Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-09-19
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR
Patriotism Before Party.
TINT LATE SENATOR DOUGLAS
ON THE DUTY OF THE
DEMOCRATS.
His Latest Legacy TO his Party.

arms at present, by a severe attack OF
rheumatism, | am compelled to avail'my-
self OF the services of an amanuensis In
reply to your two letters.
1t seems that some of my friends are
unable TO comprehend the difference be-
tween arguments used in favor of an
equitable compromise with the hope of
/ averting the horrors Of war. and those
argued in support of the Government
and flag Of our country, when war IS
being waged against the United States
with the avowed purpose of producing
permanent disruption Of the Union and
total destruction of the Government.
All hope of compromise with the Cot
ton States was abandoned when they as
sumed the position that the separation Of
the Union was complete and final, aud
that they would never consent to a recon
strnction in any contingency-not even If
we would furnish them with a blank
sheet of paper and permit them to in
scribe their own terms.
Still the hope was cherished that rea-
sonabea nd satisfactory terms of adjust
ment could be agreed upon with Tennes
see, North Carolina and the border States
and whatever terms would seem satifac-
tory to these loyal States would create
a Union party in the cotton States which
would be powerful enough at the ballot
box to destroy the revolutionary govern
ment. and bring those States back into
the Union by the voice Of their own
people. This hope was cherished by
Union men North aud south, and was
never abandoned until actual war was
evied at Charleston, aud the authorita-
tive announcement made by the revoIu-
tionary government at Montgomery, that
the secession flag would be planted
upon the walls of the Capitol at Wash
in"ton, and proclamation issued invi-
ting the pirates of the world to prey
upon the commerce of the United
States.
These startling facts, taken in connec
ton with the boastful announcement that
the ravaces of war and carnage should
he quickly transferred from the cotton
fields Of tho South to the wheat fields
and corn fields Of the North, furnished
conclusive evidence that it was the fixed
purpose of the secessionists utterly to
destroy the Government of our fathers,
and obliterate the United States from the
map of the world.
In view of this state of facts there
was BUT ONE PATH OF DUTY
LEFT TO PATRIOTIC MEN. 1t
was not party question, nor question
involving partizan policy; it was ques-
ton of government or no government,
country or 10 country: and hence it be-
came the imperative duty of every IN
ion man. overy fr;ond Of constitutional
liberty, to rally 10 the support of our
common country, its government and
fiag, as tie only means Of checking the
progress Of the revolution and of pre-
serving the union Of the States.
am unable to answer Your question
, as to The policy of Mr.. Lincoln and Cab
met. | am not in their confidence, as
YOU and the whole country ought to be
aware. l am neither the supporter Of
the partizan policy, nor the apologist fog
the errors of the Administration. Ny
previous relations to them remain ua-
changed; bat I trust tie time aCW aetcy
come achen I shall not be aDilliag to
make any personal feeling and party
policy TOR tie honor ard Integrity ofnay
country.
know Of no mode by which loyal
citizen may so well demonstrate his 10y
, atty to bis country as by sustaining the
flag, the Constitution and the Union, I'M
der all circumstances and under every
Administration, (yegardIoos Of party pol
itics,) against all assailants, Mt home and
: abroad. THE COURSE OF CLAY
AND WEBSTER TOWARD THE
ADMINISTRATION OF GENERAL
JACKSON, IN TIE DAYS OF
NULLtFlCATION, PRESENTS A
NOBLE AND WORTHY EXAMPLE
FOR ALL TRUE PATRIOTS.
At that very momdent when that fear
ful crisis was precipitated upon the coun-
, Try, partizan strife between Wings and
Democrats was quite as bitter and relent-
less as now between the Democrats and
Republicans. The gulf which separated
party leaders in those days was quite as
broad and deep as that which now sepe
rates the Democracy from the Republi-
cans. But an enemy arose in our midst,
plotting the dislnemberment of the I'm
ion and the distraction of our govern
ment, the voice of partizan strife was
hushed in patriotic silence One of the
brightest chapters in the history of our
country will record the fact that during
this eventual period the great leaders Of
the Opposition, sinking the partizan in
the patriot, rushed TO the support of the
Government, and became its ablest and
bravest defenders against all assailants
until the conspiracy was crushed and
abandoned when they returned to their
positions as party leaders upon political
issues
These facts of patriotic devotion have
never been deemed evidences of infideli-
~ or political treacheyy, on the part of
Clay and Webster, to the principles and
organization of the old Wing party
Nor have | any apprehension that the
firm and unanimous support which the
Z Democratic lpa1nrs and mossos ara now