"LISBON, _May 6_, _1861_.
"MY DEAR TILDEN,--The heart-breaking news has just reached us here,
first of the attack and capture of Sumter, for which the signal was so
madly and wickedly given by the administration (dominated, evidently,
by the war portion of that party) in its despatch of reinforcements;
and, secondly, of Lincoln's declaration of war by his proclamation
for 75,000 volunteers for the recapture of all the Southern forts,
that is, for the invasion of the South--an act followed, of course, by
secession of Virginia, and soon to be followed, I have no doubt, by
that of all or nearly all the border States. Also the telegraph tells
of a Massachusetts regiment resisted in an (insane) attempt to force
a passage through Baltimore. Gracious God, that we should have lived
to see such things! You can better judge, than I could describe, my
affliction. At first it drew from me convulsions of tears. I think it
is a greater grief than that I passed through a little short of a year
ago. What doom is sufficient for the mad authors of all this! By that
I mean, for 9/10 of the crime, the ultra portion of the Republican
party. The papers say that there is a common enthusiasm of all parties
at the North for the support of the admn. I may stand alone, but I do
not share this. I am extremely anxious to hear from you. Do write me
your views. I chafe terribly under the impossibilities which alone
prevent my hastening home. Not only have I not the means, but I cannot
leave my debts here, when a short, prolonged stay will probably assure
me the means of paying them. Then I shall come, to do my best in the
fight at home for _peaceful_ separation if reunion has become indeed
impossible. What will New York do? I trust devoutly that if any troops
march from our State southward they may consist only of Republicans.
My hope now is that the North will at last realize the mad horror of
the whole thing, and that a cloud of witnesses will arise to protest
against its being carried further. Thus far the country has drifted
along, both sides standing obstinate to the consistency of their
opposite _theories_. But surely all should now agree to pause and hold
back! But the Republican leaders, I fear, will now move heaven and hell
to push and drag forward the North to sustain them in the position
to which they have brought things. And I fear much from the fighting
character of our people. I dread the next news. If Maryland goes with
Virginia there will probably be dreadful fighting for the possession of
Washington, unless the wise and patriotic like you can stop it.
"We are exemplifying the fable of the dispute between the head and tail
of the snake for the right to lead. The Democratic party is the natural
and the only possible government of our Democratic confederation. It
alone has ever understood the idea of State rights. The tail has taken
its turn of leadership, and you see to what a pass it has brought the
country.
"Were it not for the immediate question of the fighting to grow out of
the question of the possession of Washington, I should say it were best
that the border States should now all go at once, so as to make the
North feel the absurdity of further prosecution of war. But reunion is
now, I fear, scarcely to be hoped for!
"My wife sends you her affectionate regards.
"Ever yours,
"J. L. O'SULLIVAN."
"The great question for me here of the success of our copper
establishment is not yet decided. I had expected to find the works
in operation. They will not be ready to begin short of a week or
fortnight, and then there may be further delay from changes required
in details of machinery. Everything is very encouraging. I have
good prospects of a contract for rifles and artillery from this
government--it is under consideration now. Could not do anything _at
present_ in France, though the plan was recognized as superior to their
own or to anything known. But in the present state of Europe they could
not introduce a _change_, their existing armament on their own plan
being on so vast a scale. But I was encouraged for a later day.
"In regard to politics, I suppose the North will be too hot to hold
_me_ hereafter, if the papers are right in their account of the
Northern feeling."