The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-09-13
TISING.
LETTER OF SENATOR DOUGLAS.

The following letter PurportIng TO have been
written by Hon. s. A. Douglas, a short time
pTevioust to hIs death, is gong the rounds of
the press. We do not vouch for its authenticl-
ty, but'glve il as il comes TO US. 1t will be
seen that the lamented Senator takes much the
sane position that Democrats do everywhere,
viz: That lue should sustain the GoverRment as
Democrats. What Mr.. Douglas would have
said had be lived 10 witness the miSdeedS of the
Administration, is not at all foreshadowed in
this lelter.-Ed Gazette.
CHICAGO, May 10, 1861.
My Dear Sir - Being deprived of the use Of
my arms for the present by a severe attack OF
the Rheumatism; am compelled to avail my
seltef the services of an amanuensls, in reply
to your two letters.
II seems that some of my friends are unable
meats used IN faUor Of an equitad compTom-
iSs With the hope Of aUerting the h0rrO'S Of
lCar, and those urged IN support OF the Govern
ment and flag OF our country, iohen toar as be-
ing lraged against the United States with the
aUoaUsd purpose Of producing permanent
disruption of the Union, and a total deS-
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 the reconstruction in any contin-
gency-not eUen if We ,oere to furnish them
NTH a blank sheet Of paper and permit them
TO inScribe their 0I0a terms.
Still thr hope was cherished that reasonable
4 If b.
agreed upon with Tennessee, North Carolina
and The border States, and that whatever terms
would prove satisfactory to these loyal States
would create a Union party in the cotton
states which wouiG be powerful enough at the
ballotbox TO destroy the revolutionary Govern
ment, and bring those States back into the Un-
ion by the voice ottheir people. This hope
was cherished by the Union men North and
and South, and was never abandoned until ac-
tual war was levied at Charleston and the au-
thoritative announcement made by the revolu-
tionary government at. Montgomery, that the
secession flag should be planted upon the walls
Of the Capitol at Washington, and proclama-
ton issued inUiting the pirates of the 1oorLd
TO prey upon the Commerce Of tie United
STATES.
These startling facts, in connection with the
and carnage should be quickly transferred from
the cotton fields of the South TO the wheat
and coin fields Of the North, furnish conclusive
evidence that it was the fIed purpose of Sc
cessionists utterly TO destroy tie government of
Our fathers and obLlteTdte the Unified States
from the map of The aOortd.
In view OF this state of facts there was but
one path OF duty LETT to patriotism. 1t was
question oi government or no government;
country or no country, and hence it became
the imperative duty oil the Union man ,ol every
friend of constitutional liberty, to rally to the
Rupport OF our common country, its government |
and flag, as the only means of checking the |
progress Of revolution and preserving the Tn
ION of the States.
am unable TO answer YOUR questions in res |
pect to the policy OF Mr.. Lincoln and cabinet.
am not IN their confidence, as you and the |
whole country ought TO be aware. lam neith-
eT the supporter of the partisan polio, no: the
apologist of The administration. My previous
relations TO them remain unchanged but trust |
The time will never come when | shall not be (
willing to make any reedful sacrifice Of personal |
ieeiIng and party policy for the honor and in
'egrlty OF the country. | know OF no mode IN
Which loyal citizen may so we'll demonstrate |
his devotion to his country as by sustaining the
nag, the Constitution, the Union, under all cir
cumsiances, and under every administration,
regardless OF party politics, ,sganst all assaIants
al nome and abroad. The course of Clay and
webster towards the administration OF Jackson,
IN the Gays OF notification, presents a noble
and worthy example for all true patriots. At
me very moment when that fearful Crisis was
PFecipItated upon the country, partisan strife
2etween Wings and Democrats was quite as
oltter and relentless as now between Democrats
and Republicans.
lne gulf which separated party leaders in
'h9se days was quite as broad and deep as that
"!nieh no" separates the Democracy from the i.