New York, April 4,1865.
How do you feel now? was the constant question yesterday in
the street, in the clubs, in the dwellings of the people, and I cannot help asking
you the same question, even though the answer be known to me. I am sure the
breaking up of the conspiracy, and settling some sort of order, — in short, the
military action, will occupy us fully a year yet. In the mean time the question
of admission comes nearer and nearer. Had we adopted the Amendment there would
have been little difficulty, I take it. By a State-rebellion the States went
out; by State-revolution, against the temporary de facto government,
they might come back. But shall Virginia be readmitted “in thirty days,” as is
intimated in the papers? A fine thing it would be! Vestigia nulla retrorsum was
John Hampden's motto; let it be ours. Not a step backward. No slavery, no
plenary pardon to all. It would be the ruin of the country. I very much wish I
knew how the President thinks and feels on this subject; Mr. Seward, I suppose,
is altogether for eau sucrée.
SOURCE: Thomas Sergeant Perry, Editor, The Life and
Letters of Francis Lieber, p. 356-7
No comments:
Post a Comment