New York, April 14, 1861.
My Dear Friend,
— When your letters arrived I was busy writing out some lectures, the contents
of which differ in many respects from what you seem to think right and true in
our history and public affairs. I felt thus indisposed to write, and have now
sent you a copy, — I beg you to be assured, — not to discuss things or
challenge dispute, but simply and exclusively because not sending it to an old
friend would have appeared to me unfriendly and cold. I take it for granted
that you believe each word I have said to have come from my soul. You disagree;
be it so. I am obliged to take far severer things. Oh, it is sad indeed to know
a son in arms, and not to be able to pray for God's blessing on his arms, — to
know that victory on his side is victory on the side of wrong. Let us not
discuss these things. I have no ambition to bring you over to my side; there is
no chance for you of bringing mo over to your side.
You complain of the bad grammar of President Lincoln's
Message. We have to look
at other things, just now, than grammar. For aught I know, the last resolution
of the South Carolina Convention may have been worded in sufficiently good
grammar, but it is an attempt, unique in its disgracefulness, to whitewash an
act of the dirtiest infamy. Let us leave grammar alone in these days of shame, and
rather ask whether people act according to the first and simplest rules of
morals and of honor.
I had an idea of spending the summer vacation in Europe, but
I believe I shall give up the trip. I feel ashamed and would be worried by
constant talk about this wanton, criminal Rebellion. Good-by. No one wishes you
more heartily the choicest blessings of heaven than I do.
SOURCE: Thomas Sergeant Perry, Editor, The Life and
Letters of Francis Lieber, p. 317-8
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