Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1861-02-20

OAl l. IEDhOh1OI' ~, "
DOUGLAS ON sEt;EsSiON. ).
The following is the letter Of Soma
tor Douglas tc the editor Of the Mem.
rhis Appeal, which contradicts the
statement in that paper that he was in
favor of the immediate withdrawal Of
the border slave States from tile
Union:
WASHINGTON, February 9.
MEssES. EDITORS: 1.have this mo-
mcnt read with amazcment an edito-
rial in your paper Of the 30th, u]t., in
which you assume that ] am ''iavoriry
the Immediate withdrawal Of ,:th;
remaining States from the Confedcra.
cy, as a peace measure 10 avert the
horrors of civil war, and with view
CT reconstruction or constitutional
basis" implore you by all those
kind relations which have" 50 }c!ig
existed between us, and which still
cherish with much pleasure and graft
tude, to do me the justice promptly to
correct the unaccountable crrror into
which you have been,lcd: In regard
to secession. whether viewed as a
governmental theory or rs y matter OF
political cxpcdicncy, I have never had
but one opinion, nor uttered but one
Ianguage-that of unqualified opposi-
ton Nothing can he so fatal to the
peace of the country, so destructive to
the peace of the Union, and all hopes
of reconstruction, as the secession Of
Tcnntsce and the border States under
existing circumstances. @a"n J.
You must remember that there arc
disunionists among the party leaders
at the North as we'll as at the South
men whose hostility to slavery is strong.
ger than their fidelity to the Constitu-
ton, and who believe that the disrnp-
ton OF the Union would draw after it.,
as an inevitable consequence, civil
war, scrvile insurrection, and, finally,
the utter cxterminaticn of slavery in
all the Southern States. They are
bold, daring, determined men; and
believing, as they do, that the Consti-
tuition of the United States is the great
buiwark Of slavery OH this continent,
and that the disruption OF the Amcri-
can Union involves the inevitable
destruction, and is an indispensable
necessity to the attainment Of that end
they arc determined to accomplish
their paramount object by any means
within Their power. a."
For these reasons, the Northern
Disnnionists, like the Disunionists of
the South, arc violently opposed to all
compromises or Constitutional amend
menls, or efforts at Cancellation, where.
by peace would be restored and the
Union preserved. They arc striving
to break up the Union, under the
prctcnsc of inbounded devotion to it.
They arc s,ru ggling to overthrow the
Constitution While protesting undying
attachment to it and willingness to
make any sacrifice to maintain it. They
are trying to plunge the country iE1o
civil war as the suvest means Of de.
stroying the Union: upon the plea of
enforcing the laws and protecting. the
public property. If they can defeat
every kind Of adjustment or comprom-
Use by which the points at issue may
be satisfactorily settled, and keep up
the irritation, 20 rs to induce the
Border States to- follow the Cotton,
Statcs, they will feel certain of tho
Accomplishment Of their ultimate de-
sign. ...9r. ~, -....,.... :.,.. .-','5 800 =
Nothing will gratify them SO much,
or contribute so cflectually to their
success, rs the secession OF Tennessee
and the Border States. Every State
that wi,kdraws from the Union incre a
scs the relative power of the Northern
Aboliticnists 10 defeat Il satisfactory
| adjustment, and to bring on.'a war
which sooner or later must eEd in
final separation and recognition Of the
independence of the two contcnding
sections. II, on the contrary, Tcnnc-
see, North Carolina and the Border
States will remain in the Union, and
will unite with the conservative and
Unlon-lovmg men OF all parties III the
North in the adoption of such conn
promise as will be alike honorable, safe
and just to the people Of all the States,
peace and fraternal feeling will soon
return and the Cotton States come
back, and the Union be rendered
perpetual.
Pardon the rcpition, but it can not
Le too strongly impressed upon all WHO
love our country. that secession and
war will be the destruction not only Of
the present Union, Tut will blast all
hopes of reconstruction upon Con-
stitutional basis. ! trust you will do
nc the justice to publish this note III
yonr next sue. I am, very truly,
your friend, q 80
S. A. DOUGLAS.
COERCION.
The Charleston Mercury ofthc 29lh