May 8th [1849.]
My Dear Sir: On
my return from Georgetown last Saturday I found on my table yours of the 3d.
inst. I regretted overmuch that I did not see you when I was up, for I wished
very much to talk with you on some of the topics embraced in your letter. — I
thought I could discover, when in your town some amelioration of feeling on the
part of those who have been so fierce in their denunciations of the repeal of
the Black laws and Spalding told them plainly, I understand that they were
taking different ground from that of the Democracy in other parts of the State.
They would feel awkward, would they not, if they should wake up some morning
and find themselves turned over to the Whigs. To avoid this they had better
pause before they set themselves against the united decision and action of the
Democratic members of the Legislature. — I thought I saw some indications that
this view of matters was beginning to commend itself to them. For my part I
care very little about their talk against me: I shall survive it, I think. I
have long held as unreservedly as any of them the Democratic faith. If I have
not acted with the Democratic party it has been because I was not willing to
dishonor that faith by subordinating its claims to the demands of the Slave
Power. Let the party honor its faith by steady hostility to oppression in every
form and by inflexible allowance to its great cardinal doctrine of equal rights
under all circumstances and it shall not want the best of my humble services. I
rejoice in the multiplying indications that the old Democracy is casting off
the bonds of the Slave Power, and will, ere long, occupy the lofty position of
consistency with its own principles to which I have long desired to see it
advance. May God speed the day of consummation. — You enquire as to my position
in relation to the late war with Mexico, and I will answer your enquiry
frankly, though I do not think that any differences as to the war ought to
divide now the Friends of freedom; and surely, the Democracy, defeated by a
combination of the opponents of the war with the special friends often of its
successful generals, can have no interest in reviving or perpetuating these
differences. I was never able to persuade myself that the claim of Texas to the
Territory between the Neuces and the Rio Grande was any thing more than one of
their bold pretensions by which the slaveholders have so often imposed on the
acquiescent spirit of the North and extended their own dominion. I never
believed therefore that the marching of our troops to the Rio Grande was a wise
or rightful exercise of executive Authority. I have ever thought that had Mr.
Benton or any Statesman of like character been at the head of affairs in 1845-6
the war would have been avoided. Of course I never justified the commencement
of the war; but after the war was actually commenced & had recd. the
sanction of congress, I did not think it my duty to persevere in opposition to
it. I had friends and relations in the army for whom I felt & with whom I
sympathized. The officers & men in the field were in the service of the
country & entitled to the regard and support of the country they served.
The range of my historical reading made me acquainted with no instance in which
war had been waged with so much regard, on the whole, to the dictates of
humanity and with so little injury to non combatants. There were some
deplorable exceptions to this general observation, it is true, but they
exceptions only, lamented and condemned as such in the army as out of it. I
never, therefore opposed the vigorous prosecution of the war for that seemed to
me the surest if not the only way to a permanent & beneficial peace. When
our army had taken possession of Mexico it seemed to me that the true line of
duty and policy for our Government was to maintain the ascendancy which had
been acquired and by encouraging the establishment of a Mexican Government
under our auspices and protection to prepare the way for the gradual
incorporation into our American Union, and thus extend our Boundary to the
Isthmus. I was not however, so anxious for the whole of Mexico as to be
dissatisfied with the treaty of Peace which was actually made.
The immense acquisitions of Territory which that treaty
secured to us, giving to us the command of the Pacific and the control in great
measure of the commerce between the east & the west of the old world cannot
be too highly valued. If secured for Freedom by timely effort now the
settlement of these territories and their organization into States, under the
auspices of the American Republic will probably attract other Mexican States
into voluntary union1 with us and exert an influence upon the
destinies of both hemispheres which can hardly be exaggerated. I am conscious
that the foregoing statement of my views is rather crude & imperfect,
but it will be sufficient to show that you have rightly judged as to my
position. You may safely challenge the production of a single remark ever made
by me against the prosecution of the war after it was commenced, or in
derogation or disparagement of our officers & men or their just claims, or
in opposition to the grant of any necessary supplies. I dont wish you to
understand, however, that I join in any impeachment of those who
conscientiously opposed the war from first to last. Among the opponents of the
war were many doubtless who were governed mainly by party considerations: but
others were men of the purest & most elevated character, who were
controlled throughout by conscientious convictions of Christian duty, unmingled
with any wish or purpose, factiously and unnecessarily to embarrass the Government.
God forbid, that I should join in any cry against such men, because I find
myself unable to agree with them. It is enough for me to hold and act upon my
own opinions — not with absolute certainty that I am right, but honestly
endeavoring to avoid error, without impeaching those who hold contrary views.
Of course this rough letter is not for the public but simply for your own
satisfaction.
Notwithstanding all the abuse heaped upon me, I have as yet
kept out of the Newspapers, preferring to let my acts define my position in due
season. I am very sorry to observe remark that you are embarrassed in
maintaining your position by want of pecuniary means. My own resources by the
heavy drafts made on them of late are completely exhausted, but we have friends
in Brown County who are able & I trust willing to come promptly to your aid.
You do the work & bear the brunt of the contest, and they should
unhesitatingly furnish the munitions of war. I have taken the liberty of
writing to my friend Mr. Coyne (?) on this subject. Was this wrong? If not,
will you not speak to him yourself?
Let me hear from you soon, & meantime believe me
[Salmon P. Chase.]
____________________
* From letter book 6, pp. 172-173.
1 This idea bad been elaborated in the National
Era for Aug. 19, 1847. ef. E. G. Bourne, “The Proposed Absorption of
Mexico,” Essays in Historical
Criticism, p. 236.
SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 171-4
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