The Great Conspiracy, Volume 3 by John Alexander Logan
page 72 of 162 (44%)
page 72 of 162 (44%)
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Constitution"--and the writer had returned to Washington, to take his
seat in Congress, with that determination still alive in his heart. In fact there had been all along, substantial accord between Mr. Douglas and the writer. There really was no "difference between Douglas and Logan" as to "preparations for War," or in "exhausting all Peaceable means before a resort to Arms," and both were in full accord with President Lincoln on these points. Let us see if this is not of record: Take the writer's speech in the House of Representatives, February 5, 1861, and it will be seen that he said: "I will go as far as any man in the performance of a Constitutional duty to put down Rebellion, to suppress Insurrection, and to enforce the Laws." Again, he said, "If all the evils and calamities that have ever happened since the World began, could be gathered in one Great Catastrophe, its horrors could not eclipse, in their frightful proportions, the Drama that impends over us." From these extracts it is plain enough that even at this very early day the writer fully understood the "frightful proportions" of the impending struggle, and would "go as far as"--not only Mr. Douglas, but--"any man, to put down Rebellion"--which necessarily involved War, and "preparations for War." But none the less, but rather the more, because of the horrors which he foresaw must be inseparable from so terrible a War, was he anxious by timely mutual Concessions--"by any sacrifice," as he termed it--if possible, to avert it. He was ready to sink Party, self, and to accept any of the Propositions to that end--Mr. Douglas's among them. |
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