Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-02-12
The voice of a patriot.

n
The position Of Senator Douglas having
been mistated by the Memphis Appeal, in
late issue Of that Journal, the following
letter of correction was addressed to its
editor. We would ask our Republican
friends who are not candidates for Office
and desire the votes 6f Abolitionists to care
fully peruse this important letter from our
Senator. And may the people heed ifs
advice, and politicians everywhere emitate
its noble author in endeavors to staVe off
dissolution and civil war.
WASHINGTON CRY, Feb 2. 1861.
MEssRs EDITORS 81 have this moment
read with Arrangement and editorial in your
yaper Of the 30th ultimo, in which you as
supe that am iavoring tho immediate
withdrawal Of tie remaining States from
the confederacy, rs peace measure, to
avert the horrors Of civil war, and with
the view Of n reconstruction ON a constItu-
tionsl basis.
implore you, by all those kind rela-
tioDs which have so long existed between
us, ard which | still cherish with so
much pleasure aEd gratitude, to do me the
justice promptly to correct the unaccouuta
Ole error into which you have been led. In
regard 81 secession, whether viewed as q
governmental theory or Us q matter of pos
litical eTpediency, have never had but
one opinion. nor uttered but one language
TINT Of unqualified opposition.
Nothing can be so fatal to the peace Of
the country, so destructive Of the Union
and Of all b. pes Of reconstruction, as the
secession Of Tennessee and the border
States under existing circumstances.
You must remember that there are dis
nhioDists among the party leaders at the
North as we'll as at the South-men whose
hostility 10 slavery is stronger than their
fidelity to the Constitution, ard who be
Iievc that the disruption Of the Union
would draw after it, as an Inevitable cor
sequence, civil war servile instruction,
ard finally the utter EXTERN alton Of
slavery in all the Southern States. They
are bold, daring, determined men; aud
believing as they do, that the Constitution
Of the United States is the great bulwark
If elavcry on this continent aud that the
disruption Of the American Union involve,
the inevitable destruction of slavery, and
is an indispensable necessity to the attain
ment of that end, they are determined t,
means within their power For these
reasons, the Northern disunionists like th,
dsuni0nists Of the South, are violently or
posed to all compromises or constitutions
amendment, or efforts at cnnciliation
whereby peace could be restored, and the
Union preserved.
They are striving to break up the Unior
under pretence Of unbounded devotion t.
it. They are struggling to overthrow thu
Constitution while protesting undying at
tachment to it, and willingness to MAKE
any sacrifice to maintain it. They ar
trying to plunge the country into civil war
as the surest means of destroying tn
Union, upon the plea Of enforcing the law
and protecting the public property. !
they can defeat any kind Of adjustment O
compromise, by which the points at issu
may be satisfactorily settled, and keep NJ
the irritation so as to induce the Borde
States to follow the Cotton States, the,
will feel certain Of the accom- Dlishment 0
their ultimate designs
Nothing will crafty them so much, O
contribute so etfectually to their success, a.
the secession Of Tennessee and the border
States. Every State that withdraws from
the Union increases the relative power o
Northern Aboliticnists to defeat satisfac
tory adjustment, and to bring on war
which, sooner or later, must end in fna
separation, and recognition of the indie
perdeuce Of the two contending sections
IF, on the contrary, Tennessee, North Car
DINA, and the border States, will remain
in the Union, and will unite with tn
conservative and Uuion-l0ving men of al
parties in the North, in the adoption 0
such a compromise as will be alike honor
able. safe, and just to the people of all til
States, peace and frnternal feeling vii
soon return, and the Cotton States com
back, and the Union be rendered perpet
ual.
Pardon the repetition, for it cannot b.
too strongly impressed upon all who low
our Country that secession and war will b.
destructive, not only Of the present Union
but will blast all hope Of reconstruction
upon constitutional basis trust you
will do me the justice to publish this not
in your next issue.
am, truly, your friend.
S A DOUGLAS