Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-22
Letter from Senator Douglas.

- W
A friend Of Senator Douglas has handed to |
the National IntelIioeneey for publication copy
Of the following letter from him on the state Of
the country:
CHICAGO, May 10, 1861.
x MY DEAR SIR: Being deprived Of the use OF
my arms for the present by a severe attack of
lam compelled to avail myself of
the services Of an amanuensis in reply to your
two letters,
1t seems that some Of my friends are unable
to comprehend the difference between argu-i
ments used in favor OF an equitable compromise,
with the hope of averting the horrors Of war ,and
those urged in support OF the Government and
flag of our country, when war Is being waged
against the United States with the avoWed
purpose of producing permanent disruption of
the Union and total destruction of its Govern
ment. t5r tp dg a' ge Oh
All hope of compromise with the Cotton States
was abandoned when they assumed the position
that the separation of the Union was complete
and final, and that they would never consent to
reconstruction In any contingency--not even
| II we would furnish them with blank sheet of
paper and permit them to inscribe their own
terms. d sf Ha ~
Still the hope was cherished that reasonable
and satisfactory terms of adjustment could be
agreed upon with Tennessee, North Carolina,
and the Border States, and that whatever terms
would prove satisfactory to these loyal States
would create Union party in the Cotton States
which would be powerful enough at the ballot
box to destroy the Revolutionary Government
and bring those States back into the Union by
the voice of their own people. This hope was
cherished by Union men North and South, and
never abandoned until actual war was levied q
~ II 49,
made blythe Revolutionary Government at Mont
gomery, that the secession flag should be plant
ed upon the walls of the Capitol at w Washington
and proclamation Issued inviting the pirates
of the world to prey upon the commerce of tn,
United States.
These startling facts, taken In connection will
the boastlul announcement that the ravages
war and carnage should be quickly transferred
, from the cotton fields of the South to the whea
fields and corn fields of the North, furnish con
elusive evidence that II was the fixed purpos
OF the Secessonists utterly TO destroy the Gov
, eminent OF our fathers and obliterate the Unite
States from the map OF the world.
3 In view Of this state of facts, there was bu
one path of duty left to patriotic men. 1t wa
. not party question, nor question involvin
partisan policy; II was question of fGoyernmen
/ or no Government; country or no country; an
0 hence it became the imperative duty of ever
: Union man, every friend of constitutional liber
q ty, to rally to the support of our common cour
| try, its Government and flag, as the only mear
o of he,king the progress Of revolution and {
a preserving the Union of the States.
| | am unable to answer your questions in n
d spect TO the policy of Mr.. Lincoln and bis Cab
: net. am not in their confidence, as you ar
"a the whole country ought to be aware. | al
neither the supporter of the partisan nolicy M
/. the apoogist for the errors of the Administru
tion NV previous relations TO them rem.l
uncnapged but trust the time will neyer con-
when shall not be willing 10 make anv neec
OF full sacrfce of personal feeling and party poli,
for the honor and integrity of nv country.
know OF no mode by which a loyal citiz,
'e may so well demonstrate his devotion 10 b
'e country as by sustaining the Flag, the Const
!, tuition, and the Union, under all:circumstance
q and under every Administration (regardless
: party politics) against all assailants, at hon
u and abroad. The course of Clay and Webst
: to ward the Administration of Gen. jackson,
e the days of Modification, presents noble ar
y worthy example for oil true patriots. At II
y very moment when that fearful crisis was Or,
10 cipitated upon the country, partisan strife b
70 tween Wings and Democrats was quite as bitt
! and relentless as now between Democrats al
.s Republicans. The gulf which separated par
: leaders in those days was quite as broad al
: deep as that which now separates the Dem ocra,
from the Republicans. But the moment an Ell
emy rose in our midst, plotting the dismembe
! ment Of the Union and the destruction of Il
' Government, the voice of partisan strife W