Boston, June 21, 1862.
My Dear Mr. Sumner,
— The inclosed is from a Russian who was once, I believe, in the Czar's
service. Thinking it possible that you might have a chance to show it to the
President, I have had a fair copy made of the substance of it, and inclosed.
Please return me the original. I used to think emancipation only another name
for murder, fire, and rape, but mature reflection and considerable personal
observation have since convinced me that emancipation may, at any time, be
declared without disorder; and especially now when we have two white armies in
the field to prevent mischief. The Russian, you see, is of this opinion from
his experience. We now have, too, for the first and perhaps only time, the
power to emancipate, under the emergency of war, without infringing upon the
Constitution.
The only question, then, is as to the necessity. Of course
we are not to wait until the last deadly necessity comes. We have spent
millions upon millions of money and thousands of lives. Shall we wait until the
deadly fevers of the South have stript off more thousands, and until our credit
begins to totter under the load? I am no philanthropist, but I do want to see
the promptest and hardest blows struck. I only ask that the weakest point of
the enemy shall be assailed before throwing away more valuable lives.
SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and
Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 1, p. 317-8
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