Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1863-03-05
sV'Oa'fEse2.aS .N'eeUS.
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.

Hon. Henry May, Of Baltimore,
made very able speech in the u
S. Congress, against the whole poll.
cy of the Government, and in favor
of pesce and the immediate recogDi-
ton Of the Confederate States. In
the course Of bis remarks, he made
the following statement respecting
the late S. A Douglas:
Mr.. Speaker, that eminent and
(ar-seeing statesman, the la:e Judge
Douglas, avowed to me in April pre-
ceding his death, his solemn conyic-
lion that our political union was at
an end. ! violate no confidence in
repeating his opinions, since he as
sured me it was his purpose to pub
lish his views at an early day /; and
if the sequel of his life may seem in
conflict with these views, there are
those among his personal friends here
on this floor, who can reconcile his
conduct, and show the conformity Of
his plans with u peaceful though it
might be a revolutionary solution of
our national troubles. Judge Doug
las, on that occasion, read TO me an
elaborate essay that he told me bad
cost him more thought and labor Than
any work of his life; that be feared
it was too long, and he wished both
to abridge and simplify it. as that it
might be read and understood by all;
that be would revise it at Chicago
and then give it TO bis country men.
Death, alas denied this most patri.
otic design.
That essay ascribed our present
situation TO the aggressive spirit OF
Northern abolitionists. 1T declared
his conviction that The union of our
States as originally formed and maiu.
tanned was finally destroyed. and no
political union could exist again be-
tween the free and slaveholdiug States;
that such an idea must be abandoned
and a commercial uuion, founded up.
on the plan generally of the zolAyeT-
Elm of the States of Germany, be ac-
cepted as the only practical arrange
men. to secure peace now and here
after. The mastery paper, every
VOID of which heard read by HIM
self, and which since his death have
endeayored in vain to procure for the
benefit Of it's wise counsels to our
couutrymen, fully explained the plan,
operations, and results of the zoll-
vereiu, and showed how, with certain
mod fcatioIs, it could be adapted to
sustain all these principal causes and
influences which have hitherto made
the United States the happiest and
most prosperous of nations.
Mr.. May concluded his speech by
reading the following resolutions,
which he intended to offer for adop-
tion:
Whereas, The deplotable civil
war now existing between the States
heretofore comprising our Union has
failed to restore it, and, it continued
longer, will destroy oil hope of lis
restoration in the future, as original
" formed and maintained by our Fed
eral Constitution, and no other po
litical q MON is eiiher desirable orprac
licable; aud, whereas, the interests
of humanity, of civilization, and tht
future of free Constitutional Gov
eminent, all concur in requiring thai
this dreadful contest oi arms shoult
be terminated Therefore,
Be it Resolved, j That it is tint
duty of Congress to appoint com
missioaers to effect an armIstlce be
] tween the contendiDg armies, and t
secure peace at all events
9. That said commissioners b'
empowered, by compromise,tO restor'
the Union il possible; bet II NOT
then to arrange the terms of a peace
ful separation from the Union, as vel
/, of those States which now claim t.
have seeded, as of such others al
by The will OF their people IN so'er
eisn conventions assembled, MAJ
hereafter ordain to secede; and tina
said commissioners be solemnly en-
ioined so to conduct their negotla
tions as to secure, BY every. prope
). and honorable means, II prhcticaoie
harmonious and permanent reunion
of all the States 10 commercial II
not a political system. :.
~ ~ a ~ noy, poicstnpcrs ma x