Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1861-02-20
RED WING 90

DAY, FEBRUARY 20. l{
DOUGLAS ON SECESSION.
The following is the letter Of Soma
tor Douglas to the editor of tho Mem.
phis appeal, which contradicts the
statement in that paper that he was in
favor Of the immediate withdrawal Of
the border slave States from the
Union:
WASHINGTON, February 2.
MEssRs. EDlroRs: have this mo-
ment read with amazcmsnt an edito-
rial in your paper Of the 30tl, u!t., in
which you assume that / am "tavorirg
the immediate Withdrawal of the
remaining States from the Confedcra-
cy, as peace measure TO avert the
horrors Of civil war, and with view
Of reconstruction or constitutional
basis" ilnplore you by all those
kind relations which have. so long
existed between us, and which / still
cherish with much pleasure and graft
tude, to do me the justice promptly to
correct the unaccountable error into
which you have been led. In regard
to secession. whether viewed as a
governmental theory or as matter Of
political expediency, I have never had
but one opinion, nor uttered but one
language-that Of unqualified opposi-
tion. Nothing can be so fatal to tho
peace ofthe country, SO destructive to
the peace of the Union, and all hopes
of reconstruction, as the secession Of
Tennts see and the border States under
existing circumstances. 10
You must remember that there arc
disunionists among the party leaders
at the North as well as at the South
men whose hostility TO slavery is strong
get than their fidelity to the Constitu-
ton, and who believe that the disrup.
ton Of the Union would draw after it,
as an inevitable consequence, civil
war, scrvile insurrection, and, finally,
the utter determination Of slavery in
all the Southern States. They are
bold, daring, determined men; and
believing, az they do, that the Consti-
tuition Of the United States ia the great
buiwark Of slavery on 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 are determined to accomplish
their paramount object by any means
within their power. - III
For these reasons, the Northern
Dis1nionists, like the Disunionists of
the South, are violently opposed TO all
compromises or Constitutional amend
ments, or efforts at Cancellation, where.
by peace would be restored and the
Union preserved. They are striving
to break up the Union, under the
pretcnse of unbounded devotion to it.
They arc struggling to overthrow the
Constitution while protesting undying
attachment to it and a willingness to
make any sacrifice to maintainit it. They
are trying to plunge the country into
Icivil waf rs the surest means Of de-.
stroyihg the Union. hpoh the plea of
enforcing the laws and protecting the
public property. If they can defeat
every kind of adjustment or coinprom-
Use by which tho points at issue may
be satisfactorily settled, and keep up
the irritation, 50 rs to induce the
Border States to follow the Cotton
States, they will feel certain of the
accomplishment Of their ultimate de-
sign.
Nothing will CRAFTY them so much,
or contribute SO cffectuaIly to their
success, as the secession of Tennessee
and the Border States. Every State
that wi,hdraws from the Union incrca-
ses the relative power of the Northern
!Abolitionists to defeat a satisfactory
adjustment, and to bring on a war
which sooner or later must end in
final separation and recognition of the
independence of the two contcnding
sections. If, on the contrary, :rcnne-
see, North Carolina and the Border
States will remain in the Union, and
will unite with the conservative and
Union-loving men of ali parties in the
North in the adoption of snch com:
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
be too strongly impressed upon all who
love our country. that secession and
war will he the destruction not only of
the present Union, but will blast all
hopes of Reconstruction upon Con-
stitutional basis. / trust you will do
me the justice to publish this note in
your next sue. am, very truly,
your friend.
S. A. DOUGLAS.
COERCION.
Tho Charleston Meycairu Of the 29lh