The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-06-04
LETTER FROM SENATOR DOUGLAS.

to, the AdH0nm lHtchyehcef LOT publcatloh
copy of the following letter from him on
the state of the country:
CHICAGO, May 10.
My DEAR SIR: Being deprived of the use Of
my arms for the present by n severe attack Of
rheumatism. am compelled TO avail my
self Of the services Of an amanuensis in reply
to your two Letters.
1t seems that some Of my friends ere una
ble to comprehend the difference between ar
guments used in favor of an equitable com.
promise, with the hope Of aycring the hoy
rors OF war, and those urged in support Of
the Government aud flag of our country,
when war is being waecd against the United
States with the avowed purpose of producing
a permanent disruption Of tic MON and
total destruction Of its GovCrnu ent
A hope Of compromise with tho 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 a reconstruction in any con-
tingency-not even if We would furnish them
with blank sheet of paper and permit them
to inscIibo their own terms.
Still the hope WAS cLcris ed that rcasoDa.
bic and satisfactory tcrms of adjustment cod
be agreed upon with Tennessee, North Caro-.
lima aud the Border States, aud that whatev.
er terms would Provo satisfactory to these
loyal States would cra ate Union party in
the Cotton States which would be powerful
enough at the ballot box to DESTROY the Rev.
oIutionary Government, aud bring these States
back in the Union by the voice of their own
people. This hope was cherished bv Union
. - ia |.
doucd until actual war was levied at Charles
ton, and the authoritivc announcement made
by the Revolutionary Government at Mont
gomery that tho Secession flag should be
planted upon tho walls of the Capitol at
Washington, mad 4" proclamation issued lnNl
ting the pirates Of the world to prey upon
the commerce OF the United States.
These startling facts, taken in connection
with the boastfu announcement that tho raw
ages OF war and carnage should be quickly
transferred from the cotton fields or the South
to wheat fields and corn fields of the North,
furnish conclusive evidence that it was the
fixed purpose of .he Seccssiouists utterly to
destroy the Government Of our fathers and
oGliierate the United States from the map Of
the world.
In view of this state Of facts, there waa but
ono path of duty left 10 patriotic men. 1t
was not party question involving partisan
policy it was a question Of Government or no
Government; country or no country; and
hence it became the imperative duty Of every
Union man, every friend of constitutional lib
erty, to rally to he support OF our common
country.its Government and flag, as the only
means Of checking the progress Of revolution
aud ofprcseyins The Union Of States.
am unable to answer your questions in
respect to the policy Of Mr.. Lincoln and bis
Cabinet. am not in their contilenca, as
you AMI the whole country ought TO be a
ware. am neither the supporter of the par
tizln policy nor the apologist for the errors
of the Administrator. Ny previous rela
tions to them remain unchanged, but trust
the time will never come when | shall not be
willing to make any necdful sacrifice Of per-
sonaI feeling and party policy for the honor
and Integrity of my country.
| know Of no mole by which loyal citi-
zen may so well demonstrate his devot ion to
his country rs by sustaining the Flag, the
Constitution, and the Union, under all cir
cumstances, and under every Administration
OegardIcss OF party politits), against all as
saanls at home and abroad. The course
Of Cay and Webster toward the Admins
ration Of Gen. Jackson, in the days of Nul
hHcation, presents noble and worthy exam.
pie for all true patriots. At the very mo.
ment when that fearful crisis was precipitated
upon the county, partizan strife between
Wings and Democrats waS quite as bitter and
relentless as now between Democrats ard Re.
pubIicans. The gulf which separated party
leaders in these days was quite as broad and
deep as that which now separates the Demo
cracy from the Republicans. But the mo-
ment an enemy rose in our midst, plotting
the dismemberment Of the Union and the
destruction Of the Government. the voice of
partisan strife was hushed to patriotic silence
One OF the brightest chapters in the history
of our country will record the fact that dur
ing this eventual period the greatest leaders
of the opposition, sinking the partisan in the
patriot, rushed to the support of the Govern
ment aud became its ablest and bravest lie
Tenders against all a,sailants until tue con-
spiracy was crushed and abandoned, when
;hoy resumed their former positions as party
leaders upon political issues.
These acts of patriotic devotion have never
been deemed evidences Of iuiilelity or poiti
N"' ''S"NHS'g' y" tu' l''t VI Olay duu hcu-
.ter, to the principle, and orginaton Of tho
old Wing party. Ncr have | any apprchen-
zion that tho firm and unanimous support
which the Democratic leaders and masses are
now giving to tlo Constitution and the Union
will ever be deemed evidence of iuhlety to
Democratic principles, or want of loyalty
TO the organization and creel Of the Demo.
cratic party. If we hope to regain and per.
petuate the ascendency Of our party, we sho'd
neyer forget that a man cannot be true
Democrat unless he is loyal patriot.
With the sincere hope that these my con.
scentious convictions may coincide with those
of my friends, am, very truly. yours,
STEPHEN A DoUGLAs.
; To VIRGIL nICox, Esq,
Chairman State Democrat, Committee.
] 'IRnnMaN