(A. Belmont to J. J. Crittenden.) NEW YORK, December 26, 1862. MY DEAR SIR,-Please accept my thanks for your compromise resolutions. I have yet to meet the first conservative and Union-loving man who does not approve of them and consider them an efficacious, if not the only, remedy which can save the country from destruction. Your patriotic course is commended warmly by the good men of all parties; and though your noble efforts may prove of no avail against the sectional fanaticism conjured up by designing politicians, the lasting gratitude of every American citizen, who has the greatness of his country at heart, is due to your statesmanlike stand in reference to the Union and the Constitution. I am afraid that no human power can stay the evil, since the Republican leaders, by their vote in the Committee of Thirteen, have proved that they are determined to remain deaf to the dictates of justice and patriotism. Will the American people have this great country dragged to ruin by a handful of Puritanical fanatics and selfish politicians? We can only look for help to the conservative spirit of the border States. I trust that prominent leading men, like yourself, will make a direct appeal to that spirit by a convention of those States. I have the honor to remain, with high regard, Yours very truly, AUGUST BELMONT. CHAPTER XVII. 1861. Letters-S. S. Nicholas-Amos A. Lawrence—Mr. Crittenden to his Son George-J. Robertson-Hon. T. Ewing-House of Representatives-Notice of the Death of Stephen A. Douglas-J. R. Underwood to J. J. Crittenden-Letter to General Scott-House of Representatives-Civil War-Resolution offered by Mr. Crittenden-Letter from J. C. Breckenridge to Mrs. Coleman-Mr. Crittenden to his Son George-Letters to his Wife-Sedgwick-Resolutions found among Mr. Crittenden's Papers-Mr. Crittenden to his Daughter, Mrs. Coleman. (S. S. Nicholas to J. J. Crittenden.) EAR SIR,-I have just read the result of Vallandigham's trial. It seems to me that if we do not mean to submit without remonstrance to military despotism in permanency, we ought to do, or rather say, something in protest against this tyranny. If some thirty or forty of our undoubted elderly Union men will unite and propose to call a meeting of such Union men of our city as disapprove the condemnation, to remonstrate against its enforcement, and, in order to remove its stain upon our nation, to insist upon the dismissal from our army of Burnside and all the officers of the court concerned in the sentence. If you approve, please telegraph your concurrence. I shall also write to Judge Buckner and M. C. Johnson. Yours, S. S. NICHOLAS. Answered immediately by telegraph that no good would come of the suggestion. J. J. CRITTENDEN. (Amos A. Lawrence to J. J. Crittenden.) BOSTON, April 15, 1861. MY DEAR SIR,-Our Union men here who are volunteering for the defense of the government have a very strong desire to meet in Washington a regiment of Union men from Kentucky. You cannot conceive how great would be the influence of such a movement. Our troops who have just left are not one-half Republicans, and even these are national in their feelings. Unless something of this sort is done, the war will be purely sectional, and no man can foretell its horrors. The North is becoming one great army. Every man is for supporting the government at all hazards, and there will be no delay in moving vast masses of fighting-men down toward the border. A half a million can be had within three weeks from this time,-half of them pretty well trained, a quarter very well. Money is offered enough to carry on a long war. The feeling is general that fighting alone can save the government and the country from total ruin. How sad, then, that the Union men of the border States will not stand up to the principles which they have avowed! Cannot you rally them? Or, if the task is too great, cannot you incite some younger men, who have your spirit, to raise a regiment and come on to Washington? They will be the heroes of the day; and though they can only do their small share to save the capital, they can do infinitely more to save us from a sectional war, and they will be the means of saving Kentucky for the Union. Respectfully and truly yours, To the Hon. J. J. CRITTENDEN. AMOS A. LAWRENCE. (Amos A. Lawrence to J. J. Crittenden.) NEAR BOSTON, April 22, 1861. MY DEAR SIR,-I am so anxious to give you a correct idea of the feeling in this part of the country, at this time, in order that it may influence your action, that I cannot avoid writing once more. This evening a meeting was held in the little town of three thousand people, in which I reside, where the whole of the male population was assembled. It was voted to enroll every male inhabitant over seventeen years old, and to place the whole at once under daily military drill. A military committee of nine efficient men was chosen, and fifteen thousand dollars placed at their disposal by a unanimous vote. The town never has been Republican, and only one of the nine belongs to that party. After this was done, the "Star-Spangled Banner" was sung by all, and a few short speeches were made. One of the speakers alluded to your State, and said, "Though she appears to be neutral, she will not long remain so. When the day of trial comes, Kentucky will stand by the flag, and will sustain the government." Whereupon three rousing cheers