Washington City, December 6, 1859.
Dear Sir: — I
perceive that a debate has arisen in Congress in which Mr. Helper's book, the “Impending
Crisis,” is brought up as an exponent of Republican principles. As the
names of many leading Republicans are presented as recommending a compendium of
the volume, it is proper that I should explain how those names were obtained in
advance of the publication. Mr. Helper brought his book to me at Silver Spring
to examine and recommend, if I thought well of it, as a work to be encouraged
by Republicans. I had never seen it before. After its perusal, I either wrote
to Mr. Helper, or told him that it was objectionable in many particulars, to
which I adverted; and he promised me, in writing, that he would obviate the
objections by omitting entirely or altering the matter objected to. I
understand that it was in consequence of his assurance to me that the obnoxious
matter in the original publication would be expurgated, that Members of
Congress and other influential men among the Republicans were induced to give
their countenance to the circulation of the edition so to be expurgated
F. P. BLAIR,
Silver Spring.
Hon. John Sherman.
SOURCE: John Sherman,
John Sherman's Recollections of Forty Years
in the House, Senate and Cabinet, Volume 1, p. 170
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