MARCH 1, 1850.
I dined at the
President's to-day, and sat on his left, with only one lady between, and had
considerable conversation with him. He really is a most simple-minded old man.
He has the least show or pretension about him of any man I ever saw; talks as
artlessly as a child about affairs of State, and does not seem to pretend to a
knowledge of any thing of which he is ignorant. He is a remarkable man in some
respects; and it is remarkable that such a man should be President of the
United States. He said it was impossible to destroy the Union. “I have taken an
oath to support it," said he; "and do you think I am going to commit
perjury? Mr. Jefferson pointed out the way in which any resistance could be put
down,—which was to send a fleet to blockade their harbors, levy duties on all
goods going in, and prevent any goods from coming out. I can save the Union
without shedding a drop of blood. It is not true, as was reported at the North,
that I said I would march an army and subdue them: there would be no need of
any." And thus he went on talking like a child about his cob-house, and
how he would keep the kittens from knocking it over.
SOURCE: Mary Tyler
Peabody Mann, Life of Horace Mann, p. 292-3
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