Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-02-09
LETTER FROM MIR. DOUGLAS.
wAsHrNeTOS, February ?, 1861.

EDIroRs APPEAL l have this moment read
with amazsment an editorial in your paper Of
the sosh ult., IA which you assume hat I am
&" f%avoring the Immediate withdrawal Of the
remaining States from the Confederaey, as a
peace measure, 10 avert the horrors Of civil
war, and with the view Of reconstruction on a
constitutional basis"
I implore you, by all those kind relations
which have SO long existed between US, and
which / still cherish with 80 much pleasure
and gratitude, to do me the justice promptly
n correct the unaccountable error into which
you have been led. In regard to secession,
whether viewed as a governmental theory, CT
as a matter Of political expediency, l have
never had but one opinion, nor uttered but one
language = that Of unqualified opposition.
Nothing can be so fatal to the peace Of The
country, so destructive Of the Union and Of all
hopes Of rseonStTuciion, as the secession Of
Tennessee and the Bordsr States under exist
ing circumstanees. You must remember
that there are disunioBists among the
party lenders at the North as we'll
a. a. AAE DhuAn nltA WHOSE AOaLlfALN
to slavery is stronger than their fdsl-
ity to the Constitution, and who believe that
the disruption Of the Union would draw after
it, as an inevitable consequence, civil war,
servile instruction, aud faally, the utter ex-
termination Of slavery in 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 bulwork OF
slavery on this continent. and that the disrup-
ton of the American Union involves the inev-
liable destruction Of slavery, and is an indis-
pensible necessity to the attainment Of that
end, they are determined to accomplish their
paramount object BY any means within their
power. For these reasons the northern disun-
~ionists, like the disuniOnists Of the South, are
violently opposed to all compromises or consti-
tutional amendments, or efforts at conciliation,
whereby peace could be restored and the UniOh
preserved. They are striving to break up the
Union under pretsnce Of ~unbounded devotion
o it. They are struggling to overthrow the
Constitution while protesting undyiDg attach
ment 70 it and a willingness to make any
sacrifice to maintain it They are trying to
plunge the country into civil war, as the suFest
Of enforcing the laws and protecting the puo-
lie property. II they can defeat every kind Of
adjustment or compromise By which the
points at issue may be satisfactorily settled
and keep up the Irritation so as to indnce the
border States to follow the cotton States, they
will feel certain Of the accomplishment Of their
ultimate designs. Nothing will crafty them
so much or contribute 90 efectusliy to their
success, as the secession Of Tennessee and the
border States. Every State that Witbdraws
from the Union increases the relative power OF
northern abolitionists to defeat a satisfactory
adjustment and 10 bring on war, which, sooner
or later, must end in final separation and re-
cognition Of the independence Of the two con-
tending sections. II, on the contrary, Tennes-
see, North Carolina, and the border States
will remain in the Union and will unite
with the conservative aud Union-loying
men Of all parties in the North,
in the adoption Of such a compromise
as will be alike honorable, safe and Just to the
people OF all the States, peace and fraternal
feeling viii soon return, and the cotton States
come back, and the Union be rendered per
petusl.
Pardon the repetition, for it csnnot be too
strongly impressed upon all who love our
country, that secession and war will be the
destruction not only Of the present Union, but
will blast all hope Of reconstruction upon a
constitutional basis.
TRUST you will do me the justice to publish
this note 10 your next issue.
lam, very truly, your friend,
S. A. DOUGLAS.