Year: 1861

to the National IatelAgencer, for publication,
a copy of the following letter from him On
the state of the country:


CHICAGO, May 10.


My DEAR SIR: Being deprived of the use
of my arms for the present by severe attack
of rheumatsm, am compelled to avail my
self Of the services of an amanuensis, in re-
ply to your two letters.


1t seems that some of my friends are una
BILE to comprehend the difference between
arguments used in favor Of an equitable com
promise, with the hope Of averting the hor-
rors Of war, and those urged in support OF
the government and the flag Of our country,
when war is being ragged against the United
States, with the avowed purpose producing
permanent disruption of the Unon and
total destruction of its government.


All hope of compromise with the cotton
states was abandoned when they assumed
the position that the seperasion of the Union
was complete and final, and that they would
never CONSENT to reconstruction in any CON-
| gency-not even if we would furnish them
with blank sheet of paper and permit them
to inscribe their OWE terms.


| Still the hope was cherished that Feasona~
bic 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 rev.
olutionary government, and bring tlose
states back into the Union by the voice of
their own people. This hope was cherished
by the Union men North and South, and
was never abandoned until actual war was
levied at Charleston and the authoritative
announcement made by the revolutionary
government at Montgomery that the secess-
ion flag should be planted upon the walls of
the Capital at Washington and a proclama~
sion issued inviting the pirates of the world
to prey upon the commerce Of the United
States.


These startling facts, N connection with
the boastful announcement that the ravages
of war and carnage should be quickly trans
ferred from the cotton fields of the North,
furnish conclusive evidence that it was the
fixed purpose Of the seeesionists utterly to
destroy the 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 patriotic men. 1t
was not party question, nor a question inc
volving partisan policy; it was a question of
government or no government; perative of
duty of every Union man, every friend of
constitutional liberty, 10 rally to the support
of our common country, its government and
flag, as the only means of checking the pro-
gress of revolution and of preserving the
Union of states.


am unable to answer your questions in
respect to the policy of Mr.. Lincoln and cab
met. i am not in their confidence, as you
and the whole country ought to be aware
/ am neither the supporter of the partisan
policy nor the apologist of the errors of the
administration. My previous relations to
them remained unchanged but trnst the
time will never come when | shall not be
willing to make any needful sacrifice of per-
sonal feeling and party policy for the honor
and integrity of the country.


| know of no mood in which loyal citi-
zen may SO we'll demonstrate his devotion to
his country as by sustaining the flag, the
constitution, and the Union, under all cir
cumstances, and under every administration,
regardless of party politics., against all ass
sailants, at home and abroad. The course
of CLAY and Webster toward the administers
ton of jackson, in the davs of nu lifcaton,
presents noble and worthy example for all
true patriots. At the very moment when
that fearful crisis was precipitattd upon the
country, partisan strife between Wings and
Democrats was quite as bitter and relentless
as now between Democrats and Republicans.


The gulf which separated party leaders in
these 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, blottiDg the dis
memberment Of the Union and the destcue-
ton of the government, the voice of partisan
strife was hushed in patriotic silence. 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 orpo-
sition, sinking the partisan in the patriot,
rnshed TO the support of the government, and
became its ab est and bravest defenders
against all assailants until tho conspiracy
was crushed and abandoned, when they resu-
med their former positions as party leaders
upon political issues.


These acts Of patriotic devotion. have never
been. deemed evidences of infdelity or politi-
cal treachery, on the part of Clay and Web
ster, to the principles and organization of
the cid whig party. Nor hayeI any appre
hension that the firm ard unanimous support
which the Democratic leaders ard masses
are now giving to the Constitution and the
Union will ever be deemed evidence OF inf
delity to Democratic principles, or want Of
LOYALTY to the organization and creed of the
| Democratic party. If we hope to gain and
perpetuate the ascendency of our party, We
should never forget that man cannot be a
truesDemoc ocrat unless be is loyal patriot,
! With the sincere hope that these, my cons
scientiaus convictions, may coincide with
those of my friends, | am, very trusly,
yours,


STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.


To Virgil Hickox. Esq, Chairman State
J Democratic COMMITTEES