The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-02-27
Stephen A. Douglas.

able speech IN the Yankee Congress
against the whole policy of the Yankee
Government. aud III favor of peace and
the immediate recognition of the Confcd-
crate States. In the course of his re-
marks lie made the following statement
respecting the late $. A. Douglas:
Mr. Speaker, that eminent and far see
ing statesman, the late Judge Douglas,
avowcd TO me in April preceding his
death, his solemn conviction that our po-
litcal union was at an end. violated
no confidence i'll repeating bis opinions,
since he assured me it was his purpose to
publish his views ut AN early day; and if
the sequel of his life may seem in con-
tict 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 a
peaceful though il might be a revolution.
airy solution of our national troubles
Judge Douglas, on that occasion, read to
me an elaborate essay that he told me
had cost him more thought and labor
than any work of his life; that he feared
it was too long, and he wished both 10
abridge and simplify it, so that it might
be read and understood by all; that he
would revise it at Chicago and then give
it TO his countrymen.
That essay ascribed our present situa-
ton to the aggressive spirit of Northern
abolitionism. 1t declared his conviction
that the union Of our States rs originally
formed and maintained was finally de-
antl1
ist again between the free and slavehold-
ing States; that snch an idea must be
abandoned, and commercial union,
founded upon the plan geneneralIy of the
zoll-verein of the States of Germany be
accepted as the only practicable arrange
ment to secure peace now and hereafter.
The mastery paper, every word of which
i heard read by himself, and which since
his death | have endeavored in vain to
procure for the benefit OF its wise coun-
sells to our countrymen, fully explained
the plan, operation, and results OF the
zoll-verein, and showed how, with certain
notifications, il could be adapted to sus
tain all those principal causes and influ
ences which have hitherto made the
United States the happest and most pros
porous Of nations.
Mr.. May concluded his speech by read
ing the following resolutions, which he
intended to offer for adoption:
Whereas, The deplorable civil war now
existing between the States heretofore
comprising our Union, has failed TO re-
store it, and, if continued longer, will de-
stroy all hope of its reconstruction in the
future, as originally formed and main
tanned by our Federal constitution, and no
other political Union is either desirable
or practicable; and, whereas, the inter-
ests of humanity, of civilization, and the
future Of free Constitutional Government,
all concur in requiring that this dreadful
contest OF arms should be terminated:
Therefore, be it
RsSolved, |. That it is the duty of Con-
gress at once to appoint - commission
ers to effect an armstice between the
contending armies, and to secure-peace
at al. events.
3 The said commissioners be empow.
cred, by compromise, to restore the UNI
ion if possible; but if not, then to arrange
the terms Of peaceful separation from
the Union, as well of those States which
now claim to have seeded as of such
others as by the will of their people in SOW
ereign conventions assembled, may here
after ordain to secede; and that said COM
missioners be solemnlv enjoined so to
conduct their negotiations as to secure,
by every proper and honorable means, it
practicable, a more harmonious and per-
manent reunion Of all the States in COM
mercial if not political system.
3. That said commissioners make a
report OF their transactions to Congress
as soon as possible, in order that such
legislation may be provided as may be
necessary to assemble the people of the
several States in convention to determine
their action in the premises.
4. That in the event OF refusal by
the Government of the United States to
secure peace and the only hope Of a re-
union upon the terms and by the means
herein recommended, or 10y some other
practicable plan, it is hereby recommend
ed to the governments of the several
States now composing the Union at once
to take measures to effect these objects