Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-09-18
Douglas Last Letter.
THE following is supposed to be the
las, political appeal of the late Senator
Douglas, shortly before he died. Read it,
aud show it to Douglas friends

Auu ouUW ~ " Dco
CHICAGO, May 10, 1861.
! NV DEAR SIR: Being deprived of the
use Of my arms at present, by u severe
: attack IF the rheuma,ism, | am compelled
to avail myself of the services of au amau.
ucns's in rep TO your two letters.
/ Ii seems that some of my friends are
unable to comprehend a difference, bet ween
arguments used iu favor Of an equitable
compromise with the hope Of averlIng the
horrors of war, aud those urged in supper,
of the government and flg Of our country
when war is being waged against the U )
with the svowed purpose Of producing a
permanent disruption of the Union aui q
total destruction of the Government.
All 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 never would consent to reconstruc.
tiou in any contiugency-no even if We
would furnish them with q blauk sheet Of
piper, aud We permit them to inscribe
their own terms.
I Still, the hope was cherished, that rea.
souabie and satisfactory terms of adjust
ment could be agreed upon with Tennes.
see, North Carolina, and the border States,
aud that whatever terms would prove
satisfactory to these loyal States would
create q Union party in the cotton States
which would be powerful enough at the
ballot box to destroy the revolutionary
government, aud bring these States back
into the Union by the voice of their own
people. THIS hops was cherished, By
Union men north aud south, and was new
er abanduned until actual war was levied
at Charleston, and the authoritative an
nouucement made, by the revolutionary
government as Montgomery, that the
Secession flag would be planted upon the
walls Of the Capitol at Washington, and
a proclamation issued inviting the pirates
of the world to prey upon the commerce Of
the United States.
| These startling facts, taken in counec.
tion with the boastful announcement that
the ravages Of war aud carnage should be
quickly transferred from the cotton fields
of the South, to the wheat fields aud corn
fields of the North, furnish conclusive evil
dence that it was the fixed purpose of the
Secessionists utterly to destroy the gov.
ernmeut Of our fathers, aud obliterate the
United States from the map Of the werld.
IL view Of this state Of facts, there was
but one path Of duty left to patriotic men g.
1t was not party question, nor question
involving partizan policy it was qucs-
ton Of government or NO government,
country or no country; aud hence it be-
came the imperative duty of every Union
man, every friend Of constitutional liberty,
to rally to tie support Of our common
country, its government and flag, as the
only means Of checking the progress Of the
revolution and preserving the Union of
the States.
an unable to answer your question as
to the policy Of Mr.. Lincoln aud his Cab
met. an not in their confidence, as you
and the whole country ought to be aware.
| am neither the supporter Of the partizan
policy nor apologist Cor the errors of the
Administration. My previous relations to
them remain unchanged but trust the
time will never come when | shall not be
willing to make any personal sacrifice of
party feeling and party policy for the hon.
or and integrity OF my conntry.
| know Of no mode by which loyal
citizen may so we'll demonstrate his loyal.
ty to his country as by sustaining the flag,
the Constitution and the Unisn, under all
circumstances and under every Admins.
tration, (regardless Of party politics }
against all assailants, at home and abroad.
The course of Clay aud Webster toward
the Administration of Gen. Jackson, in
the days of Notification, presents a noble
and worthy example for ali true patriots
AT the very moment when that fearful
crisis was precipitated upon the country,
partisan strife between " higs and Demo-
Gratis 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
from the Republicans. But the moment
an enemy arose in our midst, plotting dis
memberment of the Union and the destruc-
tion OF the Government, the voice of par
tisan strife was hushed into patriotic ST.
lence. One Of the brightest chapters in
the history Of our country will record the
fact, that, during this eventful period, the
great leaders of the Opposition, sinking
the partisan in the patriot, rushed to the
support Of the Government, and become
its ablest and bravess defenders against all
assailants, until the conspiracy vas crush
cd and abandoned, when they returned to
their positions % party leaders upon poll.
ticsl issues.
These acts Of patriotic devotion have
never been deemed evidence of infidelity
or political treachery, on the part Of Clay
and Webster, to the principles and organ
izatioo Of the old Whig party. Nor have
any apprehension that the firm and
unanimous support which the Democratic
leaders and masses are now giving to the
Constitution and the Union will ever be
deemed evidence of in6delity to Democrat
10 principles, or want of loyalty to the
organisation and creed Of the Democratic
party. lfw hope to regain aud perpeta-
ate the ascendeucy Of our party, We should
never forget that man can not bo true
Democrat unless he is loyal patriot.
With the sincere hope that these, my
CON Victions NAV coipcida vith those of m %