern Senator'S and Represent
IA ives have not Introduced and advocated
any charges ia the existing Legislation up
on the slavery question under the present
administration and that OF Mr.. Pierce,
whom the Aboli,ionisls and Free Soilers
w-re in the minority in both houses OF
Congress,
Assuming therefore. lhst the Southern
people and their Senators and Representa-
tives deem their lights and institutions en-
lirely safe under the constitution and laws
as they now stand, and only desire 10 be
let alone. without any interference by Con
gress with their domestic concerns. the
question arises whether Mr. Lic |, and
his arty will have tho power, even if they
have the disposition. to disturb or impair
the rights and institutions OF the South. Ell
her il tie Sta.es or the Territories, ,snr in
! tIa District of c,lufohisS They cart ,;nlx,