Wilson says he should like to see our State do this promptly.
* * * * *
WASHINGTON, January 26, 1861.
MY DEAR ANDREW,--Yesterday I was with the Attorney-General,[134]
an able, experienced, Northern Democratic lawyer, with the
instincts of our profession on the relation of cause and effect.
He drew me into his room, but there were clerks there; opening
the door into another room, there were clerks there, too; and
then traversing five different rooms, he found them all occupied
by clerks; when, opening the door into the entry, he told me
he was “surrounded by Secessionists,” who would report in an
hour to the newspapers any interview between us,--that he must
see me at some other time and place,--that everything was bad
as could be,--that Virginia would certainly secede,--that the
conspiracy there was the most wide-spread and perfect,--that
all efforts to arrest it by offers of compromise, or by the
circulation of Clemens’s speech, were no more than that (snapping
his fingers),--that Kentucky would surely follow, and Maryland,
too. “Stop, Mr. Attorney,” said I, “not so fast. I agree with you
to this point,--Maryland would go, except for the complication
of the National Capital, which the North will hold, and also the
road to it.”
Of course you will keep Massachusetts out of all these schemes.
If you notice the proposition for a commission, say that it is
summoned to make conditions which contemplate nothing less than
surrender of cherished principles, so that she can have nothing
to do with it.
My opinion has been fixed for a long time. All the Slave States
will go, except Delaware, and perhaps Maryland and Missouri,--to
remain with us Free States.
The mistake of many persons comes from this,--they do not see
that we are in the midst of a revolution, where reason is
dethroned, and passion rules instead. If this were a mere party
contest, then the circulation of speeches and a few resolutions
might do good. But what are such things in a revolution? As well
attempt to hold a man-of-war in a tempest by a little anchor
borrowed from Jamaica Pond; and this is what I told the Boston
Committee with regard to their petition.
I have but one prayer: Stand firm, keep every safeguard of Human
Rights on our statute-book, and save Massachusetts glorious and
true.
Ever yours,