Boston, Thursday, Feb. 12th, 1852.
My Dear Sumner:
— I have yours of the 7th, and thank you for it.
Don't think too much of my dissent from your Kossuth speech.
I have with heart and hand, with conscience and reason, with warmth and
affection approved and sustained every political step you ever took save
two — the Coalition, and the declaration to European despots that, throttle
liberty as they might and when they might, we would never interfere.
On these alone have I differed from you, but give to you the
same credit for honesty and earnestness and sincere conviction of right that I
claim for myself.
Bygones are not yet bygones, and the sad state of things
this day here confirms me in my views of the Coalition; but for your election
we should have lost everything.
You are true and earnest and persevering; you are the noble
and worthy head of our party and are doing something to save its honour; but
the rest of the leaders, where are they? — in office, and trying to keep
possession as an end, not a means.
But enough of this! let the infinitesimal of my dissent from
you disappear in the wholeness of my approval, admiration and regard.
I am in some perplexity and dismay; a check for $500 has
been forged in my name and paid! my suspicion falls upon one for whom I grieve;
— and, if true, will carry desolation to a widowed hearth — I am much more
anxious to be found wrong than right.
Your note came too late to prevent your election as Trustee
— if you are very desirous of being left off you can be — but perhaps you had
better remain until I learn what I hope may be [the state of things] at the end
of this year. How we change! — once I could not understand your indifference to
life — now you can not understand mine.
Faithfully yours,
S. G. Howe.
SOURCE: Laura E. Richards, Editor, Letters and
Journals of Samuel Gridley Howe, Volume 2, p. 363-4
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