washington, December 18, 1860.
My Dear Sir:
From common notoriety, I assume the fact that the State of
South Carolina is now deliberating on the question of seceding from the Union.
While any hope remains that this may be prevented, or even retarded so long as
to allow the people of her sister States an opportunity to manifest their
opinion upon the causes which have led to this proceeding, it is my duty to
exert all the means in my power to avert so dread a catastrophe.
I have therefore deemed it advisable to send to you the Hon.
Caleb Cushing, in whose integrity, ability and prudence I have full confidence,
to hold communication with you on my behalf, for the purpose of changing or
modifying the contemplated action of the State in the manner I have already
suggested.
Commending Mr. Cushing to your kind attention, for his own
sake as well as that of the cause, I remain,
Very respectfully,
Your friend,
(Signed.)
james Buchanan.
His Excellency
Francis W. Pickens.
SOURCE: Samuel Wylie Crawford, The Genesis of the
Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 87
No comments:
Post a Comment