The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-07-18
Douglas, Last Letter on the site of the
Country.


From : ne National Intenigencer.
A friend Of Senator Douglas has handed us Tor
publ"caon a copy Of the following ietter I on
Tim the last he ever wrote on the state oil the
country c.o.,o Nav 10. 1861.
MY DEAR SIR:-Being deprived OF the use u
my arms for the present with seFoio ,sef
ofibef vices Of an amanuenss in reply 10 yo"
lie o ruab'
Jl rs lat some Of my friends are uu" ,4e to
ccr5r 1 the difference between arr uments
Tsea c,vor Of an equitable comproni' ewith the
homes of averting the horrors Oi CT ii war, and
those urged in support Of the COVE .nment and the
flag Of our country, when "'.sr Is beng waged
against the United States VIVA tie aYowed pur-
pose Of producing permnr,; ut disruption OF the
Union and total destruction of its Government.
All hope Of compromise with the cotton states
was abandoned when they assumed the position
that the separation Of the Union was com lete and
final, and that they would never consent to recon
struction in any contingency-nOt if we could fur.
nsh them blank sheet OF paper aud permit them
TO inscribe their own terms
Still the hope was cherished that reasonable and
satisfactory terms Of adj ustment could be agreed
upon with North Carolina, Tennessee, and the Dor.
der states, and that whatever terms would prove
satisfactory to these loyal states would create a
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 vote Of their own PEG
pie. This hope was cherished by the Union men
north and south, and was never abandoned until
actual war was levied at Charlcston, and the au
thOritatlVe announcelnentmaCe by the revolutions
airy government at Montgomery that the secession
nag should be planted on the walls Of the capitol
at Washington, and q proclamation issued invit
ing the pirates Ct the world to prey upon the com
merce Of the United States.
These startling facts, taken in connection witt
the boastul announcement that the rayages Of
war and carnage should be quickly transferred
from the cotton fields Oithe south to the wheat and
corn fields of the north, furnish conclusive EVIL
dence that it was the fixed purpose Of the seces
slonIsts 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 affairs there was but one
path Of duty left to patriotic men. 1t was not a
party question, nor question involving partisan
poIcy 1t was question OfgOyernment or no gov
ernment' country ornO country; and hence 1t be-
came the imperative duty OF every Union man,
every friend of constitutional liberty, to rally to
the support of the government and flag, as the on
ly means Of checking the progress of the revolu-
ton and OF preserving the union of the states.
am unable to answer your question in respect
TO the policy OF Mr.. Lincoln and his cabinet. l am
not III their confdence,as you and the whole cOun-
Try ought to be aware. am neither the support.
er OF the partisan policy the apologst for the
errors OF the administration. My previous rela-
lions to them remain unchanged but trust the
time VIII never come when 1 shall not be willing
70 make any needful sacrifice of personal feeling
ana party policy for the honor and integrity my
country
know of no mode by which loyal citizen may
80 wen demonstrate his devotion to his country as
~ sustaining the flag, the Constitution and the
OhlOn under all circums taaces and undey every
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of party politics against
AiI assallants, at home and abroad. The course of
Gay ana Webster towards the administration of
General Jackson, in the days Of notification, pre.
SCENTS noble and worthy example of all true pa
tlots At the very moment when that fearful
Crisis was preclptated upon the country bipartisan
suie between wings ana democrats was quite as
bitter and relentless as now between democrats
ana republicans. The gulf which separated party
leaders IN those days quite as broad and deep
ds tnaL which now separates the democrats and
republicans. But the moment an enemy rose in
our midst plotting the dismemberment of the I'm
ION ana the destruction OF the Government, the
voice OF partisan strife was hushed in patriotic ST.
fence One OF the brightest chapters in the history
VI our country will record the fact that, during this
eVehVlul period, the great leaders Of the opposi-
ton, sinking the partisan into the patriot, rushed
20 the support of the government, and became its
aolest and bTavest defenders against the assaants,
unll inc conspiracy was crushed and abandoned,
When They resumed their former positions as party
leaders upon political issues.
lnese acts OF patriotic devotion have never been
deemed evidence of iufdety or political treach.
e. ca tho part of Clay and Webster to the prin-
pies and organization of the old wing party
% 49, any apprehension that the firm and un-
1Lih 90 pport which the democratic leaders and
inas r, are now giving to the Constitution and I'm.
ION "lll ever be deemed evidences Of infdelity to
democratic principles,.or want Of loyalty to the
organization and creed Of the democratic party
we nope to regain and perpetuate the ascendan-
cy Oh our party, we should yer forget that man
cannot be true democrat unless he be Loyal
=. with the sincere hope that these, my conscien
nous convictions, may concide with those of my
friends, am, very truly, yours,
STEPHEN a. DOUGLAS.
10 Virgil Hickox, Chairman of State Democratic
Committee