ALEXANDRIA, Jan. 18,
1861.
DEAR BROTHER: Before
receiving yours of the 7th, I had addressed a letter to Governor Moore at Baton
Rouge, of which this is a copy: (see the preceding letters to Governor Moore).
I regard the seizure
by Governor Moore of the United States Arsenal as the worst act yet committed
in the present revolution. I do think every allowance should be made to southern
politicians for their nervous anxiety about their political power and the
safety of slaves. I think that the constitution should be liberally construed
in their behalf, but I do regard this Civil War as precipitated with undue
rapidity. It is inevitable. All the legislation now would fall powerless on the
South. You should not alienate such states as Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee,
and Missouri. My notion is that this war will ruin all politicians, and that
military leaders will direct the events.
SOURCE: Walter
L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 343-4
No comments:
Post a Comment