Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-10-09

offensive prosecution of the present war tends
to the overthrow of the Constitution and
subversion of the liberties of the people"
Surely with such a record yours will not
have the presumption to call itself patriots
party-it can be none than traitors party
Not that all who affiliate with it are traitors
in fact or in sympathy, but that many
IRE, in FACT and more, in their SYM
pathies. Still in another sense is yours
a traitors party. Were jeff. Davis or
Robert Toombs or Gen. Lee to vote in Iowa,
on the 18th of October, they could not vote
with us-but would vote with that other
party more nearly allied to them. Our party
proposes to crush and punish those men
they surely would not vote for OUR candidates,
pledged to such policy. Your party pro-
poses to them generous and magnanimous
terms of peace and compromise" they
not vote for and with the THEIR most gener-
Gus friends? Yours is the only party that
gives aid and comfort to traitors-why should
We hesitate, judging by Mr.. Douglas rule, in
calling yours the the traitors party.
On the 10th day of May, 1861, the lament
cd Douglas, for whom, sir, you voted in
November, 1860, was upon his death bed. and
in letter written to the Chairman of the
Democratic State Central Committee of Hi
nois, made his last bequeathal to the Democ-
racy of that State, and the country. That
Tie only question which is now open for dis
cussion may be fairly stated and understood.
ask your attention to portion of that letter,
as follows:
In view Of this state of facts, there was
BUT ONE PATH OF DUTY LEFT TO
PATRIOTIC MEN. 1t was no. party qnes-
on, nor question involving partisan policy;
il was a question of Government or no Gov
, ernment, countr or no country; and hence
it became the imperative duty of every Union
man, every friend of constitutional liberty, to
rally to the support of our common country,
its Government and flag, as the only means of
'hecIing the progress of the revolution and
| Of preserving the union of the States.
am unable to answer your question as to
the policy Of Mr.. Lincoln and his Cabinet. l
am not in their confidence, as you and the
whole country out to be aware. am neither
the supporter of the partisan policy, nor apol-
ogiSt for the errors of the Administrations
Ny previous relations to them remain un-
| changed; but I trust the time vil nerer come
cohea shall not be aciiiinQ to make any per-
sonal feeling and party feeling and party
policy for the hoaor and integrity IF my
country.
zen may so well demonstrate his loyalty to his
country as by sustaining the flag, the Consti-
| tuition and the Union, under all circumstances
and under every Administration, (regardless
of party politics. AGAINST all assailants, at
home and abroad. THE COURSE OF CLAY
AND WEBSTER TOWARD THE ADMIN
ISrRATION OF GEN. JACKSON, IN THE
DAYS OF MULTIPLICATION, PRESENTS
A NOBLE AND WORTHY EXAMPLE FOR
ALL TRUE PATRIOTS.
At the very moment when that fearful crisis
was preciptated upon the country, partisan
strife between Wings and Democrats 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 Republi
cans. But the moment an enemy arose in
our m DIST, plotting he ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
the Union and the destruction of the govern
.nent 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 eventful peri
I'd the great leaders of the Opposition, ink
ing The partizan in the patriot, rushed to the
support Of the Government and became it,
ahl st and bravest defenders against all asSail
ants until the conspiracy was crushed and
abandoned, when they returned to their po
sitions as party leaders upon political Issues
Thse acts of patriotic devotion have never
neen deemed ev dences of in6deli'y or poiti
cal treachery, on the part of Clay and Web
>ter, to the principles and organization of the
old Wing party. Nor have / any apprehen-
sion that the firm and unanimous support
which the Den ocratic leaders and masses are
now giving to the Coz stitution and the Union
will ever be deemed evidence of nfideity to
Democratic principles, or want of loyalty to
the organiza ion and creeds of the Democrat
ic party. Tace hope to regain and perpetu-
tie the 0scendency Of our party, Ue should
y
DEMOCRAT UNLESS he IS A LOYAL PATRIOT.
With the sincere hope that these my con
victi ns, may coincide with those of my
friends, l am, very truly, yours,
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS
To VIRGIL H1cKoK, Esq, Chairman State
Democratic Committee.
There is still but one question before the
American people, and that is mot party
question, nor question involving partisan pol
icy; tits a question of Government or no Gov
eminent, country or no country" The Union
party maintains the affirmative of this qucs-
ton. If you would discuss it with us, you
must maintain its negative, thus again prov
ing yours to be the traitors party. If you
maintain its affirmative, then there is nothing
Tor US to discuss. To discuss this great ques-
ton, paramount to all others, with party
maintaining its negative, during time Of war
to the prosecution Of which all the energies
of the whole people should be given, would
and ought to bring upon our party the su-
premest contempt of every patriotic person in
the land Upon my own responsibility as the
repre- entative organ of the Union party in
this county, have no hesitancy in declining
your invitation in the most peremptory man.
ner, with an expression of my most detested
opinion for the party that would PROPOSE to
discuss WHETHER and HOW the integrity of the
American Union shall be maintained, when
that Union is being assaulted and its existence
in deadly peril.
Such discussion would be productive of
no good, as the minds of our party are re-
solved to stand by the Constitution, the Union
and its flag, come veal or woe, in life,
in daoth ond IN Y;ctorv re- thoro h. INV, -