The Shasta courier., 1862-08-30
The Patriot Douglas.

each other in efforts 70 extol his greatness
Sprang from tae ranks of the people, he was
regarded by his party friends as the great
magister, whose knowledge Of the politics OF
1 the country was universal, and whose opin-
ion was conclusive. 1t is safe to say that
but few men have ever lived in this country
whose teachings were received with such
crcjence and faith as those of Judge Doug
las. He saw. years ago, what were the in
tentions of the slave State fanatics in regard
to the perpetuity of this nation, and we be-
lieve that his every effort for the last fifteen
years before his death, in political life, were
directed to thwarting the wicksd schemes of
this unprineipled band Of scoundrels. When
the rebellion broke out, Mr.. Douglas char
acter and significance shone with a bright
er refulgence than ever before, partly be-
eause Of the proof he then furnished of his
unselfsh lo,e Of country, and partly because
of the darkness, tempest and gloom that in-
vested the citadel of our liberties. Every
where, all ever the land, the echoes of his
voice rang in the peoples ears ike bugle
blast, summoning all to the support of the
Government. The President elect, ur pres
ent honored Chief Magistrate, had been the
life long political enemy of AIr. Douglas,
but witha patriotism worthy of the man and
the occasion, he was among the first to pledge
himself and bis influence to sustain the
Constitutional authorities against all assail-
ants As the leader Of the Democratic par
ty, his influence was great, and let all men
remember that that influence was used in
behalf Of law and order
Mr. Douglas in his last public speech,
made at Chicago on the lst day of May, 1861,
after reviewing the alleged causes of the re-
bellon, said:
The slavery question is a mere excuse
The election Of Lincoln mere prete2t. The
present secession movement is the result of
an enormous conspiracy formed by leaders
in the Southern Confederacy more than
twelve months ago.
They use the slavery question as a means
to aid the accomplishment OF their ends
They desired the election Of Northern
candidate by sectional vote in order to
show that the two sections cannot live to-
gether When the history of two years
from the Lecompton Charter, down to the
late Presidential election shall have been
written it will be shown that the scheme was
deliberately made to break up this Union, .
As going to show that the statesman had
risen above the politician, we give apother
extract from the same speech:
But this is no time for detail of causes.
The eonsliraey4ls now known. Armies have
been raised. War Is levied TO accomplish 1t.
There are only two sides to the question:
Every man must be for the United States or
against 1t. There can be no neutrals in this
war only patri0tS-or traitors"
In regard to the matter Of compromise
over which Peace Democrats still prate
SO loudly, Mr. Douglas wrote to the Chair
man of the Illinois State Central Committee,
May 10Th, 1861, as follows
al hope of compromise with the Cotton
States was abandoned when they assumed
the position that the separation of the Union
was complete and final, and that they would
never consent to reconstruction in any con
tingency-not even if we would furnish them
with 4 blank sheet of paper and premit them
10 lnScrlbe their own terms
The above extract is from the last commun-
ication of Mr.. Douglas ever made public, and
another from the same document is very APP
propriate in these times when many hither-
to Douglas Democrats have banded them
selves with The avowed enemies of the Union
and Administration.
81 know Of 10 mode by which a loyal cit
izen may so we'll demonstrate his devotion to
his country as by sustaining the Flag, the Con-
stitution and the Union, undcr all circnmstan-
ces, and under every Administration (regard-
less of party politics.. against ell assailants,
at home and abroad. The course of Clay
and Webster against the Administration of
Gen. jackson, in the days of Notification,
presents noble and worthy example for all
trGe patriots. At the very moment when that
fearful crisis was precipitated upon the coun-
try, partisan strife between Wings and Dem
ocrats was quite as bitter and relentless as
now between Democrats and Republicans
The gulf which separated party leaders in
those days was quite as broad and deep as
that which now separates the Democracy
and Republicans But the moment an enc.
my arose 10 their midst, plotting the dis
memherment Of the Union and the destrue.
ton of the Government. toe voice of parti.
san strife was nushed in patriotic silence
Oae of the brightest chapters in the history
of our country will record the fact that dur
inc this eyeutful period the great leaders Of
the Opposition, sinking the partisaniQ. the
patriot, rushed to the support of the GSse. n
ment. and became its ablest and bravest de-
tenders against all assailants until the con-
spiraey was crushed and abandoned when
they resumed their former positions as party
leaders upon political issues