Year: 1861




las, published 10 the National Intelligencer.
of May 18th, is perhaps, the last he ever
wrote upon national affairs


CHICAGO. May 10 1861.


MY DEAR SIR Being deprived Of the use
Of my arms, at present, by severe attack Of
rheumatism, am compelled to avail myself of
the services of an 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 of an equitable COM
promise, with the hope Ofaverting the horrors
of war, and those urged in the support of the
Government and flag Of our country, when war
is being waged against the United States with
the avowed purpose of producing disruption
Of the Union and total destruction of its
Government.


All hope of compromise with the Cotton
States was abandoned when they assumed the
position that the separation Of the Union was
complete and final, and that they never would
consent to a reconstruction in any contingency,
not even if we would furnish them with blank
sheet of paper and permit them to inscribe 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 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 the Union by
the voice Of their own people. This hope was
cherished by Union men North and South, and
was never abandoned until actual war was
levied at Charleston, and the authoritative an
nouncement made by the revolutionary govern
ment at Montgomery, that the Secession flag
would be planted upon the walls of the Capitol
at Washington, and proclamation issued in
viting the pirates Of the world to prey upon the
commerce of the United States.


These startling facts, taken in connection
with the boastful announcement that the rava-
ges of war and carnage should be quickly trans
ferred from the cotton fields Of the South to the
wheat fields and corn fields of the North, furn-
ish conclusive evidence that it was the fixed
purpose of the Secessionists utterly to destroy
the government Of 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 question of government
or no government, country or no country and
hence it became the imperative duty Of every
Union man every friend of constitutional liberty
to rally to the support of our common country,
its government and flag, as the only means of
checking the progress Of revolution and of pre-
serving the union of the States.


am unable to answer your questions in re-
spect to the policy of Mr.. Lincoln and his Cab
met. | am not in their confidence, as you and
the whole country ought to be aware I am
neither the supporter Of the partizan policy, nor
the apOlogst for the errors ofthe Administration.
Myprevious relations to them remain unchang-
ed but trust the time will never come when
shall not be willing to make any needful sacri-
flee 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 to his
country as by sustaining the Flag, the Constitu-
tion, and the Union, under all circumstances,
and under every administration, (regardless of
party politics,) against all assaiants, at home
and abroad. The course of Clay and Webster
toward the administration of Gen. jackson, in
the days Of Notification, present 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 Demo-
Gratis and Republicans. The gulf which sepa-
rated party leaders in those days was quite as
broad and deep as that which now separates
the Democracy from the Republicans. But the
moment an enemy rose in our midst, plotting the
dismemberment of the Union and the destruc-
tion Of the Government, the voice of partisan
strife was hushed in patriotic silence. One of
the brightest chapters in the history of our coun-
try will record the fact that during this eventfu
period the great leaders of the opposition, sink
ing the partisan in the patriot, rushed to the
support Of the Government, and became its
ablest and bravest defenders against all assail-
ants until the conspiracy was crushed and aban-
doned, when they returned to their former posi-
tons as party leaders upon political issues.


These acts Of patriotic devotion have never
been deemed evidences of infdelty or political
treaehery, on the part Of Clay and Webster, to
the principles and organization of the old Whig
party. Nor have any apprehension that the
firm and unanimous support which the Demo-
cratic leaders and masses are now giving to the
Constitution andthe Union will ever be deemed
evidences of inhdelity to Democratic principles,
or want of loyalty to the organization and
creed of the Democratic party. If we hope to
regain and perpetuate the ascendency OF our
party, we should never forget that man can
not be true Democrat unless he is a loyal
patriot


With the sincere hope that these my consci-
entious convictions may coincide with those Of
my friends, am, very truly, yours,


STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.


To VIRGIL HIcox, ESQ,


Chairman State Democratic Committee.