Toledo, June 28, 1851.
My Dear Sumner,
We had a glorious time at Ravenna. Fifteen hundred or two thousand people were
present. The best men of the Reserve were there — Giddings & Townshend of
the House—Spalding, of our Supreme Court — Morse, Speaker of our last House of
Representatives and many others of less note. The resolutions were not quite
fundamental enough in their democratic character to suit me; but they will do.
It was occasion of much regret that you were not there, and I did not receive
your note until yesterday just as I was leaving Cleveland for this place, with
Mrs. C. and my little daughter.
Mrs. C. has nearly relinquished the idea of a journey to
Europe. We may however before we return to Cincinnati visit Boston.
I notice what you say of the state of things in
Massachusetts. With us the same bitterness does not yet discover itself; but we
have got to go to work. The chiefly [sic] difficulty we labor under is the want
of a common uniting principle. That I am satisfied will be found in a cordial recognition
of the great democratic principle of Equal Rights & Exact Justice, with a
fixed purpose to carry it out into practical application to all subjects of
governmental action. That will unite us with the strong bond of
fraternity. That will give us the name & character of democrats and
make us invincible.
Yours cordially,
[SALMON P. CHASE.]
P. S. How wd. you like a house at Washington jointly with me
or with me & Hale? I must contrive some way to be near you. I reckon upon
so much benefit from your society.
SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol.
2, p. 237-8
