In a letter dated January 15, Governor Andrew suggested a
communication from the Massachusetts delegation, “that it is
not important or desirable that we should repeal the Personal
Liberty Laws.” February 17th, he announces, with something
of exultation, the unanimous report of the Committee of the
Legislature in harmony with his ideas.
“I had no original expectation of getting such a result;
but I told some persons that they could not get anything
_through this room_ [the Council Chamber] not conformable
to certain principles, and which did not contain certain
details, unless they marched it through by dragoons.”
A letter from Hon. D. W. Alvord, written from Greenfield,
Massachusetts, refers to the action of Mr. Sumner.
“Those who believe that it is the first duty of a State
to protect its citizens from oppression, as much when the
oppression is threatened by the General Government as
when it comes from any other quarter, owe you especial
thanks. Your influence has saved the ‘Personal Liberty
Laws’ of this State from essential change. Such change
would have been strenuously resisted by many true men in
the Legislature, even had your advice been different; but
your letters, shown about among members, and the knowledge
spread through the Legislature that you advised against
repeal or essential modification, stiffened many weak
backs, and rendered any great change impossible.”
Thus at home, in the Legislature, as well as in Congress,
people were busy to find some form of surrender inconsistent
with those principles which had triumphed at the Presidential
election. Mr. Sumner was positive against any surrender
anywhere. A letter to Count Gurowski, in New York, which has
seen the light since his death, is a contemporary record.
WASHINGTON, January 8, 1861.
MY DEAR COUNT,--Sunday evening I had a visit from Thurlow
Weed and Seward. The former said that he found himself
“alone,”--nobody united with him. I rejoiced. ---- and ----
are here from New York for the same object. They urge that
we cannot have a united North, unless we make an effort for
adjustment; to which I reply: “We have the verdict of the
people last November: that is enough.”
But these compromisers do not comprehend the glory of a
principle. _Périssent les colonies plutôt qu’un principe!_
That exclamation exalts a period which has many things to
be deplored.
The Slave States are mad. They will all move. Nothing
now but abject humiliation on the part of the North can
stay them. Nobody can foresee precisely all that is in
the future, but I do not doubt that any conflict will
precipitate the doom of Slavery. It will probably go down
in blood.…
Ever yours,