William Barton Rogers to Henry Darwin Rogers, May 17, 1860

Boston, May 17,1860.

My Dear Henry,  . . . On Friday I made my address to the Natural History Society on their thirtieth anniversary, and according to all accounts was more than usually successful. As I did not prepare in writing, I have, of course, nothing permanent to show for it. But I suppose the chief object was attained, and I am content.

I have been making some further experiments on photographing the electrical light, and on binocular vision, the details of which I will send you in my next, with the request, perhaps, that you would present them at the Oxford meeting. I have obtained a very beautiful photographic impression of the stratified discharge, thus showing the absence of actinic as well as luminous rays in the dark interspaces. . . .

Mr. Alger has lately shown me a letter of yours to Herbert Spencer in regard to the publication of the latter's works in this country. He and Mr. Silsbee, of Salem, are interesting themselves in getting subscribers, as I most certainly shall do. Some of Spencer's reviews, which I have read, struck me as very remarkable productions. After a time I am sure that his writings will be in great request with the more liberal thinkers here.

The Constitutional-Union party, at their late convention in Baltimore, nominated Bell, of Tennessee, for President, and Everett for Vice-President. Hillard was one of the chief speakers, and won a shower of bouquets from the ladies. As no opinions were expressed, or principles announced, in regard to any of the stirring questions of the day, of course all went smoothly and pleasantly.

I was saddened to hear yesterday that Theodore Parker has been rapidly going down, and that he is not expected to be able to leave Florence. Desor has been with him, and perhaps is still his companion. But probably you know more of his condition and purposes than we do. . . .

Your affectionate brother,

William.

SOURCE: Emma Savage Rogers & William T. Sedgwick, Life and Letters of William Barton Rogers, Volume 2, p. 33-4

Charles Eliot Norton to James Russell Lowell, June 3, 1860

Newport, 3 June, 1860.

. . . Are you pleased that Mr. Everett has consented to take the nomination for the Vice Presidency? His letter reminds me of the advertisement of “the retired Doctor whose sands of life have nearly run out.” We have patriots left. In the view of the Union party it would seem that the Union itself were in a similar condition to the English gunboats, planks rotted, sham copper bolts not driven half through, and a general condition of unsoundness making them wholly unsafe in a sea.

Yet if the Vengeur should go down under the waves, Bell and Everett will be seen upon the upper deck waving their hands in a graceful oratorical way, and crying with melancholy voice, Vive la République....

SOURCE: Sara Norton and  M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Letters of Charles Eliot Norton, Volume 1, p. 208-9

Amos A. Lawrence to Henry Lee, April 17, 1861

Boston, April 17, 1861.

Dear Henry, — I don't wish to court notoriety by offering my service to Governor Andrew, but shall be glad to undertake any service of which I am capable. Therefore please to keep an eye out for me, where smart young chaps are wanted, and small pay.

Yours truly,

A. A. L.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 170

“Constitutional Union Party”

Amos Kendall, a gentleman who for more than a quarter of a century figured extensively in our country as a politician of the Democratic school, but for some years has led a retired life, has commenced the publication of a series of articles in the National Intelligencer on the “Object of the war.” From the initial number we make the following extract addressed to President Lincoln:

“Be assured, sir, that the democratic party of the north, with the exception of a few semi-traitors whom they repudiate, cordially approved the objects of the war against rebellion as declared by you in all your public avowals. They rally around you with a devotion to the cause not exceeded by any class of your original supporters, and they will spare no sacrifice to save the Union and the Constitution.  In this great object they are already consolidated with the great mass of the republican party, and will be among the last to despair.  Indeed these two parties for all present purposes constitute but one, which may be appropriately called the CONSTITUTIONAL UNION PARTY.  The object of this party in the pending war is to preserve the Union and the constitution as it is.  It is the Constitution, and that only, which makes us a nation; destroy it, and the nation will cease to exist, being dissolved into thirty-four independent States.

In the beginning of the war, says Mr. Kendall, some of the Democrats “raised their voices against coercion, and thereby unwittingly rendered material service to the cause of the rebellion.”  Of this class was the Democrat of this city, but it has since shown such a disposition to reform that we feel like forgiving it for its past sins and regarding its present course more the earnest of sincerity than the inclination which some men have to float with the popular current.

In the above extract the aged politician has laid down a platform that will do very well for these war times, as it will sustain both Republicans and Democrats – all the people in fact, but a very few ultra ones, who regard the Constitution and Slavery as synonyms.

As the rebel States have forfeited all claim on the Government and voted themselves out of the republic, they should be taken on their own action and be received again only on the footing of territories.  The “Constitutional Union Party” are not in favor of having the property of Northern Union men sold to pay the onus of debt entailed upon the country by the scoundrelism of Southern rebels; but advocate the policy of letting those who inflicted the debt be made to pay it to the last farthing.  We are one of those who believe that the Union, embracing all its original territory, and the Constitution, unimpaired, can be saved and at the same time such measures be adopted as will forever remove from us the course that entailed upon us this war.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 1, 1862, p. 2