The weekly Butte record., 1862-07-19
The Last Days of Stephen A. Douglas.
His Purposes and Opinions.

just published sketch of the last days OF
Senator Douglas, appropriate to the anniver-
sary of the death of that statesman Sheahan
was an intimate friend of Douglas, aud edited
his biography. The statements published in
the Post are interesting:
The attack on Sumter occurred. The
writer Of these lines was in Washington at the
time. For weeks before, Douglas felt conf
dent that the moment Congress adjourned the
rebellion would commence He regarded
Breckenridge as the most infamous and the
meanest of all the couspirators, and had he
been sustained by the Republicans during the
previous session in passing the Crittenden
Compromise, he would have exposed to the
people OF the South the long and deliberately
planned scheme of Cobb, Breckinridge. Van
cey, and several Northern Congressman and
politicians, to seize the Federal Government,
destroy the Union, and erect a Southern Re
public. He would have exposed on the stump
these men and their treason, and have made
even the South too hot to hold them.
During those weeks preceding the fall of
Sumter he spoke freely to the writer of these
lines as to what should be the duty of the De-
mocracy. He knew, and it touched his heart to
speak of it, how warmly he had been support
ed by the Democracy. He knew how that
Democracy had been sandered, abused and in
Jured because of their support of him. He
never felt so attached to or more firmly con-
vlnced of the justice of the great principles he
had advocated as he felt then, when be knew
that the triumph of the opposite doctrines had
brought the country to actual war. Yet, not
withstanding that he knew that there was a
wide and impossible gulf between Democracy
and Republicans, and that men could not in
day, nor in lifetime, forget the bitterness of
party nor Danish the determination for revenge
yet he inquired anxiously if there could be the
slightest doubt whether that great Democratic
party would rally at the first assault upon
their country's flag, to the support of the Gov
ernment, even if that Government was in the
hands of the hated Republican party And
with his accustomed energy and determination
he answered bis own question by exclaiming,
Neverl That party has been trained to
support the Union; to regard the permauency
of the Government as their especial CHARGE
and they will no more let party hatred keep
them neutral in fight with Southern traitors
than they would be neutral if the enemy was
a foreign nation. They might respect foreign
nation, even though an enemy, but traitor
certainly can never appeal for aid or sympathy
to a Democrat"
As in the case of Lecompton he would be
true to his principles and let the consequences
be what they may. Upon these principles be
acted. The moment Sumter fell, he went to
the President and rendered him his support
until the rebellion was crushed.
He shortly after returned to this State. Be-
fore leaving Washington be heard that South
ern Illinois was disposed to sympathize with
the South, aud therefore he proceeded to
Springfield, and before the Legislature made
that speech which will serve as monument to
to his patriotism for all time. On the first of
May he reached Chicago, and in his speech
here he uttered those words which he intended
should be taken as the rule of conduct for all
Democrats, that in this war there could be no
neutrals he who was not for the Government
was for the traitors. He abandoned no prin-
ciple of the Democratic party, but was more
firmly convinced than ever that the only way
to settle the slavery question was to leave it
exclusively with the people who were to be
affected by it. But an attempt to overturn
the Government was something so violative of
Democratic doctrine, that he did not admit
that any man could justify or extenuate the
act, or feel the slightest sympathy for those
engaged in it. He did not ask that the Demo.
cratic party should abandon its organization
on the contrary, he insisted that such organi-
zation should be maintained be had no doubt
as to the causes nor the persons who had pro-
duced the rebellion, and in his own words be
thus defined patriotic duty on that point:
When we shall have rescued the Govern
ment and country from its perils, and seen its /
flag floating in triumph over every inch of
American soil, it will be time enough to inquire
as to who and what has brought these troubles
upon u.s. Let him be marked as no true pat /
riot who will not abandon all such issues in
times like these"
The day after his arrival here he read copies |
of the conditional secession Of Virginia-that
secession which, being actual, was neverthe (
less to depend for validity upon future vote
of the people. He said that Lincoln ought at
once to put an army into Virginia and occupy
every city and strong point in the State; a
months delay, he thought would be fatal.
He considered that the rebellion had sealed
the fate Of slavery. No act of legislation, no
act of Lincoln 10 matter how violative of the
Constitution. could have wrought tie injury to
slavery that had been done by the rebellion. /