Year: 1861

las.


A friend Of Senator Douglas has hand
ed to the National Intelligencer for publ
cation copy Of the following letter from
him on the state Of tho country.


CHICAGO, May 10, 1861.


My DEAR Sin Being deprived Of the
use Of my arms for the present by Sc.
we're attack Of the rhcum atism, I am com
PEELED to avail myself of the services Of an
amanuensis in replying to your two let.
ters.


1t seems that some Of my friends are
unable to comprehend the difference be.
tween argument used in favor of any
equitable compromise, with the hope OF
avertlng the horrors Of war, and those
urged in support Of the Government and
nag Of our country, when war is being
waged against the United States with the
a,vowed purpose Of producing perm anent
disruption Of the Union and total dc.
struction of its Government.


al hope OF a compromise with the Cot.
ton States was abandoned when they as.
sumed the position that the separation o.
the Union was complete and final, and thai
they would never consent TO a recon
struction IN any contingency-not even i
we would furnish them with o blank
sheet Of paper and permit them to inscribe
their own terms.


Still the hope was cherished that rea.
sonable and satisfactory terms of adjust
ment could be agreed upon with Tennes.
see, North Carolina and the Border States
and that whatever terms would be salts
factory to these loyal States, would create
Union party in the Cotton States pow
eriul enough at the ballot box to DESTROY
Revolutionary Government, and bring
those States back into the Union by the
voice OF their own people. This hope
was chersed by the Union men North and
South, and never abandoned until actual
war was levied at Charleston, and the au.
thoritative announcement made by the
Revolutionary Government at Montgom-
cry, that the secession flag should be
planted upon the walls Of the Capitol at
Washington, and proclamation issued
inviting the pirates of the world to prey
upon the commerce of the United States


These startling facts together with the
boastful announcement that the ravages
OF war and carnsge should be quickly
transferred from the cotton fields of the
South to the wheat fields and corn fields
of the North, furnish conclusive evidence
that it was the fixed purpose of the Sc
cessionits to destroy the Government Ct
our fathers and obliterate 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 patriotic men.
1t was not party question nor question
involving partizan policy; it was ques-
tion Of Government or no Government {;
country or no country and hence it be-
came the imperative duty, of every Union
man, every friend of constitutional lber-
ty, to rally to the support of our common
country, its Government and flag, as the
only means of checking the progress of
revolution and preserving the Union of
the States. .....


am unable to answer your questions
with respect to the policy Of Mr.. Lincoln
and his Cabinet. l am not in their conf
dence, as you and the whole country ought
to be aware. l am neither supporter Of
the partizan policy, nor the apologist for
errors of the Administration. Ny pre-
vious relations TO them remain unchanged; ;
but l trust the time will never come when
| shall not be willing to mako any need.
full sacrifice of personal feeling and party
policy for the honor and integrity Of my
country.


l know no mode by which loyal citi-
zen may so well demonstrate his devotion
to his country as by sustaining the Flag.
the Constitution and the Union, under all
circumstances, and under every Admins
tration-(regardless of party politics y
against all assailants at home and abroad.
The course of Clay and Webster toward
the Administration of Gen. jackson, in
the days of Notification, presents noble
and worthy example for all true patriots
At the very moment when that fearful
crisis was precipitated upon the country,
partizan strife between the Wings and
Democrats was quite as bitter and relent-
less as now between the Democrats and
Republicans. The gulf which separated
par:yleaders in those days was quite as
broad and deep as that which separates
the Democrat from theRepublicans But
the m oment an enemy rose in our midst,
plotting the dismemberment Of the Union
partizan strife was hushed in patriotic ST.
lence. One of the brightest chapters in
the history Of our country will record the
fact that during this eventful period the
great leaders of the opposition, sinking
the partizan in the patriot. rushed to the
support of the Government, and became
its abest and bravest defenders against all
assalants, until the conspiracy was crush
ed and abandoned /; when they resumed
their former positions as party leaders
upon political principles.


These acts of patriotic devotion have
never been deemed evidences of infidelity
or political treachery, on the part of Clay
and Webster, to the principles and or
CARNATIONS OF the old Wing party. NoT
have any apprehension that the firm and
unanimous support which the Dem ocrat-
ic leaders and masses are now giving to
the Constitution and the Union will ever
be deemed evidences of iufdelity to Dem
ocratic principles. are want OF loyalty to
the organization and creed Of the Demo
cratic party. Ii we hope to regain and
perpetuate the ascendency of our party,
we should never forget that man can
not be true Democrat ualess he is 10y
al Datriot,