Martin F. Conway to George L. Stearns, December 25, 1861

My speech will appear in extenso in the Daily, Tri-Weekly, and Weekly Tribune. It will be in the next Weekly, and perhaps to-morrow's Daily, but this latter is not certain.

One thousand copies of the Daily (in wrappers) will be sent to me for franking, of which I will send you the greater portion.

The expense will be $275.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 258

John Brown to Mary Hall Stearns, November 29, 1859

Charlestown, Jefferson County, Va., Nov. 29, 1859.

Mrs. George L. Stearns, Boston, Mass.

My Dear Friend, — No letter I have received since my imprisonment here has given me more satisfaction or comfort than yours of the 8th instant. I am quite cheerful, and was never more happy. Have only time to write a word. May God forever reward you and all yours! My love to all who love their neighbors. I have asked to be spared from having any weak or hypocritical prayers made over me when I am publicly murdered, and that my only religious attendants be poor little dirty, ragged, bareheaded, and barefooted slave boys and girls, led by some old gray-headed slave mother. Farewell! Farewell!

Your friend,

John Brown.

SOURCES: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 610-1

Martin F. Conway to George L. Stearns, November 1, 1861

[WASHINGTON, D.C., November 1, 1861.]

Our Administration is undoubtedly pro-slavery. Its object is to bring the old elements into power, which used to exist North and South as the Whig party, espewing the “Wooley Head” faction and taking in the “Silver Grey.” Lincoln is an old Kentucky Whig, and Seward has gone over. They are pro-slavery; but talk about placing slavery where “it will be in the course of ultimate extinction,” which is an utter fallacy

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 257

John Greenleaf Whittier to George L. Stearns, September 13, 1861

[September 13, 1861.]

Dr. Friend:

Owing to absence from home, I did not see thy letter until last evening.

It would have given me pleasure to have attended your meeting of the 10th inst.

I presume I should fully agree with you as to the duty and expediency of striking more directly at the real cause of the war. As heretofore I shall use all my endeavors to this end. If the present terrible struggle does not involve emancipation, partial or complete, it is, at once, a most wicked and the most ludicrous war ever waged.

Thanking thee and thy friends for the invitation, I shall be happy to cooperate with you to the extent of my power.

Thou wast deeply interested in John Brown, I think. Let me call thy attention to a poem, “Our First Martyr,” by Miss Phoebe Cary, of New York, in the last Independent.

Very truly thy fd.,

John G. Whittier.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 256-7

Martin F. Conway to George L. Stearns, August 18, 1861

An attack by the Southern force is daily expected on Fort Scott, which has been made the depot recently of large supplies of provisions. The place is but poorly defended, and will probably fall into the hands of the enemy. We have not arms enough. The Government has been too slow. Our military is in a very backward state. Lane is at work, doing his best to hasten their organization. He is now on his way to Fort Scott. Many persons charge Governor Robinson with having thrown obstacles in the way of the organization of Lane's brigade, which I think quite likely.*

_______________

* Appendix A.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 256

George L. Stearns, about July 22, 1861

It is the first step toward the emancipation. If we had won a decisive victory, in less than six months the rebellious states would be back in the Union, the government would be out-voted in Congress, and we should have all our work to do over again.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 254

Judge Conway Martin F. Conway to George L. Stearns, July 12, 1861

I have no doubt of Mr. Chase's recommendation as to the duty on lead being adopted by Congress. I shall vote for all Mr. Chase's recommendations, and I suppose the members generally would do the same.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 253

George L. Stearns to Mary Hall Stearns, June 24, 1861

[Washington, June 24, 1861.]

Success attends me everywhere. I left Saturday P.M. for Fortress Monroe. Mr. Blair gave me a letter of introduction to General Butler, concluding with, “I like him and think you will.”

This put me in direct communication with him, and we had a free talk on the way to Newport News and back. He took me with him in his despatch-boat. Butler's views coincided with Blair's, and mine so far. He says that the freedmen must be removed when they press on him, but that is not yet. They more than earn their rations. There are about 350, including 60 women and children, there; but have not increased lately, because, the masters having first run away from the neighborhood of our troops, the slaves remain and live on the best of the rebel plantations, and work or play as they choose. As he keeps those who come to him at work they prefer to live at home in the absence of their masters, and do as they please. He says there is now $250,000 worth of sweet potatoes in the ground near Norfolk, and no market for them. These will keep the slaves until the cold weather; then we must take care of them.

