The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-04-04
me Lase Letter from Stephen A. Doug.
III. las.

Lieut. EDWIN j. CONWAY, sec y 5.s-
me East Letter from Stephen A. Doug.
The letter subjoined was first published in the
National Intelligencer, of May II, 1861. 1t is
the last public expression of opinion on national
affairs from Senator Douglas
Chicago, May 10, 1851.
Ny DEAR SIR-Being deprived of the use Of
my arms at present by severe attack of the
rheumatism, am compelled to avail myself of
the services of an amanuensis in reply to your
two letters.
It seems that come Of my friends are unable
60 comprehend the difference between arguments
used in favor OF an equitable compromise with
the hope of averting the horrors OF war, and
those urged in support of the Government and
flag of our country, when war is being wsged
against the United States with the avowed pur-
pose of producing permanent disruption Of
the Union and total destruction of the Gov
eminent.
Al hope of compromises sriM the cotton States
was abandoned chen they assumed tue position that
the separation of the Union ,oas complete and final
and that they Meier wo,ld consent to reconstrssc.
ton in any contingency-not ecen if zoe could fur
nish them nth a blank sheet of paper and permit
then, TO prescribe their opn terms.
Still the hope was cherished that reasonable
and satisfactory terms Of adjustment could be
agreed upon with Tennessee, North Carolina and
the border States, and that whatever terms
would prove satisfactory to these States, would
create Union party in the cotton States which
would be powerful enough, at the bsllot box, to
destroy the revolutionary government, and
bring those States back Into the Union BY the
voice of their own people This hope was cher.
ished BY Union men, North and South, and was
never abandoned until actual war was levied al
Charleston, and the authoritative announcement
made by the revolutionary government at Mont
gemery, that the secession flag would be planted
upon the walls of the Capitol at Washington
and proclamation issued, inviting the pirates
Of the world to prey upon the commerce Of the
United States. ss o.l.ea ee..s.r -s+ 80
These startling facts, taken in connection viii
the boas;ful announcement that the ravsges O.
the war and carnage should be quietly transfer
red from the cotton fields of the South to the
wheat fields and corn fields of the North, furnish
conclusive evidence that it was the fixed pur-
pose of the secessionists, utterly to destroy tn.
Government of our fathers, and obliterate tn,
United States from the map of the world.
In view Of this state of facts, there was bu
one path of duty left to patriotic men. II pas no
aparty question, nor 9estian Involving partisa,
xaj.,, - am. n ,ueso, of ooser,,,,,enf ~ On oo,
rs' s,,.,,.,, o~ M .o,.,-., .,d hen.. :; 10
c.ms .hs ;mnsS,tva dn.v of everv nn;on rn su
eros, S.;,d ps .ors,;.n.;one, I;hs,tv - -.lIv :.
shs :nncr. e " T our c"mrson conntrv it, sovs,n
mon, PA a. y, ~ tho onlv mean. nf cSeck;n.
tho n,oa,es. 81 tho revo,nt;on and of nreserv;ne
the union Of the States. 54ts
roI;cv en-, t;noo,r IA h;s C.h;net an
no. in she;r cont;Ssnce 40 vou and the Who'll,
conrt,r or,st =" ha s,e cr ..;,5.. ~
sunnor;.r of N. .or,;so, ,,oev nor ono1sc;s, Eo
t6s error. of III AJ,a;,.;.,ro,;o. NJ n,ev;ou
rel.t;ons En- ,he~, ~, wv ,,n.h.na.d. ~, ,rus
the time win never "ons -hsp ! .h.,I M. =.
willing to make An, nseds,, sscr;e.a &c narsons
feeling and party nol;cr ca .ha honn. ~ nd ~,
tepritv of nv country, '-SAo' $50
iknop OF no mode b. ,o.;e5 = ,o,,, .;,;z.n .no,
10 NH demonstrate his ioroI,,, =, u. .,s,' =. :
n.sfa;,ino the fao. the Con.;,;o., ,.J 49, r..
.snder ali circurnstancs, and ..S.. -. ~.
trahon ireoardless of partv ,o,;,;.. 70 nas =
as,ailants, at home and o5road H. as "ans -
CLAW and Webster toward the xam; ~; soa;se