Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-30
Senator Douglas Letter.

ON the % of February, 1861. Senator Doug
las wrote letter to the Memphis Appeal. in
answer to an editoria. in that paper This letter
evinces the Senator remarkable political sagaci
ty and foresight. and is well worthy of a repro
duction at this time. Mr.. Douglas wrote
MEssRs. EDrroRs-I have this morning read
with amszement an editorial in yonr paper of the
30th ultimo. in which YOU assume that | am
"iayoring the immediate withdrawal Of the re-
manning States from the Confederacy as peace
measure, TO avert the horrors of civil war, and
with the view of reconstruction a constitutional
basis" implore you by all those kind relations
which have so long existed between US. and
which still cherish with much pleasure and
gratitude. to do me the justice promptly to cor
rect the unaccountable error into which you have
been led.
In regard to secession, whether viewed as
governmental theory or as a matter of political
expediency, l have never had but one opinion,
nor uttered but one laDguage-that Of unqual-
fed opposition Nothing can be so fatal to the
peace of the country, so destructive of the Union
and all hopes of reconstruction, as the secession
of Tennessee and the border States under exist
ing circumstances. You must remember that
there are disuniOnists among the men whose hos
tlity slavery is stronger than their fidelity TO
the Constitution and who believe that the dis
ruption of the Union would draw after it, as an
inevitable consequence. civil war, servile insur-
recton and finally, the utter determination of
slavery in all the Southern States They are
bold, daring, determined men, and, believing, as
they do that the Constitution OF the United
States is the great bulwark of slavery this
continent, and that the disruption of the Ameri-
can Union involves the inevitable destruction of
slavery, and is an indispensable necessity to the
attainment of that end. they are determined to
accomplish their paramount object by any means
within their power
For these reasons the Northern dsunionists,
like the lisunionists of the South, are violently
opposed to all compromises or constitutional
amendments, or efforts at Cancellation whereby
peace should be restored and the Union preserved.
They are striving 10 break uD the Union under
the pretense of unbounded devotion to it; they
are struggling to overthrow the Constitution,
while protesting undying attachment to 1t, and
willingness TO make lny sacrifice TO maintain II;
they trying TO plunge the country into civil
war, as surest means of destroying the Union.
upon the plea OF enforcing the laws and protect
ing the public property" Ii they can defeat
every kind OF adjustment compromise by
which the points at issue may be satisfactorily
settled. aud keep up the irritation, to induce
the Border States TO follow the Cotton States,
they will feel certain of the accomplishment of
their ultimate designs. Nothing will crafty
them much, contribute effectually TO
their success, as the secession of Tennessee and
the Border States Every State that withdraws
from the Union increases the relative power OF
northern abolitionists to defeat satisfactory ad
justment, and to bring on a war, which sooner or
later must end in final separation and recognition
of the independence of the two contending sec.
tons
IT, on the contrary Tennessee, North Carroll
ma and the Border States will remain in the
Union and will unite with the conservative and
Union-oving men of all parties in the North, in
the adoption OF such a compromise as will be
alike honorable safe and just TO the people of all
the States. peace and fratcrnal feeling will soon
return, and the Cotton States will come back
aud the Union be rendered perpetual. Pardon
the repetition; but that cannot be too strongly
impressed upon all who love our country, seces.
sion and war will be the destruction not only of
the present Union but will blast all hopes of re
construction upon constitutional basis.
| am, very truly, your friend,
). A. DOUGLAS.