Naushon, August 21,1861.
My Dear Doctor,
— I have yours
of the 19th. I confess to being one of that average class which constitutes
the majority of our people, who as yet hesitate at the dreadful experiment of
insurrection; if it comes as a necessity, an alternative to the subversion of
republican institutions, we should not hesitate a moment. There seem to me
three reasons against it at this time, apart from our natural shrinking from a
measure of this sort upon humane grounds.
1st. It may unite the border States against us, and check
any tendency to division in the cotton States.
2d. It will, if resorted to from anything but obvious, stern
necessity, divide the North.
3d. Its success as a weapon against the South is by no means
certain. It is, to my mind, — with the light of the past four months' quiet
among the blacks, and of John Brown's experience, — very uncertain unless
resorted to under favorable circumstances. At present it seems to me worth more
as a weapon to hold in reserve to threaten with, than one to strike with.
If resorted to now it would be in a hesitating, uncertain
manner by our administration, and from that, if nothing else, would be likely
to fail. Once tried, and failed in, a great source of terror to the South and
of confidence to the North is lost.
I go therefore for holding it in reserve until public
sentiment, which is the chief motive power behind the administration, drives
them to use it decisively. Our people throughout have been ahead of our
government, which has followed rather laggingly: — it is not a leading,
but a following administration. It does not act, even now, readily when first
urged by the popular tide. Nothing but the full force of the current starts it.
If we could get a good hurricane to help the tide, it might sweep away some of
the weaker materials in the Cabinet, and possibly put a leader in their place
who would thenceforward draw after him the Cabinet and the people.
Your suggestion, then, even if it were the best thing, seems
to me premature. As to urging on the government to vigor, to making serious war
with shot and hemp, there would not, there could not, be two opinions with the
people. Governor Andrew could give the hint to our Massachusetts papers, and
they would all readily sound the trumpet for vigor and for discipline, and the “Evening
Post” and such papers would readily help.
As to anything more, or in the direction you suggest, I want
to see the demand come from the people, from the democracy, rather than from
either the leaders or the abolitionists!
Perhaps the poverty of the South may soon begin to afflict
the slaves, and they may lead off. If they do, the responsibility is not ours.
Very truly yours,
John M. Forbes.
SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and Recollections
of John Murray Forbes, Volume 1, p. 239-40
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