Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-06-15
POL 1fG GCAl.
Letter i.om M. Vallandigham
DAYTON, ONO, May l3, IS(

LAYTON, ONO, May l3, 1851.
To Mcssrs. Richard H. llcndrickson, N. G.
Oycsby, John Mcclellan, VIM j. Wikle,
Simon Goldman, James G. Lunnis, d. II.
Peck, j. T. Hand. John II. Joucs, A. G..
Glandcnning, IT, p. Couch, J. G. Farrics
and w. W. Settcll, Middletown, Ohio:
Gentlemen: Yours Of tho 9th instant, re-
qucsting my opinion upon certain points con
ncctc. with what You Justly style the present
/" inglorions, and it may be bloody war" has
been received That opinion was long since
formed, and was repeatedly set forth through
the press or byspeech and vote in the House
OF Representatives last winter, and cailirmcd
III n card dated on the lTth of last month, a
few days after the commencement of the war.
But inasmuch as | never had occasion to dis
cuss this particular question at length. | beg
leave I" adopt the following admirable sum
mary of the case in an extract from carefully
prepared and exceedingly able speech of the
Hon. stephen a. Douglas in the Senate Of
the United States, March 18th, 1861
prefer such an amicablc settlement to
peaccablc disunion and prefer it thous-
and times to civil war. We can adopt such
amendments rs will be satisfactory to Virginia,
North Carolina, Tcnnnssce, and the other hor
tlcr States. the same plan Of paoilication 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
pcrpetuatc tho glorious old Union forever I
repeat, whatever guarantees will satisfy Mary
land and the border States (the States now in
tho Union.) will create Union party in the
seeded States that will bring thom back bv
the voluntary action Of their own people You
can restore and preserve the Government in
that mode You can do it in no other
"War is disunion. War is final eternal
separations Hence, disguise it as You may,
every Union man in America must advocate
such amendments to the Constitution MS will
preserve pence and restore the Union; while
every disunlQnist, whether open or secretly
plotting its destruction, is the advocate of
peaceful secession, or of war, as tho surcst
means of rendering re union and reconstruct
tion impossible. | have too much respect for
his intellect to believe, for ono moment, that
thercis man for war who is not disupionist
per Sc. Hence do not mean, if can pre-
vent 1T, that the enemies of the Unioh-mcn
plotting to destroy shall drag this country
aDto war, under the preteXt of protecting the
public property, and enforcing tho laws, and
collecting revenue, when their object is dis
nnion, and war the means of accomplishing n
cherished purpose.
'"Ihc dsunionsts, therefore, arc divided into
two clnsscs: the one open, the other secret
disunionsts. The one is in favor Of peaceful
secession and n recognition of independence :;
the othcr;is in favor Of war, as the surest
means Of accomplishing tho object, and of
making the separation final and eternal. I
am Union man, and hence against war; but
IT the Union must be temporarily broken by
revolution, and tho establishment of de-
.f'cto government by somc,o tho States, let
no act bc done that. will prevent restoration
and future preservation. Peace is the only
policy That can lead. to that result. s;e
But wo are tod, and VIC hear it repeated
everywhere, that wc must find out whether
we have. got Government. "IIavc we
Toyornnient I" is tho question, and wo arc
told wc must test that question by using tho
military power to put. down all .discontontcd
spirits. Sir, this question, havc wes. Gov
ernment G. has been, propounded by every
tyraht who has tried to keep his.fcet OH tho
.noeks Of tho people snco- tho world bcgan---
Whom the bqfons do9andea Magma Charts
irons King John at lsunnymeae, heexclaimcd,s
:" have wc'a GovcrnmeRt?D and called for his
army 70 put down the discontonted barons. -
When Chofle II attempted, to cOlleot Sthe.
ships money III Violation, Of the Constitution
lofyspgland, and I'm disregard Of the rights Of