Shady Hill, 12 November, 1862.
. . . Were it not for one or two ifs, I should feel
much better about the state of affairs than I have for some time. The worst of
the ifs is the one concerning Lincoln. I am very much afraid that a
domestic cat will not answer when one wants a Bengal tiger. It is encouraging
that Congress meets so soon again; the President will be helped by it.
Another if must go before Burnside's name. He may be able to
command one hundred thousand men in the field, but is he? He, like our other
generals, is on trial. How we shall rejoice if he succeeds.
You are certainly right in your view of the elections. The
Administration will not be hurt by the reaction if the war goes on
prosperously. If we have a vigorous, brilliant and really successful winter
campaign there will be not much opposition left next spring; but if otherwise —
if we have successes that lead to nothing, and victories that are next door to
defeats, if the influence of Washington air follows and paralyzes our armies,
then I think it will be hard times for us and all honest republicans, who hope
for the country and believe in its institutions and its people. . . .
SOURCE: Sara Norton and M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Letters
of Charles Eliot Norton, Volume 1, p. 258-9
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