Year: 1861

1


The following letter from Senator Douglas,


appeals in the National lnteligencer.


CHICAGO, May 10Th.


My DEAR SIR. Being deprived Of the use ol


my arms ior the present, by a severe attack Of
rheumatism, am compelled to avail myself of
the services of am amanuensis in reply to your
| two letters. .. ....
1t seems that some OF my friends are unable
to comprehend the difference between argu
ments used in favor OF an equitable compro-


mise with the hope Of averting the horrors OF


war, and those urged in support OF the Govern
ment and the Tag of our country when war is
heing waged against the United States W ith
the avowed purposes of producing permanent
disruption OF the Union and total destruction
of its Government. .a......-


All hope Of compromise with the Cotton
States was abandoned when they assumed the
position that the separation Of the Unon was
complete and final, and that they would never
consent to a reconstruction in any contingency
not even if we would furnish them with a
blank sheet Of p per and permit them to in
scribe their own terms.


Still the hope was cherished that reasonable
and satisfactory terms OF adjustment could be
agreed upon with Tennessee, North Carolina
and the Border States, and that whatever terms
would prove satisfactory 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 Government,
and bring those States back into tie Union by
The voice OF their own prople. This hope was
cherished by Union men North and South, and
was never abandoned until actual war was lev
led at Charleston, and the authoritative an
nouncemert made by the revolutionary govern
ment at Montgomery that the Secession flag
should be planted upon the walls Of the Capitol
at Washington, and proclamation issued itv-
ting the pirates Of the world to prey upon the
commerce OF the United States.


These startling facts, taken in connection
with the boastiul announcement that tie raw
ages Of war and catnrge ,houd be Quickly trans
erred from the cotton fields OF the Svuth to The
wheat fields and corn fields of the North; fur
nish conclusive evidence that it was the fixed
purpose OF the Secessonsts utterly to destroy
he Government Of our fathers, and obiterate
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 the patriot men. 1t
was not party question, nor question ihvolv-
ing partisan policy; 1t was question Of Gov
eminent or no Government, country or no
country; and hence it became the imperative
duty of every Union man. every friend Of con-
stitutional libeety. to Tally to the support of
our common country, its Government and flag
as the only means of checking the progress Of
revolution an. of preserving the Union OF the
States.


l am unable to answer your questions in res
pect to the policy of Mr.. Lincoln and his Cabi
net. am not in their confidence, as you and
the whole country ought to te aware, am
neither the supporter Of the partisan policy nor
The apologi,t Tor the errors Of the Administra
ton. My previous relations to theih femafl
unchanged; but trust the time will lever
come when | shall not he willing TO make any
needful sacrifice of personal feeling and party
policy for the honor and integrity Of my country.


know Of no mode by which a loyal citizen
may so well demonstrate his devotion 10 his
country, as by sustaining the Flag, the Consti-
tuition and the Union under all circumstances,
and under every Administration, regardless of
party poltics,) against all assailants at home or
abroad The course oi Clay and Webster to-
wards the administration Of General Jackson,
in the day of notification, presents a noble
and worthy example for all true patriots. At
the very moment when that fearful crisis was
precipitated upon the country, partisan STRIFE
between Wings and Democrats was quite as
bitter and relentless as now between Democrats
and Republicans.


The guilt which separated party leaders in
those days was quite as broad and deep as that
which now sepal ates the Democracy from the
Republicans. But the moment an enemy rose
in our midst, plotting the dismemberment Of
the Union and the destruction OF the Govern
ment the voice of partisan strife was husbed
IN patriotic silence. One Of the brightest chap
tiers in the history O: our country will record
the fact that during this eventful period, the
great leaders Of the Opposition, sinking the
partisan in the patriot, rushed to the support OF
the Government, and became its abest and
brayest defenders against all assailants until
the conspiracy was crushed and abandoned,
when the, resumed their former positions az
party leaders upon political Isl ues.


These acts o. patriotic devotion have never
been deemed evidences Of infdelity or political
treachery, on the par, Of Clay and Webster to
the principles and organization Of the old Wbig
party Nor have any apprehension that the
firm and unanimous support which the leaders
and masses are now giving to the Constitution
and the Union will ever be deemed evidences Of
infdeIily to Democratic principles. or want Of
| loyalty TO the organization and creed ot the
| Democratic party. If we hope to regain and
perpetuate The asceudency of cur ty, we
should never forget that a man cannot be a
| true Democ, at unless he is loyal patriot.
| With the sincere tofe that these my consei


encious convictions may coincide with those Of
my friends, am very truly, yours,


STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
To VIRGIL HIcox. ESQ,


Chairman STATE Democratic Committee.
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| n|ss-Tha Carol Fee Press contains the au-