State Of Ohio, Executive Department,
Columbus, Dec 13,
1856.
Dear Sumner, I
long to hear of you at the Capitol, but I long infinitely more to hear of your
perfect restoration. At the present moment you are not greatly needed at
Washington. Nothing can be done now but to announce principles, & make
test questions. A year hence it will be important to have our strongest men in
the field. Mr. Buchanan's Administration will then be fairly under way. For
that time you should be prepared, &, if need be, reserved. I write this
because I see it stated that you propose going to Washington about the first of
January. Let me beg you to risk nothing; but to lay aside every care except
that of your own restoration. You will of course be reelected. Why not let the
present session go, & take a trip somewhere out of sight and as far as
possible out of recollection, of disturbing & exciting causes. If your
friends think it well, you might resign that your place this session be filled
by somebody else. Then be whole for the next session.
My intelligence from Kansas is encouraging. The reasons for
believing it will be a free state preponderate more & more. I expect next
week the return of a gentleman whom I sent to the territory to ascertain the
precise condition & to bear to Gov Geary a letter in behalf of the
prisoners, & to them some little relief. I hope the best. But for our cause
— we must make a deeper issue; believe that right is expedient; be
consistent & trust the people. Then I believe will come the day when the
Republic, restored to its original policy, will renew her strength & move
forward in the fulfilment of her sublime mission, with the applause of all the
patriotic & all the good. Talia sӕcla,
cunite.
Affectionately yours,
[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. 274-5
No comments:
Post a Comment