Washington City, 30th December, 1860.
Dear Sir:
I am truly grateful for your hearty message of good will and
congratulation and for your promise that the State of Pennsylvania can be
relied on for whatever aid may be needed to preserve our imperiled Union.
We are enveloped in a great deal of dust and fog, but the smudge
is not so thick that I cannot distinctly discern treason all around us.
Judge Black and myself have been dumbfounded by a meeting of
the President, as President, with the so-called South Carolina commissioners.
At first we agreed to resign at once, but after going carefully over the subject
thought it better to state our objections or views in writing before taking any
step that might later be considered precipitate.
Judge Black is closer to the President than myself and
exercises a great deal of influence over him. He will present the written
objections, which I have just prepared, and stand by for the purpose of
extricating the President from his present peril.
If he shall refuse to recede, it seems to me there is no
escape for Black, Holt, and myself except resignation.
I tremble to think that the administration is already
semi-officially committed to the theory that South Carolina is an independent
nation or “republic” capable of negotiating treaties; and if that theory shall
not be completely broken down, followed by reinforcements to hold our
beleaguered and threatened Southern forts, there will not be a semblance of the
Union left on March 4, next.
I fear that
your offer of help on the part of Pennsylvania may be founded on a
necessity greater than yourself or the public now discern.
I have written Judge Loomis to bring you to the house when
you arrive in Washington next week. I shall be happy to have your company under
my roof. Although for over a week breakfast has been my only meal at home, I
look forward to more time early next month. Extending to you the compliments of
the season, believe me,
Very truly yours,
Edwin M. Stanton.
To General William Robinson.
SOURCE: Frank Abial Flower, Edwin McMasters Stanton:
The Autocrat of Rebellion, Emancipation, and Reconstruction, p. 90-1
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