Washington, Mar. 12, 1854.
My Dear Mr. Pierce.
Your letter is very cheering and consolatory. Here “where Satan's net is”, the
nearest sounds are those of denunciation and abuse. With these harsh tones it
is very agreeable to hear intermingled the voices of friendship and sympathy.
Sumner was much pleased with your last letter to him, which
he showed me. You did not compliment him too strongly on his speech. It was a
splendid effort in clearness of historical statement; in beauty of style; and
in force of expression unsurpassed by any previous utterance of his; though I
must say as I told him that it did not equal, as an argument, his speech
against the Fugitive Slave Law.
It gave me real pleasure to read Reemelin's remarks. He is a
man of genius, force and knowledge. If he and Molitor side with the Independent
Democracy we may hope for great things. If in addition to this [illegible] Day
would Start a paper!
Thanks for your kind opinion of my speech. It was delivered
from notes, written the morning I spoke — though I had given all the time I
could command for two or three days to reading up and writing down.
My preparation was very inadequate and I was surprised to get off so well as I
did in the actual delivery. Perhaps I was indebted, in fact, for my success to
the audience which was very brilliant. For the only time this session the
ladies were admitted on the floor. It was corrected from the Reporter's notes
on the jump on the Evening after the delivery and the next morning; for I had
to dine at the French Minister's that next day and I wanted to have it out
Monday. This will account for some defects of style which you must have
noticed.
It is rather pleasant to feel that I have done some service
in the battle; and to know that the service is appreciated. It is rather
strange to me, however, to receive much commendation, having, almost my whole
life, been laboring for an unpopular though just cause — unpopular perhaps
because misunderstood.
I shall place Mr. Mann's name on my list and send him as
well as yourself a copy of a new edition.
We Senators have no copies of the Census Report. I will
endeavor to procure you one however.
I regret, very much, to have you say that you are not
contented in the office. I hope your discontent is not with the office
and that your longings for distant fields will be abated by time. Having
acquired you, we must not lose you.
I think of coming to Cincinnati before long.
Faithfully your friend,
[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. 258-60
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