The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-01-30
stephen A. Douglas on the Cause
and Effect OF the Rebellion.
Letter nom Thomns n. Ryan.
From the chieseo Journal.
BRYAN HALL, CmcAeo, I
January 90. 1868

From the Chicsro teurnal.
BRYAN HALL, CmcAeo,
January 90, 1868.
DoueLAs DEmooRArs: Observing that
the Hon. +. A. Eastman, Representative o
from this city, has recently reported the
prediction Of Stephen A. Douglas, utter
ed in his hearing, and addressed TO South
ern men, TO the effect that the rebellion
would result in the overthrow OF Slavery;
and the accuracy Of Col. Eastmun's rec.
objection being calod in question,
deem IL due TO truth to add my humble
testimony 20 that conviction Of the la
mentod Senator.
Il happened that, Ia behalf Of Chica-
40. the duty was assigned inc Of deliver
ing tho welcome address to that patriot
ic Statesman on the occasion of his last
return 90 Chicago, aud indeed Of the last
public appearance of his lite. On the
way to the great Wigwam, devoted to his
reception, the conversation naturally
turned upon the rebellion; and although
do not remember, and do not profcs 10
quote his exact words, | do remember.
aud rover shall forget, their earnest pur-
pose. In his wanted terso aud emphatic
language, he declared that the leading
politicians of the South--thc Southern
conspirators," as he more than once call
ed tbem--wcre alone responsible for tho
war aud for the political suicide OF the
South, and 81 slavery, which il would in
yolvc. No man over uttered more
scnthng denuncintOn oftho,e arch trait
ors than then fell rom tho lips Of Judge
Douglas.
No ullnsion, direct or Indirect, wns
made TO Aboltionists, but the entire In
funny of the causolcss and nccurscd revolt
was placed where il belonged, aud in
fat different latitude from that assigned
To il by some more modern historians.
And from the speech delivered by him
on the OCCASION referred 10, allow me to
make the following extracts, which may
be regarded az the dying utcrauce OF the
patriot, who, few weeks thereafter, laid
in this building in pomp but in the cold
embrace of death, tu receive the lust
homage OF moro than hundred thousand
friends:
"Thc return wa receive IL war, ar
mics marched upon our Capital, obstruc-
ton und dangers TO our navigation, let
tcrs OF marquo 10 invite pirates 10 prey
upon our commerce, n concert movement
10 blot out the United States Of America
from the map OF the globe. The qucs-
ton Is, arc wo 10 maintain the couLtry Of
our iHthCrs, or allow IL to be stricken
down by those who. when they can no
longer govern, threaten to dstroy.
"fhc Slavery question is u mere cS.
rusc. The election OF Lincoln is a mere
p,rtcxt. Tho present Secession muvc-
mcnt Is the result of on enormous con-
spiracy formed more than year since,
formed by leaders in the Southern Con-
d m y more than twelve months age.
"But this is no time for a detail ol
cause. The Conspiracy is now known.
Armies hove bcon raised, war is loavird
10 accomplish It. There nro tnly two
) 8 to the qu',d n. Every man must be
for the United States or against It There
eau be no nculrnls IN this wur, only pa.
riots or traitors.
Such il the incoutrovcrtiblr testimony /
Of the great champ on of the Dcmoc at,c
party 10 tho true origin aud the incvita-
bic effect OF The rebellion. Aud is IL not
rs manfcslly opposed TO the assertions
II some of his profosscd followers now
rs is their present attitude toward the
opposed TO that which rnn-
lercd the close OF his life illuslriOns Tor
patriotism
Thomas u. BRYAN.