Boston, Thursday eve., January 10th, 1852.
My Dear Sumner:
— I have a welcome line from you to-day; the first for several days; thanks!
I have been dining (a wonder for me) with Mrs. Ward, when we
had Mr. and Mrs. Hare, Emerson, Hillard, &c.
Mrs. Hare makes me feel young again, yet very old. Hare I
did not like, mainly however because he spoke not worthily of you — talked of
your land speech as a bid for the Presidency!!
Ye Gods, what are we coming to when Charles Sumner is
considered by any man with brains in his head as an aspirant for office?
I hope you may cross Felton's path and be brought together
in kindness and affection; you would find him changed — sadly — yet your
generous catholic nature would find much to dwell upon in his character with
regard and esteem.
Our Free-soilers in the State are doing nothing for the
cause — nothing. I think some of us outsiders should address them a letter of
inquiry as to what they mean to do. I am sure that they need a fillip from
somebody.
Can you not mark out some course of policy that they should
pursue to forward the great principle of our party?
They are becoming mere politicians, mere office holders.
They talk, some of them, of making the Maine liquor law a Shibboleth of our
party!
I cannot see my way clear to advocate the enacting of such a
law, or any unnecessary sumptuary law. I know that they hold this to be
necessary; it seems to me doing wrong that good may come out of it.
Faithfully ever
yours,
s. G, H.
SOURCE: Laura E. Richards, Editor, Letters and
Journals of Samuel Gridley Howe, Volume 2, p. 360-1
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