Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-02-11
Letter from Hon.s. .no.g,..

The following letter has been addressed by
senator Douglas to the Editors of the Mem
phis Appeal.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2. 1861. :
MEssRs. EDITORS: have this moment read
with amazement an editorial in your paper
of The Both ulfimo In which you assume that
| am favoring the immediate withdrawal of
the remaining States from the Confederacy
as peace measure, to avert the horrors Of
civil war, and with the view of q reconstrue-
ton on constit utional basis.
implore you, by all those kind relations
which have 3D. long existed between u.s. and
which l still cherish with so much pleasure
and gratitude. 10 do me the justice prompt
ly 10 co rect the understandable error into
which you have been led. In regard to Sc
cession. whether viewed Governmental
theory or as a matter of political expedien-
cy, have never had but one opinion, nor
uttered but one language-that of unquali-
fed opposition.
Nothing can be so fatal to the peace of the
country. so destructive of the Union and of
all hopes of reconstruction, as the secession
of Tennessee and the Border States under
existing circumstances.
You must remember that there are disun.
ionisls among the party leaders at the North
as well as at the South-men whose hostility
the Constitution, aud who believe that the
disruption of the Union would draw after it,
as an inevitable consequence, civil war, ser
vile instructions, and finally the utter eX-
termination of slavery in all the Southern
States They are bold, daring, determined
men and believing, as they do, that the
Constitution of the United States is the great
bulwark of slavery on this coQtinet. and that
the disruption of the American Union in-
II Il of
and is an indispensable necessity to the at
tainment of that end. they are determined TO
accomplish their paramount object by any
means within their power. For these reasons,
the Northern disunionists, like the disunion-
lists of the South, are violently opposed to all
compromises or constitutional amendments,
or efforts at Cancellation, whereby peace
could be restored and the Union preserved.
They are striving to break up the Union
under pretence of unbounded devotion to it..
They are struggling to overthrow the Con-
sttution while protesting undying attach
ment to it, and willingness to make any
sacrifice to maintain it. They are trying to
plunge the country into civil war. as the
surest means of destroying the Union, npon
the plea of enforcing the laws and protecting
the public property. II they can defeat
any kind of adjustment or compromise, by
which the points at issue may be satisfaciO-
to induce the Border States to follow the
Cotton States, they Will feel certain of the
accomplishment of their ultimate designs.
Nothing will crafty them so much. or con-
tribute so effectually to their success, as the
secession of Tennessee and the Border
States Every State that withdr avs from the
Union increases the relative power of North
ern Abolitionists to defeat a satisfactory ad-
justment, and to bring on war, which, SOON
er or later. must end in final separation and
recognition of the independence of the two
contending sections. If on the contrary
Tennessee, North Carolina, and the Border
States will remain in the Union, and will
unite with the conservate aud Union-loving
men of all parties in the North in the adop-
ton of such compromise 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 repe. ition, for it cannot be too
strongly impressed upon all who love our
country, that secession and war will be des-
tructive not only of the present Union, but
will blast ali hope of reconstruction upon
constitutional basis. 1 trust you will do me
the justice to publish this note in your next
issue. | am, very truly, your friend.
S. A. DOUGLAS.