Year: 1861

The following is the letter of Senator
DOUGLAS to the editor of the Memphis
appeal, which contradicts the statement in
that paper that be was in favor of the
immediate withdrawal of the border slave
States from the Union:


WASHINGTON, February


MEssRs. EDITORS: have this moment read
with amazement an editorial in your paper of
the 30th ult, in which you assume that am
'favOrlDg the immediate withdrawal of the re-
naming States from the Confederacy, as a
peace measure, to avert the horrors of civil
war, and with the view of reconstruction on q
constitutional basis" I implore you by all
those kind relations which have so long existed
between us, and which l still cherish with so
much pleasure and gratitude, to do me the
justice promptly to correct the unaccountable
error into which you have been led. In regard
to secession. whether viewed as government.
al theory or as matter of political expediency,
l have never had but one opinion, nor uttered
but one Ianguage-that of unqualified opposi.
tlon. Nothing can be so fatal to the peace of
the country, SO destructive of the Union, and
OF all hopes OF reconstruction. as the secession
OF Tennessee and the border States under ex-
listing circumstances.


You must remember that there are Disunion-
lists among the party leaders at the North as
well as at the SOuth-men whose hostility to
slavery is stronger thau their fidelity to the
Constitution, and who believe that the disrup.
ton of the Union would draw after it, as an in
evltable consequence. civil war, servile insur.
rectlon, 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 on this
continent, and that the disruption of the Amer
lean Union involves the inevitable destruction
OF slavery and ia N ipdiSpp 40 la %
the attainment OF that end, they are deter
mined to accomplish their paramount obiact
by any means within their power.


For these reasons, the Northern Disunionists,
ike the Dlsunionists of the South, are violent
lY opposed to all compromises or Constitution
al amendments, or efforts at Cancellation,
whereby peace should be restored and the
Union preserved. They are striving to break
up the Union, under the pretense OF unbound
ed devotion to it. They are struggling to over.
lnrow the constitution while protesting undy-
ing attachment to it and willingness to make
any sacrlhce to maintain it. They are trying
| to plunge the country into civil war as the
surest means of destroying the Union, upon
the plea of enforcing the laws and protecting
the puDhc property. If they can defeat every
the points at issue may be satisfactorily settled,
ana keep up the irritation, so as to induce the
Border States to follow the Cotton States, they
Will feel certain Of the accomplishment of their
olIilldte ueSIgus


Nothing will crafty them so much, or con-
tribute so efiectually 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 Abo.
litlonlsts to defeat satisfactory adjustment,
ana TO bring on war which sooner or later
must end in final separation and recognition of
the independence of the two contendipg Sec
TONS; If, on the contrary, Tennessee, North
Car01lna and the Border States will remain in
the Union, and will unite with the conservative
ana Union loving men of all parties in the North
IN the adoption OF such compromise as will be
ailke honorable, safe and just to the people of
all the States, peace and fraternal feeling will
soon return and the Cotton States come back,
and the Union be rendered perpetual.


Pardon the repetition, but it can not be too
strongly impressed upon all who love our
country, that secession and war will be the
destruction not only of the present Union, but
will blast all hopes of reconstruction upon a
constitutional basis. trust you will do me
the justice to publish this note in your next
issue. lam, very truly. your friend,


s. A. DOUGLAS.