Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-16

The Journal says Ia response to this inquiry:
Stephen A Douglas declared that the war
was the result OF vast conspiracy set on foot by
the leaders OF tile South than year before
the war began" before Mr.. Lincoln was nomina-
tel. when there was no reason 10 believe that he
could he elected but by division of the Demo-
cratic party maseby themselves.
The pretended friends Of Mr.. DeuGLAs are
doing great injustice to his memory. After the
Inauguration of Mr. LIScoLS, and after several
States had seeded from the Union. Mr.. DoUeLAs
inhis celebrated speech, the most able anu elo-
quent that he ever made. delivered ia the Senate
in March lS6l declared that ''war was disuuion,'
and he attributed the then impending civil war
and dissolution of the Union to the refusal of the
Republican party to listen to any terms OF com
promise. He stated in the Senate that the amend
ments proposed by Mr.. CRlrrESDks would have
been accepted by even the extreme Southern men.
He had this assurance from Senator's DAVIS and
TooMBs and that they would accept that adjust
ment as guarantee that the Republican party
had no intention of infringing Their rights
under the Constitution. Notwithstanding this
declaration, the life long enemies Of Mr.. DoUe-
L,s-the very men who denounced him as a
shallow demagogue-are attempting to make Mr..
DoUeLAs sustain their position and repudiate his
deliberately expressed convictions. The position
of Mr. DouGLAs upon the present troubles of the
countryis yet to be indicated by those who can
appreciate his character and the political princi
piles and policy he advocated with such earnest
ness and ability. Ii he hao lived, the very men
who now seek to appropriate the great hold he
had upon the popular affections to promote the
ends of political party whose principles he held
in utter detestation, would not have professed
the hypocritical regard they now express for the
dead Senator. After the war broke out one
sentiment, or perhaps we should say apprehen-
sion occupied the mind Of Mr. DoueLAs lie so
expressed himself to his intimate friends here
and elsewhere on his way to his home in
Illinois for the last time. He feared that
civil wal in the Northwestern STATES would
follow the opening Of ho-tities in the South. To
prevent dire calamity, he was willing to
make any sacrifice. He dfd not deny that there
was an apparent Inconsistency in his March
speech. and those he made on that trip home
ward. but" said he, "do you want civil war in
indianapolis, in Indiana-io We of Illinois want
it in the streets Of Chcago-do you want TO see
the Northwestern States desolated and their cit
liens divided into hostile factions by fratricida
striieg No. if civil war must come. let US confne
il to the Southern States, and LET them and not
US feel its immediate evils" These were the mo-
tives and influences which actuated him, and at
no time did he retract sentiment that he had
uttered in his March speech in the Senate. Ii
may be questioned whether the later policy Of
MIR. DorGLAs was char aeterized by lofty states
manship and that true moral courage which a
statesman should ever exhibit but none can
doubt he was influenced solely by the desire to
of tie people, with whom he identified, and
who had long honored him with their confidence
IN Endorsement by political Convention
not affect the life. character. public
services and craftsmanship of Mr.. DouGLAs.
They part of the history of the country,
and the impartial historian will estimate them
unnbusneed by the personal affection or the
party preJudices which now influence the public
judgment. The Endorsement OF a dead states
man by party convention is but idle cere-
mony at the best. The man has passed away.
and the effect of his deeds cannot be changed.
whether political convention or partisan editor
approves condemns them.