Nothing is clearer to me than this. Our friends should if possible secure
the balance of power in the Legislature, so as to influence the choice of senator.
Some are sanguine that we can choose one of our men. I doubt this; but by a
prudent course, and without any bargain, we can obtain the control of the
Senate. We can then at least dictate to the Whigs whom they shall send. But
this cannot be done except by thinning the Whig ranks. I fear that the course
in Middlesex1 will jeopard Palfrey's position and our whole movement.
I wash my hands of it.
_______________
1 Opposition to union between Democrats and
Free Soilers for the election of members of the Legislature, led by Samuel
Hoar, R. H. Dana, Jr., and Anson Burlingame. It proved ineffective against the
strong current in favor of union.
SOURCE: Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and Letters of Charles Sumner,
Vol. 3, p. 218-9
No comments:
Post a Comment