You are right in
auguring ill from the Fabian strategy. When the balloting was postponed for
three days, I thought our friends had lost the chances. My own opinion now is
that they are lost beyond recovery; but others do not share this. The pressure
from Washington has been prodigious. Webster and Cass have both done all they
could. Of course, Boston Whiggery is aroused against me. There were for several
days uneasy stomachs at the chances of my success. It is very evident that a
slight word of promise or yielding to the Hunkers would have secured my
election, it would now if I would give it; but this is impossible. The charge
used with most effect against me is that I am a 'disunionist;' but the authors
of this know its falsehood, — it is all a sham to influence votes. My
principles are, in the words of Franklin, “to step to the verge of the
Constitution to discourage every species of traffic in human flesh.” I am a
constitutionalist and a unionist, and have always been.
SOURCES: Edward L.
Pierce, Memoir and Letters of Charles Sumner, Vol. 3, p. 239-40
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