Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-02-09

The following is a copy of an important
letter, addressed by Jsdge Douglas to the
editors Of Tie appeal, Memphis, Tennessee !:
WAsnINoroN Feb. 2, 1861.
MEssRs. EDIToRs IL have this moment
read with amsZeDept an editorial 10 your
paper Of the 30th ult., 10 which you assume
that am "favoring the immediate withdraw.
al Of the remaining States from the Confede-
racv, as q peace measure, to avert the horrors
OF civil war and with the view of reconstruc'
tiou on o constitutional basis" ] implore
you by all those kind relations which have so
long existed between us, and which ] still
cherish with so much pleasure and gratitude,
to Go me the justice promptly to correct the
unaccountable error ioto which you have been
led. In regard TO secession, whether viewed
as a governmental theory or as a matter of
political expediepcy, have never had but
one opinion, nor uttered bu: one language.
that Of unqualified opposition. Nothing can
be so fatal to the peace Of the country, so
destructive OF the Union. and Of oil hopes of
reconstruction, as the secession of Tennessee
and the Border States under existing circum.
stances. You must remember that there are
Disunionists among the party. leaders at the
North as well as at the South-men whose
fidelity to the Constitution, and who believe
that the disruption Of the Union would draw
after it, as an inevitable consequence, civil
war, servle insurrecton, and finally, the utter
determination of slavery D all the Southern
States. They are bold, daring, determined
men; and believing, as they do that the
Constitution Of the United States is the great
bulwark Of slavery on this continent and that
the disruption of the American Union in.
wolves the inevitable destruction of slavery,
and is an indispensable necessity to the at.
tanment OF that end. they are determined to
accomplish their paramount object by any
means within their power. For these rea.
sons, the Northern Disun!onists, like the
Disunionists of the South, are violently op.
posed to oil compromises or constitutional
amendments, or efforts at Cancellation, where.
by peace should be restored and the Union
preserved. They are striving to break up
the Uuion under the pretence of unbouuded
devotion to it, They are struggling to over
throw the Constitution while protesting un-
dying attachment to it, and a willingness to
make any sacrifice TO maintain it, They are
trying to plunge the country into civil war as
the surest means Of destroying the Union,
upon the plea Of enforcing the laws and pro-
tectDg the public property. If they can
defeat every kind of adjustment or compro
mise by which the points at issue may be
satisfactorily settled, and keep up the irrita'
tion, so as to induce the Border States to
follow the Cotton States, they will feel GER
tain of the accomplishment Of their ultimate
designs.
Nothing will crafty them so much, or
contribute 30 efiectuaily to their success, as
the secession of Tennessee and the Border
States. Every State that wthdraws from
the Union increases the relative power Of
Northern A boitionsts to defeat o satisfac'
tory adjustment, and TO bring on a war which
sooner or later must end in final separation
and recognition of the independence of the
two coptending sections. If, on the contrary,
Tennessee, North Carolina, and the Border
States, will remain in the Union, and will
unite with the conservative u Unon-loving men
Of oil parties in the North 10 the adoption Of
such q compromise 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 repetition, but it cannot be too
strongly impressed upon oil who love our
country, that secession and war will be the
destruction not only Of the present Union
but will blast all hopes of reconstruction upon
constitutional basis. ] trust you will do
me tine justice to pablish this note in your
EeXt issue.
! am, very truly, your friend.
g. A. DouGLAs