New York, Saturday, November 7th, 1846.
My Dear Sumner:
— I am grieved by learning that you are ill in body, but more grieved by
knowing that you are sick at heart. Some would suppose that greater
indifference to the opinions of others, contempt for the revilings of the bad
and carelessness about the criticisms of anybody, would indicate greater
independence of spirit and moral heroism than you exhibit. But those who know
you (and all will by and by) know that you are now making greater sacrifices to
your principles than you would by throwing away fortune and station and hopes.
You are sacrificing what is to you dearer than life or fortune or fame, the
social regard of those whom you so love as friends. Our fathers pledged their
lives, fortunes and honour in support of their cause; you are doing more than
they did in the way of sacrifice, and I would not wish you were less affected
in spirit, because you would then be less warm and true in your affections.
I should have thought you a braver man had you stood to the
nomination1 that was forced upon you; but I had not the heart to
urge you to do so, because I saw you suffering torture. During your whole
course in this matter I have watched you closely, and have learned to respect
and admire you even more than before. It has never been my lot to know a man
more perfectly loyal to truth, right and humanity than you have been. Your
efforts and sacrifices cannot be lost, for if no other good comes out of them
this will come, that your example will kindle and keep alive high purposes in
the souls of hundreds, of whom I am one. You are my junior by many years, but
to you I owe many of the feeble aspirations which I feel, for progress upwards
and onwards in my spiritual nature.
In regard to our present struggle with the powers that be, I
have a sure instinct that we shall be beaten, that we shall suffer what will be
called a disgraceful defeat; we shall be laughed to scorn for our futile
attempt. Nevertheless, so help me God, I would rather be in my position, though
not two men vote for me, than in Winthrop's. I would rather be advocated and
supported by your voice and sympathy than by the eloquence and the endorsement
of every Whig orator in Massachusetts, with the intellectual giant of a Webster
at their head.
But mail time approaches. I must close by wishing you, dear
Sumner, all the peace of mind and all the enjoyment of which your noble virtue
and disinterestedness make you so worthy. . . .
Julia sympathizes deeply with you, and is learning to love
you nearly as well as your friend,
S. G. HOWE.
______________
1 For Congress.
SOURCE: Laura E. Richards, Editor, Letters and
Journals of Samuel Gridley Howe, Volume 2, p. 251-3
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