Year: 1862

expeuientS OF party 10 acquire influence


within particular districts i, to misrepre-


sent the opinions and aims OF other dis /
tricts. You cannot shield too much a.
gainst the jealousies and heartburnings


which spring from these misrepresenta-


tions; they tend to render alien to each
other those who ought to be bound logeth-
er by fraternal affection His advice was
the very opposite to yours. He did not


state to one section that they should look
to "their interest"


During the administration Of Jefferson
and jackson parties assumed sectional


character, but they met with no favor from


these men-these bright lights of Democ-


racy. The monster sectionslism was
! throttled by them as soon as it exhibited


its hideous defornnity in any tangible form,


and like Washington they counseled to re-


sist with care the spirit of innovation mp


on the principles of the Government, how


ever specious the pretext." Sir-I have


read the history of those great men to very


little purpose, if, from their example or


precepts one can learn that any man has


right to be sectional. let alone Democrat.
7 am aware that within the last few years
the Democrats honored man with high
position but utterly failed to make him
Democrat who held in one of his messa-


gee ''that the Federal Government had no
constitutional right to prevent State from
seeding" But for this he acquired the


soaJriquet of the Great Criminal!" and is


now held as hiss AID by word by all


lovers of their country. / am aware, also.


that by the weight Of his position and Off


cial patronage he endeavored to carry over


the Democratic party to those views, which


finally eliminated at Fort Sumter; being


willing--if need be-to sacrifice his Coy
ernment in order to wreak his vengeance


on the head of him whom the Democracy


delighted to hoEor. and to whom they


looked for counsel in the hour Of trouble.


Rumor has told me that he sent his friend


10 the State OF Indiana to become his gu


bernatorial candidate, but who. On personal


examination. finding tn party uncorrupt-


ed, concluded TO abandon the notions
of his master. AMI ran as a candidate for
that high Office on the platform provided


for him by those who followed the lead of
the great Douglas; whose every breath. as
we'll as his last was for his country as it
was-uncontaminated by anything border
ing on sectionaism or secessionism. If
this be soft rumor for once was true-I
can readily perceive why it is that that
man would now counsel that the West
should take care of her interests and un-
blushingly in the face of the enemy of his
country proclaim himself sectional man.
True to the teachings he had received at
Washington he could not DO otherwise.
. Has it ever occurred to you. that after a
man has permitted himself to talk against
his Government, or the administration
while the Government is at war, and in ia
vor of its enemy. that unless he be a cow
, ard. he soon becomes an actor against his
Government, and that that action is rebel
liop, and he traitor? 1t appears to me
you could never have reflected on this-or
: you would not have made that speech--at
least this is the charitable view | would
: wish to take OF the case. and hope you will
explain yourself at the first opportunity.


You may rest assured do not over es;i-


ma.e the importance of that speech when


inform you that it has given great aid and


comfort to the rebel cause. and done in
! ealculable mischief to the cause of good or
der at home. and this, too, all in the name
of Democracy. As a member Of that time


honored party | protest against all such


dreadful heresies. Were we at peace-were
, there no formidable force in arms against
us--and the administration was advoca-
! ting policy which you felt inclined 20 op-
!, pose. wonld consider it aot only your
,, right but duty. to follow such inclination
Under such circumstances the Admins


tration is, in fact. the Government. and to


loppose it in its efforts TO put down the re-
bellion. you give aid and comfort to that
e foe. and become an enemy to that Govern
ment; and perehance should find yourself
an inmate of Fort Lafayette; would ask
!, If you would have any good cause to COM
= plain of your Incarceration, or of the sus-
: pension of the writ of hab.as corpus, so
! long. at least as there was any rebel taint


about the robes Of judicial officers.


!, You will allow me to say to you that in
b writing this letter l am actuated by no feel


ing Of hostility to you personally. The
war make is against your published SEN
( timents, and that. too. when you set your
: self mp as q teacher. These proclaimed
a sentiments of yours 1 suppose to be those
e iofyour immediate workers, and if there
is anything peculiar disagreeab!e about the
the medium they have chosen through which
r Ito make them known. surely those who
take exceptions to your teachings cannot
be in any way to blame.


have no desire to enter the political
arena. Bat these are stirring times. when
I believe it is the duty Of every man to
show himself. allowing his fellows to see


what ground he occupies in relation to this
great subject--and as l have no desire to
be taken in wholesale into the camp of the
enemy Of my country. / deem it my duty
to myself. st least. to address you this let
ter. so that one of the State may not be
caused to occupy q false position. AMI that
you may have an opportunity to explain
,, yourself. if you will--simply remind ing
you that in the beginning Of their course
Breckinridge and Buckner commenced as
you have. an were fnalI! landed in the