I have had a long talk with Sumner to-day, or rather I talked to him an hour, he listening attentively, and then, being interrupted, we adjourned it to this evening. The result of this conference you will learn on my return home.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 252

George L. Stearns to Mary Hall Stearns, June 22, 1861

Only, think of Colonel James Montgomery, United States volunteers; Captain John E. Stewart, same service. If Stewart had asked me for it he would have been Colonel Stewart, altho’ I think it better as it is.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 252

George L. Stearns to Mary Hall Stearns, June 18, 1861

All my work prospers. The Governor is anxious to get rid of the slaves, and I expect will facilitate their exodus.

Collamore has left for Kansas with authority to raise and fully equip three regiments, which equipment is so much extra. They do not grant it to others.

Blair wants me to go to Fort Munroe and see Butler about it. This will take three days more, and then for our dear home.

Jim Lane means to be in New Orleans by December.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 251

George L. Stearns to Mary Hall Stearns, June 17, 1861

I wrote you a long letter last night. To-day I have obtained for Collamore an order from the Secretary of War for three Kansas regiments, including all their supplies, to be furnished by the United States. Of one William A. Phillips is to be colonel, and Stewart one of the captains. It will be the crack regiment of that state. I have also laid my plan for sending off the fugitives. F. P. Blair, Sr., approves and will aid the enterprise, remarking it will never do to return them to bondage. I am happy.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 251

Charles Sumner to Salmon P. Chase, June 11, 1861

Boston, 11th June, '60.

My Dear Chase:

Mr. Stearns, the devoted friend of Kansas, one of our most earnest, generous, and noble friends, whose purse has been always open and his mind always active for the good cause, has occasion to see you. I commend him cordially.

Ever yours,

Charles Sumner.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 250

George L. Stearns to Susan Howe Hillard, June 10, 1861

[June 10, 1861.]

My Dear Mrs. Hillard:

It is so many thousand soldiers; so many million negroes; and so many hundred millions of dollars. My mind is confused with it all, but I trust we shall live through this distracted condition of affairs and see blue sky again.

There was a man who lived in Medford, who was called Bill Hall. He traded with the West Indies, and it was “molasses and niggers” and 'niggers and molasses;' and he did not feel quite sure which was which; but he had an idea that if the niggers were liberated he should lose his molasses. There are a good many like him in the city of Boston, but the time is approaching when they will be obliged to discriminate between negroes and molasses, and recognize that the negro is a man and not a kind of merchandise.

Yours faithfully,

George L. Stearns.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 250

George L. Stearns to Mary Elizabeth Preston Stearns, May 16, 1861

[May 16, 1861.]

Yesterday afternoon, in furtherance of my plans, I went to Silver Spring to see old Mr. Blair. He received me very cordially, and, talking about the war, I asked him, “What news from Missouri?” He told me that he was afraid his son Frank had gone to Jefferson City with troops, and there was danger that the Missourians would rise and be too strong for them, but he hoped to hear that Jim Lane had gone to Arkansas with two regiments of Kansas troops to make a diversion. When I told him that no troops had been equipped in Kansas, and Jim Lane was sick at Altoona, Pennsylvania, on his way to Washington, he said something should be done immediately and we must go to the President. I then laid before him the requests of Collamore and also of Stewart, for regiments, and we agreed to meet at ten to-morrow and see what could be done.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 248-9

George L. Stearns to his Mary Elizabeth Preston Stearns, May 10, 1861

[May 10, 1861.]

We are well, and I have the satisfaction of not coming here for nothing. There is a hitch on in the arming of Kansas men that I am trying to remove. There are B. movements here that I shall probably control, and in other ways I am making myself useful to my country.

This is the place for rumors, but nothing more is known here than in Boston. There is a daily expectation of an attack by one party or the other, but I do not think either party will risk a great battle.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 248

Martin F. Conway to George L. Stearns, May 4, 1861

[May 4, 1861.]

dear Sir:

I have drawn upon you at sight for $300, by draft of date 3d May, in favor of Geo. W. Collamore, Esq. My prospects of a reelection are becoming much more favorable, and it is now highly probable that I will be successful.

I have just received a noble letter from Senator Sumner which will be of good assistance to me.

Very truly yours,

M. F. Conway.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 246

Senator Charles Sumner to George L. Stearns, February 3, 1861

Washington, 3d Feb., '61.

My Dear Sir:

There are but few who stand rooted, like the oak, against a storm. This is the nature of man. Let us be patient.

My special trust is this. No possible compromise or concession will be of the least avail. Events are hastening which will supersede all such things. This will save us. But I hope to see Massachusetts in this breaking up of the Union ever true. God keep her from playing the part of Judas or — of Peter! You may all bend or cry pardon — I will not. Here I am and I mean to stand firm to the last. God bless you!

