The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-08-29
senator douglas, last Letter.

be virluous.- Gin. Com. i t-'-tr.
.s '
Senator Douglass Last Letter.
: A friend OF Senator Douglas has hand
ed to the National Intelligencer for pub
location copy of the following letter from
him on the state Of The country:
s. CHICAGO, May 10
My DEAR SIR: Being deprived Of the
use of my arms for the present by u So
we're attack of rheumatism, am compel
ed to avail myself of the services Of an
amanuenis in reply to your two letters.
II seems that some Of my friends are
Unable to comprehend the difference be-
tween arguments used in favor Of an equi-
table compromise, with the hope Of avert
ing the horrors Of war, and those urged
in support of the Government and the flag
of our country, when war is being waged
sgainst the United States with the avowed
purpose of producing a permanent disrup-
ton of the Union and d total destruction
of its Government. t1. .aAEsry
All hope of compromise with the Cot
ton States was abandoned when they as.
sumed the position that the separation of
the Union was complete and final, and
that they would never consent to IA recon-
struction in any contingency-not even
if we would furnish them with a blank
sheet OF paper and permit them to inscrlbt
their own terms.
Still the hope was cherished that rea
sonable and satisfactory terms OF adjust
ment could be agreed upon with Tennes
see, North Carolina, and the Border
States, and that whatever terms woult
prove satisfactory to these loyal States
would create Union party in the GottoI
States, which would be powerful enougl
at the ballot box TO destroy the Revolu
tionary Government. and bring thos'
States back into the Union by the voice o
their people. This hope was cherished
by Union men North and South, and wa
never abandoned until actual war wa
levied at Charleston and the authoritative
announcement made by the Revolutions
nv Government at Montgomery. that tn
Secession flag should be planted upon tn
walls of the Capital at Washington, ant
proclamation Issued inviting the pirate
of the world to pray upon the commerce
the United States.
These startling facts, in connectio
with the boastfu! announcement that tn
ravages of war and carnage should b
quickly transferred from the Cotton field
of the South to the wheat fields and cor
fields OF the North, furnish conclusive ev
idence that it was the fixed purpose c
the Sectssionists utterly TO destroy tn
Government Of our fathers and obllIel
ate the United States from the map OF I'll
world.
I l view of this state OF facts there WI
but one path of duty left to patriotic me-
II was not party question. nor que
9 ton involving partisan policy; it was
n question of Government or no Cover
}. ment, country or no country-and hen'
(. it became the imperative duty OF eve'
i Union man, every friend Of constitution
;. liberty, TO rally to the support OF four cor
. mon country, its Government and fla
a as the only means of checking the pr
9 gress Of revolution and preserving 4
e Union of States.
am unable to answer your quesuo
, in regard to the policy Of Mr.. Lincoln a.
v Cabinet l am not in their confidence,
n you and the whole country ought to
,e aware. I am neither the supporter OF t
|. partisan policy mel the apologlst OF
~ errors of the Administration. My pre-
Is IS Gus relations to them remain unchangc
Of but | trust the time will nevor come VIII
9. l shall not te will ling to make any nee
q. full sacrifice OF personal feeling and pa
8. policy for the honor and integrity oil
a. country,
know of o mode in which q 10.
tt citizen may so well demonstrate his de-
m ton TO his country as by sustaining.
or flag, the Constitution, and the UNI
ar under all circumstances, and under ev'
do admipistration. regardless Of party p'
of tics, against all assaila:ts, at home q
NJ abroad. The course of Clay and We
# # ter towards the Administration Of Jack
"a. "a. in the days Qualification. presents
h. BILE and worthy example for all true pa
,f- OTIS. At the very moment when that ie
We lul crisis was preoipitated upon the co
uri try, partisan strife between WINGS
X. Dem ocrats was quite as bitter and rele
hs' less as now between DEMOCRATS and
for publicans.
,he The gulf which separated party Iea1
,ut in those days was quite as broad ana q
try as that which now separates to Demo'
The cy from the Republicans. But the
,ne ment an enemy rose in our midst, plot
vill the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the Union and
q. destruction of the Government, the v
the of partisan strife was hushed in patri
s;lenco Ona of tho BRIGHTEST chapter