To The Hon. S. A. DOUGLAS,
Washington, D. C.
New York, December 31, 1860
My Dear Sir,—Your kind favor crossed with the letter which I had the pleasure of addressing you last week.
I have read carefully your resolutions for a conference, and they meet my entire approval. The South cannot ask for more, and the dominant party of the North ought certainly to acquiesce in a plan of settlement, which, in my opinion, would not add a foot of slave territory to the Union, except where climate and soil render it more profitable than free labor.
Several of the ultra men of the South whom I have seen lately, are loud in their praises of the stand which you have taken, and approve the mode of settlement proposed by your resolutions. I see, however, with great regret, by the papers, that the committee of thirteen have rejected them.
Now, if you will allow me one suggestion, dictated only by my warm attachment to you, I would advise you to support a compromise which has for its basis the restoration of the Missouri compromise, carried to the eastern frontier of California. I have good reason to know that the conservative portion of the Republican leaders are in favor of it, and it can only add to your high position as a patriotic and a Union man, if you support actively and energetically the restoration of the Missouri line.
It will forever silence the clamors of your enemies at the North, who have tried to lay the repeal of that act at your door, forgetting the refusal of the North to carry that line to the Pacific rendered that repeal necessary.
The self-denial and sacrifice of your favored doctrine of popular sovereignty, when the salvation of the Union requires it, would place you higher in the affections of the American people than you have ever been before. I am told by Republican leaders that they will not vote for Crittenden’s amendment because they will not accept the Missouri line for future acquisitions of territory. They say this would be holding out a premium for filibustering against Mexico and Cuba, in order to make new slave States. If you could hit upon some plan of compromise by which to get over this difficulty, there might be some hope of saving the country.
I have written, yesterday, to Governor Johnson, of Georgia, urging upon him the policy of getting the convention of his State to submit their final action to the ratification of the people, and showing how incompatible with the best interests of Georgia it would be to follow in the wake of South Carolina.
I beg to hand you inclosed copy of my letter, and if you approve of my suggestions, I hope you will find leisure to recommend them to the earnest consideration of Stephens and Johnson.
My own impressions are very gloomy indeed, and I fear nothing will be done to save the sinking ship of state. We must, however, do our duty as men, and stand by the Union to the last.