Ever yours,

Charles Sumner.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 241

George L. Stearns to William L. Robinson of Boston, December 24, 1860

[December 24, 1860]

I am well satisfied that the Southern Party determined to secede, to see if they could not break up the Republican Party, which they hoped to do by a Northern Panic. They expected to break our banks, paralyze our industry, fail our merchants, and starve our operatives. That this was and is their game is evident by their constant endeavors, both in public and private, to induce the Northerners to make some proposition as a bribe to induce them to remain in the Union.

They have failed. Their plan is exposed, and the effect will be to consolidate the Republican Party more closely than it could be done by any other means. Neither will they be able to secede or break up the Union. It is confessed by the leaders of the Southern Party, they have now lost control of the movement. It is now in the hands of the masses and they tremble before the storm they have raised. If any proof of this was wanting, the fact that eminent Southern men of strong conservative tendencies are now most inveterate Fire-eaters, advocating extreme measures that their private judgment condemns, is conclusive on this point.

Here the leaders are sad; they see the signs of recuperation at the North and the daily depreciation and distress at the South; therefore they are anxious for a compromise. But they will not get it. First, because a compromise is not possible in the nature of things; and secondly, because the Republican Party are fully determined not to make one. An effective compromise is not possible when the parties have no faith in each other, and this is the case with the Northern and Southern parties.

Do you ask, What shall we do? I answer, Keep quiet*

I told you a short time since that no act of Congress or resolution of a convention could be of any avail to settle this controversy. That is in the hands of the Lord. To-day I believe it more firmly than ever.

_______________

* This watchword explains Sumner's attitude during the winter of 1861. Perhaps it originated with Sumner.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 238-40

George L. Stearns to Samuel Gridley Howe, December 23, 1860

[December 23, 1860.]

Dear Friend:

Yours of 20th is at hand. I will see the persons you have named and be ready to report as soon as I have returned home. Stone, I have no doubt, will be an acquisition of great value, but we shall want an editor of equal ability. Some persons here say that we must have $10,000 pledged to secure success, and my present plan is to pay a manager and editor each a moderate salary and one-half the profits, the other half to go to the guaranty fund, or be used in extending the paper. To succeed we must play a bold game. Andrew appears as well as usual. We are having a right good time. You will see all the Washington gossip in the papers before this reaches you, and I shall only give the impression it has made on me, which is that if any Republican members vote for concession or compromise they are politically dead. If a majority of the party vote for it, the party is dead. I have to-day seen a number of leading men and all their talk was a resolution for the impeachment of the President.

We are told Lincoln says no friend of his will propose either dissolution or concession. Wilson says: “They meet us with long faces, and we laugh at them and tell them to go.” In the Senate Committee of Thirteen, all the Republicans voted against the compromises; which, as there would be no compromise without them, was understood to be fatal. When they came to the Fugitive Slave Law, Wade told them that, as they were going out of the Union, there was no need of voting on that, for it would then die of itself. If this goes on much further I think we may expect the immediate abolition of slavery, even if it requires an ocean of blood. If war with the Cotton States comes, I am sure of it.

Yours faithfully,

George L. Stearns.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 237-8

Captian James Montgomery to George L. Stearns, November 20, 1860

[Mound City, Kansas, November 20, 1860.]

In the winter of ’59, after the second expulsion of Border-ruffians, a county meeting, duly advertised and largely attended, composed mainly of Democrats and conservative men, Bob Mitchell himself among them, passed a series of resolutions sustaining the jayhawkers, and condemning to perpetual banishment those violent men, who had been forcibly expelled. The resolutions passed unanimously, even Bob Mitchell voting in the affirmative.

In fact, it was plain to the common sense of every man that if it had been necessary to drive them out, it was necessary to keep them out. Such were their habits, and the violence of their character, that it were vain to think of living with them on peaceable terms. Our “Free-state” Democrats are, to-day, more venomous and less disposed to forgive and forget than their Border-ruffian brethren.

Cowardly and sneaking, they are the men to plan the schemes for assassination which they depend on the “Border-ruffians” to execute. Striking in the dark, and keeping their names and numbers concealed, they hoped to stampede the whole antislavery force of the territory Of the existence of this “dark lantern fraternity,” we have incontestable evidence.

We are in possession not only of their plans, but even their private signals, and, as in the case of More, we have evidence sufficient to warrant handling several of them individually.

We have had several additions to our colored population within the week, while several of our Democratic friends have left the country. A friend observed to me yesterday: “The Democrats are leaving and the Black Republicans are coming in.”

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 235-6