"_Jan'y 30th, 1861, 11 A.M._
"MY DEAR CASSIDY,--I have just put a letter in the post-office
explaining why I am here instead of being in the cars on my way to
Albany, and now I acknowledge the receipt of yours of last evening.
It would have been a most agreeable surprise to me had I seen you and
Cagger on Saturday or any other day approaching my domicile through
banks of snow. And I hope, as you have conceived the project, you will
not abandon it but come at any time.
"The letter I post you this morning is of grave import, as it opens a
practical work for the convention to do, and will put you on the right
road to save all that is savable of our present Union.
"Do not let the Democratic sink into an Opposition party, but present
an attainable object--a work to be accomplished. One that does not
bring into discussion any of the questions which have heretofore
divided persons possessing the same principles.
"The only fear I have is that, if the convention shall prove unanimous
in demanding time until a convention of the States can be called,
it will drive Weed and Seward into the same measure, and they will
endeavor, through their present legislators, to accomplish the same
object; but this is balanced by the consideration that they must then
preserve the peace.
"Another fear I have is about the forts p. p. Let this be left in the
discretion of the committee you send South. I think no harm could
come from surrendering those posts to the States where they are
located--during the stay of proceedings; of giving them, the seceding
States, the benefit of postal and other benefits on their stipulating
to collect the same revenues as are collected in other ports of the
United States, until it becomes apparent that the Union cannot be
restored.
"In any event, I hope and pray that no harsh, unkind, or reproachful
word will be used against the seceded States, and that they may see
that there is a real, substantial body of men who can and do look at
the matter in its true light.
"Yours truly,
"D. BURWELL."