were given for "old Kentucky," and then three more for "Crittenden." This is only an index to the present movement through the whole North. You can form no idea of its unanimity, and of the determination to sustain the government at all hazards and through all reverses. The chairman of the military committee, a strong Breckenridge man until now, called Mr. B. a "traitor." He added, "This war will last many years, and our sons must be educated for it." And another, also a military man of the same party, said, "Our Southern friends have supposed that Yankees loved gold; but they must be taught that we do not believe in any gold that has not the American eagle stamped upon it, and that we will have no other." An old runaway negro, who is an influential man in one of the black colonies in Canada, showed me some letters to-day which indicate great excitement among those people, and an expectation to be led down "to see their friends." I asked him whether the border State negroes would run away from their masters, "Yes, sir," said he, "they know more about what is coming than their masters do,-the masters know nothing." You may take these things for all they are worth. It does seem to me that Kentucky will be saved or ruined just in proportion as she supports or refuses to support the government. Yours, respectfully and truly, Hon. J. J. CRITTENDEN. AMOS A. LAWRENCE. (J. Robertson to J. J. Crittenden.) RICHMOND, April 28, 1861. DEAR SIR,-No man could have more earnestly striven than yourself to compound the feuds, whose increasing fury, already advanced to the stage of a murderous conflict, threatens to involve thirty millions of men in the horrors of civil war. However I may have differed with you, looking from a Southern view, as to the sufficiency and acceptability of the terms of adjustment you proposed, I never doubted that you regarded them as just, or, at least, as preferable to the evils otherwise to ensue, and as the best which could possibly be obtained. The event has proved that, moderate as they were, the ruling faction would be content with none but such as would degrade the South. Wellnigh desperate is the condition to which that faction has reduced the country. The fact now stares them in the face that the Union is dissolved beyond the hope of restoration, at least, in our day. Yet they are threatening to preserve the Union by force. They read the riot act to millions of men, nay, to sovereign States, who are to be coerced into friendship by their foes at the point of the bayonet. But, waving all recrimination, not insisting on the absurdity of the idea, or the impossibility of reducing the South to an ignominious submission, or the certainty that their subjugation, if possible, would defeat the very object their enemies profess to desire (namely, the preservation or restoration of the Union), by con verting States into vassal provinces (in that character alone can they remain or enter into it), let us inquire if there are no means by which the anticipated consequence of our family jars (now an accomplished fact), the separation of the States, may be recognized by the ruling faction at Washington, without deliberately repeating the most atrocious crime, and steeping their hands still deeper in the blood of their brethren. A word from the long-eared god, who now holds in his hands (as he imagines) the destinies of the country, would be enough. He has only to say, "Let there be peace," and there will be peace. But he and the murderous gang whom he consults already cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war. And yet the star of hope still twinkles in the clouded firmament. Preposterous as is the idea of a peaceful union or reunion, there may still be a peaceful separation; and it is to yourself, sir, who, if allowed to do so, I will still regard, notwithstanding the marked difference of our political sentiments, as a valued friend, it is mainly to you I look for effecting so glorious a consummation. I do not desire that my name should be connected with an effort which you may, most probably, consider utterly idle, and which, should you think worth trying, would be more apt to succeed without it. Before going further at present, permit me to inquire whether it will be agreeable to you to entertain the thoughts which, after much and anxious reflection, have entered into, and taken firm possession of, my mind. It is proper to say that my appeal to you is wholly without the sanction or knowledge of any constituted authorities, State or federal. It has been suggested even but to two individuals; in the judgment of one of them you would yourself repose great confidence. I have received decided encouragement to make it. An immediate answer, if convenient, will greatly oblige me. (J. J. Crittenden to his son George Crittenden.) FRANKFORT, April 30, 1861. MY DEAR SON,-I wrote to you but a little while ago a very long letter, but the uncertain and revolutionary state of the country renders me anxious about everything that is dear to me, and especially about you and Eugene, who are so far off, and who are so immediately in the course of the storm. It is not so much on account of any dangers to which you may be exposed, as because of embarrassments and responsibilities that may devolve upon you in the new and untried circumstances and scenes in which you may be placed. VOL. II.-21 |