Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-06-13
VOLUME I.
Artitlrs,
Letter from Mr.. Vallandigham.
DAYTON. ONO. MAY 13. 1861.

LAYTON, OHlO, NAY 10, 1904.
To Messrs. Richard H. Hendrickson, N.
G. Oglesby, John Nc Clellan, Willian'
j. Fikle, Simon Goldman, james G.
Lummis, D. r. Peck, j. f. Hand,
John II. Jones, 4. G. Glandenning, IL.
p. Glouqh, j. G.. Farries, and ". ".
SetteH, Middletoaen, Ohio.
GENTLEMEN: Yours of the 9th instant,
requesting my opinion upon certain points
connected with what you justly style the
present "inglorious, and it may be, bloody
war;" has been received. That opinion was
since formed, and was repeatedly set forth
through the press or by speech and vote in
the House of Representatives last winter,
and re-afirmed in card dated on the l7th
of last month, few days after the com.
mencement of the war. But inasmucb as
I never had occasion to discuss this particu-
lar question at length, beg leave to adopt
the following admirable summary of the
casein an extract from carefully prepared
and exceedingly able speech of the Hon.
Stephen A. Douglas, in the Senate of the
United States, March 18th, 1851:
~ prefer such an amicable settlement to
peaceable disunion and prefer it thou
sand times to civil war. If we can adopt
such amendments as will be satisfactory to
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and
the other border States, the same plan of
pacifcation which will satisfy them will
create Union party in the cotton States
which will soon embrace large majority OF
the people in those States, and bring them
back of their own free will and accord and
thus restore, strengthen, and perpetuate the
glorious old Union forever. | repeat, what
ever guarantees will satisfy Maryland and
the border States (the States now in the
Upiou,) will create Union party in the
seeded States that will bring them back
by the voluntary action of their own people.
You can restore aud preserve the Govern
ment in that mode. You can do it in no
other.
"War is ais-nion. War is final, eternal
separation Hence, disguise it as you may,
ever, Union man America must a6"n,
cate such amendments to the Constitution
as will preserve peace and restore the Tn
ion while every disuniouist, whether open
ly or secretly plotting its destruction, is the
advocate of peaceful secession, or of war,
as the surest means of rendering re-"ninn
and obstruction impossible. | have too
uuch respect for his intellect to believe,
for ono moment, that there is a man for
war who is not a disunionist per Sc. Henc>'
I do not mean, if can prevent it, that the
enemies of the UDiou-men plotting to des-
troy it-shall drag this country into war,
under the pretext of protecting the public
property, enforcing the laws, and collecting
revenue, when their object is disunion, and
war the means of accomplishing cherish
ed purpose.
"The disuDionists, therefore, are divided
into two classes; the one open, the other
secret disuuionists. The one is in favor OF
peaceful secession and a recognition of indie
pendence; the other is in favor of war, as
the surest means of accomplishing the OBJ
ject, and of making the separation final and
eternal. l am a Union man, and hence
against war; but if the Union must be tenn
porarily broken by a revolution, and the
establishment of a de .facso government by
some of the States, let no act be done that
will prevent restoration and future preser'
walton. Peace is the only policy that can
lead to that result.
"But we are told, and We hear it repeat
ed everywhere, that We must find out wheth
er we have got Government. Have We
Government% is the question, and We are
told we must test that question by using the
military power to put down all discomfort
ed spirits Sir, this question, 'bave we q
Government p has been propounded by ev
cry tyrant who has tried to keep his fee. or
the necks of the people since the world be-
gan. When the barons demanded Magus
Cbarta from King John at Ruunymede, hs
exclaimed, shave we Government? I? anc
called for his army to pull down the dis
contented barons When Charles attempt
ed to collect the ships money in violation
of the Constitution of England, and in dis
regard of the rights of the people, and wa
resisted by them, he exclaimed, 'have we {
Government We canuot treat with reb
els; put down the traitors; We must show
that we have Government When jaime:
II was driven from. the throne of England
for trampliDg on the liberties of the people
he called for his army, and exclaimed, 'ie
us show that we have Government y
When George III called upon his army
to pu. down reben'on in America, L"r'
North cried out Justify, 'no compromls
with traitors; let Us demonstrate that &c
have Government When, in 1913, tn
people rose upon their tyraDts all over Eu
rope, and demanded guarantees for thei
rights, every crowned head exclaimed
shavt "e Government Z? and appealed t
the army to vndicate their authority an
eaforce the law.
"Sir, the history of the world docs ut
fail to condemn the folly, weakness, an
wickedpess of that Government which DIRE,
its sword upon its own people when the
demanded guarantees for their rights
This cry, that We must have Government
is merely following the example of the be
sotted Bourbon, who never learned anythin
by misfortune, never forgsve an injury
never forgot an affront. Must We demon
strate that we have got government, an
coerce obedience without reference to tn