The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-07
| Patriotic Letter by Senator Douglas
..Seri0us Illness OF its Author.

DOUGLAS, which we find in the National
Inteligeneer, derives additional, though
melancholy interest, from the fact that it
was written at the commencement of an ILL
ness which it is apprehended may terminate
fatally:
Mr.. DOUGLAS LETTER.
CHICAGO, May 10.
My DEAR SIR Being deprived OF the
use of my arms for the present, by severe
attack of rheumatism, l am compelled to
avail myself OF the services of an amanuen-
sis in reply to your two letters.
It seems that some of my friends are un-
able to comprehend the difference between
arguments 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 Uni
ted States with the avowed purpose of pro.
ducing permanent disruption of the Union
and total destruction of its government.
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 if we would furnish
them with blank sheet of paper and per-
NIT them to inscribe their own terms.
Still the hope was cherished that reason.
able 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 q Union
party in the cotton States which would be
powerful enough at the ballot box to de-
stroy 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 was never abandoned until &C.
tual war was levied at Charleston, and the
authoritative announcement made by the
revolutionary Government at Montgomery
that the secession flag should be planted
upon the walls of the Capitol at Washing>
ton, and proclamation issued inviting the
pirates of the world to prey upon the com.
merce of the United States.
These startling facts, taken in connection
with the boastful announcement that the
ravages of war and carnage should be
quickly transferred from the cotton fields of
the South to the wheat fields and corn fields
of the North, furnish conclusive evidence
that it was the fixed purpose of the seces-
sionists utterly to destroy the government of
our fathers, and oblterate the United States
from the map of the world.
In view of this state of facts there was
but one path of duty left to patriotic men.
1t was not party question, nor question
involving partisan policy; it was question
of Government or no Government. country or
no country; and hence it became the impera-
tive duty ofevery Union man, every friend
of constitutional liberty, to rally to the
support OF our common country, its Cow
eminent and flag, as the only means of
checking the progress Of revolution and of
preserving the union of the States.
am unable to answer your questions in
respect to the policy of Mr.. Lincoln and
his Cabinet. l am not in their confidence,
as you and the whole country ought to be
aware. 1 am neither the supporter of the
partisan policy, nor the apologist for the
errors ofthe Administration. My previous
relations to them remain unchanged but
trust the time will never come when shall
not be willing to make any needful sacrifice
of personal feeling and party policy for the
honor and integrity of my country.
know of no mode by which loyal citi-
zen may so well demonstrate his devotion to
his country, as by sustaining the flag, the
Constitution and the Union under all Cir
cumstances, and under every Administra-
tion, (regardless of party politics,) against
all assailants, at home and abroad. The
course of Clay and Webster toward the
Administration of General jackson, in the
days of Modification, presents noble and
worthy example for all true patriots.
At the very moment when that fearful
crisis was precipitated upon the country,
partisan strife between Wings and Demo.
Gratis was quite as bitter and relentless as
now between Democrats and Republicans.
The gulf which separated party leaders in
those days was quite as broad and deep as
that which now separates the Democracy
from the Republicans. But the moment an
enemy rose in our midst, plotting the dis
memberment of the Union and the destruc-
ton of the Government, the voice of parti.
san strife was hushed in patriotic silence.
One of the brightest chapters in the history
of our country will record the fact that du.
ring this eventful period the great leaders
of the opposition, sinking the partisan in
the patriot, rushed to the support of the
government, and became its ablest and BRAY.
est defenders against all assailants, until the
conspiracy was crushed and abandoned,
when they resumed their former positions as
party leaders upon political issues.
These acts of patriotic devotion have
never been deemed evidences of infdelity or
political treachery, on the part of Clay and
Webster, to the principles and organization
of the old Wing party. Nor have I any
apprehension that the firm and unanimous
support which the Democratic leaders and
masses are now giving to the Constitution
and the Union will ever be deemed eviden-
ces of infdelity to Democratic principles, or
want of loyalty to the organization and
creed of the Democratic party. If we hope
to regain and perpetuate the ascendency of
our party, we should never forget that =
man cannot be true Democrat unless he is