Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-08-30
senator douglas, Las, Letter.

ton copy of the following letter from him
on the state Of the country:
CHICAGO, May 10.
Ny DEAR Sin: 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.
Hseems that some Of my friends are ua-
able to comprehend the difference 6etween
arguments used in favor of an equitable
compromise, 'oiM the hope of averting the
horrors of 'Odr, and those urged in sup.
port Of the Government and the flag Of our
country, 'ohen mar as being wdged against
the United States Nth the dvowed purpose
Of producing permant disruption ofhe
Union and a total destruction of its Gov-
ernment
All hope Of compromise with the Cot
ton States was abandoned when they as
assumed the position that the separation of
the Union was complete and final, and that
they would never consent to reconstruc-
tion in any contingency-no eVen If zoe
aOoAd, furnish them Nth blank sheet of
paper and permit them to inScribe their otou
terms.
Still the hope was cherished that reason
able and satisfactory terms of adjustment
could bc agreed upon with Tennessee,
North Carolina, and the Border States, and
that whatever terms would provo satisfac-
tory to these loyal States would create a
Union party in the Cotton States, which
would be powerful enough at the ballot-box
to destroy 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 unit
actual war was levied at Charleston and
the authoritative announcement made by
the revolutionary Government at Montgom.
cry, that the Secession flag should be plant
ed upon the walls of the Capital at Wash
ington, and a proclamation issued nUiting
the pirates Of the worH to prey upon tie
commerce ot'the United States.
These startling facts, in connection with
the boastful announcement that the rava-
ges 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 fred purpose Of the SeceSsioniSts
utterly to destroy the Government of oar
fathers and obliterate the United States
from the map of the wOrld.
In view of this state of facts there aCdS
but one path Of duty left to patriotic men.
1t WAS not party question, nor question
involving partisan policy; ii was question
of Government or no Government; coun
try or no country-and hence it became
the imperative duty of every Union man
every friend of constitutional liberty, to raj
leg to the support Of Our common country
its Government and flag, as the only
means Of checking the progress of revolution
and of preserving the Union of States.
/ am unable to answer your questions ir
regard to the policy of Mr.. Lincoln and
Cabinet. am not in their confidence, as
you and the whole country ought to be
aware. am neither the supporter Of the
partizan policy nor the apologist Of the er
rors of the Administration. My previou,
relations to them remain unchanged; 6ul
I trust the time ,UW never come Dhen j
shall not be aOilling to make any needfu
sacrifice Of personal feeling and party pol
icy for the honor and integrity Of my coun
tr6.
know of no mode in which loyal cit
izen may so well demonstrate his devotion
to his country as by sustaining the Flag
the Constitution and the Union, under al
circumstances, and under every administra
ton, regardless of party politics, agains
all assailants at home or abroad. Th
course of Clay and Webster towards tn,
Administration of jackson, in the days o
Modification, presents noble and WORTHY
example for all true patriots. At the very
moment when that fearful crisis was pre-
ciptated upon the country, partisan strif
between Wings and Democrats was quit
as bitter and relentless as now between
Democrats aud Republicans.
The gulf which separated party leader
in those days was quite as broad and dee
as that which now separates the Democrat
1 from the Republicans. But the mome'
an enemg rose in our midst, plotting the di,
aenobernaent of tie Union and tie destru,
tion Of the Government, tie voice of part
san strife ,Oas hushed IN patriotic s,lenc,
f One of the brightest chapters in the histor
of our country will record the fact that dul
ing this eventual period the great leader
of the Opposition, sinking the partisan i
the patriot, rushed to the support of tn
Government, and became its ablest an
f bravest defenders against all assailants Ut
til the conspiracy was crushed and abar
doned, when they resumed their forme
positions as party leaders upon political i
sues.
These acts Of patriotic devotion hay
never beon deemed evidences of inidelt
, or political treachery, on the part of Cla
and Webster, to the principles and organ
T. zation of tho old Wing party. Nor ha,
l any apprehension that the firm an
unanimous support which the Democrat
+. leaders and masses are now giving to ii
' Constitution and the Union will ever |
. deemed evidence Of infideity to Democra
} ic principles, or want of loyalty to Il
j. organization and creed of the Democrat
party. five hope to regain and perpe
: uate the ascendeney Of our party, zoe sho,t
q ReVer forget that a man can not be tn
Democrat unless he is loyal patriot.
With the sincere hope that these, n
conscientious convictions may concide vii
those Of my friends am, very truly your
= STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
+ To Virgil Hickox, Esq, Chairman Sta