Washington, Sept.
8, 1850.
My Dear Sumner:
Clouds and darkness are upon us at present. The slaveholders have succeeded
beyond their wildest hopes twelve months ago. True some have demanded even more
than they have obtained; but their extreme demand was necessary to secure the
immense concession which has been made to them. Without it Executive Influence
and Bribery would, perhaps availed nothing.
Well what now! I say with blind Milton, glorious child of
Freedom, though blind,
“‘Bate no jot
Of heart or hope but still bear up and
steer
Right onward.”
Rouse up in Massachusetts and quit you like men. God's
providence has devolved political duties and responsibilities upon you, my
friend, from which you must not shrink. Would that it might be so ordered that
you could be placed in the Senate! It is your place and you ought to be in it.
If the democrats would place you there, they might have the Governor and
welcome — doubly welcome.
You talk of the humiliation of a small vote. The humiliation
was not for you, but for those who preferred barbarism to Freedom. I had like
experience once, being a candidate, under like circumstances in Cincinnati;
with the difference that I was as far behind both candidates of the Hunkers as
you were behind the foe — and farther — but I did not feel humbled at all.
I see Mr. Sewall is nominated in the Salem District. I am
sorry that Pierpont declined. I hardly know a man whom I would go farther to
support, and I should think him just the man to call out the enthusiasm of the
people. I hope Sewall will be sustained by the strongest possible vote. “No
more doubtful men”, should be added to our war-cry of “No more Slave States and
no Slave Territory”.
Let me know how things go on in Massachusetts.
Yours ever,
[SALMON P. CHASE.]
SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol.
2, p. 219-20
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