Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-02-12
Letter from Hon. s. A. Douglas.
The following letter has been addressed by
Judge Douglas to the editors of the Memphis APP
WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. 2, 1851.

|
peal: e
| WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. 2, 1861.
Messrs Editors II have this moment read
with amazement an editorial in your paper of the
3Oth ult., in which you assume that am favor
| ing the immediate withdrawal of the remaining
States from the Confederacy, as peace measure,
to avert the horrors of civil war, and with the
view of reconstruction on q 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 do me the justice promptly to COR
rect the unaccountable error into which you have
been led in regard to secession, whether viewed
as government theory or as matter of politi-
col expediency, have never had but one opin-
ion nor uttered but one language, that of unqual-
flied opposition.
Nothing can be SO fatal to the peace of the
country, so destructive of the Union and of all
hopes of reconstruction, as the secession of Ten
nessee and the Border States under existing cir
cumstances.
You must remember that there are Dsunion-
lists among the party leaders at the North as well
as at the South-men whose hostility to slavery
is stronger than their fidelity to the Constitution
and who believe that the disruption of the Union
would draw after it, as an inevitable consequence,
civil war, servile Instruction, and finally the
utter determination of slavery in all of the South
ern States.
They are bold, daring, determined men, and,
believing, they do, that the Constitution of the
United States is the great bulwark of slavery on
this continent, and that the disruption of the A.
merican Union involves the inevitable destruc-
ton Of slavery, and is an indispensable necessity
to the attainment ofthat end, they are determin-
| ed to accomplish their paramount object by any
means within their power.
For these reasons the Northern Disunionists,
| like the Disunonsts of the South, are violently
opposed to all compromises or constitutional a.
mendments, or efforts at Cancellation, whereby
peace could be restored, aud the Union preserv-
| ed.
They are striving to break up the Union under
pretence ofunbounded devotion to it. They are
struggling to overthrow the Constitution while
protesting undying attachment to it, and will
| ingness 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 protect
| ing the public property.
If they can defeat any kind Of adjustment or
compromise, by which the points at issue may be
satisfactorily settled and keep up the irritation
SO as to induce the Border States to follow the
Cotton States, they will feel certain of the accom-
plishment of their ultimate designs.
Nothing will CRAFTY them so much, or contrib
ute eectualy to their success, as the secession
of Tennessee and the Border States. Every
State that withdraws from the Union increases
the relative power of Northern Abolitionists to
defeat satisfactory adjustment, and to bring on
war, which, sooner or later, must end in final
separation, and recognition of the independence
of the two contendingsection
| If, on the contrary, tennessee North Carolina,
and the Border States, will remain in the Union,
they will unite with thecoDservative and Union
loving of all parties in the North in the adoption
of such compromise as will be alike honorable,
safe and just to the people of all the States; and
fraterna feeling will soon return, and the Cotton
States come back, aud the Union be rendered
perpetual.
Pardon the repetition, for it cannot be too
strongly impressed upon all who love our coun-
try, that secession and var will be destructive,
not only of the present Union, but will blast all
hope of reconstruction Upon constitutional ba-
sis trust you will do me the justice to publish
this note in your next issue.
am, very truly, your friend,
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.