ALEXANDRIA, LA., May 8, 1860.
. . . There is one point which you concede to the Southern States, perfect
liberty to prefer slavery if they choose; still, you hit the system as though
you had feeling against it. I know it is difficult to maintain perfect
impartiality. In all new cases, it is well you should adhere to your conviction
to exclude slavery because you prefer free labor. That is your perfect right,
and I was glad to see that you disavowed any intention to molest slavery in the
district.
Now, so certain and
inevitable is it that the physical and political power of this nation must pass
into the hands of the free states, that I think you can well afford to take
things easy, bear the buffets of a sinking dynasty, and even smile at their
impotent threats. You ought not to expect the southern politicians to rest easy
when they see and feel their crisis so long approaching, and so certain to come
absolutely at hand. . . But this year's presidential election will be a dangerous
one; may actually result in Civil War, though I still cannot believe the South
would actually secede in the event of the election of a Republican. . .
