Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-09-05
LAST WORDS OF DOUGLAS TO THE
DEMOCRACY.

LAST WORDS OF DOUGLAS TO THE
DEMOCRACY.
The following letter. addressed to Virgil EIic-
kox, chairman of the state democratic commit
tee of Illinois, and dictated by Mr.. Douglas,
vindication of his patriotic position, and will be
cherished by his friends as one of his most able
and honorable efforts. Its logic completely de-
molishes the sophistries Of those democrats
who are attempting to get up false peace
movement, really in aid of the enemies of the
Union, and points out clearly the duty of every
good and loyal American citizen to whatever
party he may belong.
This last letter of Mr.. Douglas, which may
be considered his farewell address TO his party
and his country, is as follows -
CHICAGO, May 10.
Mr. Dear Sir--Being deprived of the use of
my arms for the present by severe attack of
rheumatism, | am compelled to avail myself of
the services af an amanuensis, in reply to your
two letters.
1t seems that some of my friends are unable
to comprehend the difference between argu-
ments used in favor of an equitable compro-
mise, with the hope OF averting the horrors of
war, and those urged in support of the govern
ment and the flag of our country, when war is
being waged against the United States, with the
avowed purpose of producing permanent dis
ruption of the Union and total destruction of
its government. All hope of compromise with
the cotton states abandoned when they
sumed the position that the separation of the
Union was compl tie and final, and that they
would never consent to a reconstruction in any
contingcncy-not even if we we're TO furnish
them with blank sheet of paper and permit
them to inscribe their own terms. Still the
hope was cherished that reasonable and salts
factory terms of adjustment could be agreed
upon with Tennessee, North Carolina and the
border states, and that whatever terms would
prove satisfactory to these loyal states would
create 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 the Union men North and South,
and was never abandoned until actual war was
levied at Charleston and the authoritative an
nouncement made by the revolutionary govern
ment at Montgomery that the secession flag
should be planted upon the walls of the capitol
at Washington, and proclamation issued in
vting the pirates of the world to prey upon
the commerce of the United States. These
startling facts, in connection with the boastful
announcement that the ravages of war and car
mage 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 fixed purpose of the
secessionists utterly to destroy the government
of our fathers and obliterate the United States
from the map of the world.
In view of this state of facts, there was but
one path of duty left to patriotic men. 1t was
not party question, nor question involving
partisan policyj it was question of govern
ment or no government; country or no coun-
try and hence it becomes the imperative duty
Of every Union man, every friend of constitu-
tional liberty, to rally 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 10 answer your questions
in respect TO the policy of Mr.. Lincoln and
cabinet l am not in their confidence, as you
and the whole country ought to be aware. l
am neither the supporter of the partisan policy
nor the apologist OF the errors of the admin
isiratioI. My previous relations to them re-
main unchanged; but | trust the time will
never come when shall not be willing to make
any needful sacrifice of personal feeling and
party policy for the honor and integrity Of the
country. / know of no mode in which loyal
citizen may so well demonstrate his devotion to
his country as by sustaining the flag, the con-
stituion, and the Union, under all circumstan-
ces, and under every administration, regardless
of party politics, against all assailants, at home
| and abroad. The course of Clay and Webster
| toward the administration of Jackson, in the
days of notification, presents a noble and
worthy example for all true patriots. At the
| very moment when that fearful crisis was pre-
| cipitated upon the country, pastisan strife be-
tween wings and democrats was qui as bitter
| and relentless as now between democrats and
republicans.
The gulf which separated party leaders in
| those days was quite as broad and deep as that
which now separates the democracy from the
republicans. But the moment an enemy rose
in our midst, plotting the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
the Union and the destruction of the govern
ment, the voice of partisan strife was hushed in
patriotic silence. One of the brightest chap
ters in the history of our country will record
the fact that during this eventful period the
great leaders of the opposition, sinking the
partisan in the patriot rushed to the support OF
the government, and became its ablest and
bravest defenders against all assailants until
the conspiracy was crushed and abandoned,
when they resumed their former positions as
party leaders upon political issues. These acts
of patriotic devotion have never been deemed
evidences of nfdelity or political treachery on
the part of Clay and Webster, to the principles
and organization of the old whig party. Nor
have any apprehension that the firm and unan-
imous support which the democratic leaders and
masses are now giving to the constitution and
the Union will ever be deemed evidence Of in
fidelity TO democratic principles, or a want OF
LOYALTY TO the organization and creed of the
democratic party. If we hope to regain and
perpetuate tho asoendency of our party, we
should never forget that man cannot be