Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-19
Patriotic Letter frcrn Hon. H. G.
WinthroP.
BosToE, Monday Evening, !
June. 1856.
s. G.. HOWE. Eco


S. G. HowE, Esq.
DEAR SR:-I thank you for your polite in
vitation of this afternoon. Ihsve just returned
home-much earlier than could have wished
from q short journey which the state of my
health required, in order to fulfil special en-
gagements which could not be postponed, and
which occupy the whole of my time at this
moment. Without any reference, therefore,
to the precise purposes of the meeting to-mor-
row evening, am compelled to say at once,
that 1t Is out OF my power TO attend lt. must
beg you to excuse me, also, from beng named
as one of the Vice-Presidents of the meeting,
having long since resolved not to render myself
responsible for the doings or sayings OF any
meeting, at which there was no chance OF my
being personally present.
trust thar it is not necessary for me to go
To Faneu Hall in order to be believed when
say, that DO one depores more deeply than
myself, the distressing occurrences which have
recently taken place both in Kansas and at
Washington, and that no one would more
gladly assist in relieving the personal sutferiDgs
and redressing the public wrongs which have
resulted from them. Especially would l CO.
operate, with the utmost esgerness, with those
who may be ready to propose and to sustain
any just, practicable, and constitutional inca
sures for arresting the progress of Civil War
in Kansas, and for the restoring TO the Sons
and Daughters of Massachusetts, and of every
other State, in that devoted Territory, the
security, peace and freedom which they are
entitled to enjoy. Unjust be perfectly frank in
saying, however, that have no great hope
that violent speeches, angry resolutions, or in-
fSmmatOry appeals, will do anything towards
accomplishing such result. 1t is no time, in
my humble judgment, for indulging in sweep
ing denunciations, indiscriminate and insulting
reproaches, or clamorOus challenges and de-
hances towards other sections of the Union.
On the contrary, beyond almost all other Pc
RODS in our history, since we had history as
United NatiOn-unless we are willing to see
that history brought to bloody close and the
volume shut forever-it is time for the cal
NEST, wisest, most collected and best consider
ed words of which any man is capable. But
unfortunately, though by no means unnstu-
rally, after the agitating events which have 80
recently occurred and which are still in pro-
gress, we are hardly in condition either to
utter anything, or to listen to anything, which
is not angry, violent and vindctive. am not
sorry, under these circumstances, that it has
not been in my power to speak at all in rela-
ton to them. There may be time for juster
views and wiser utterances while as to any
taunts to which silence may have subjected
me, they pass by me like the IDLE wind OF which
they nre composed.
am by no means disposed to reopen the
issues of other years. But cannot help think
ing, that if the gallant veteran, who ought at
this moment to have been at the head of the
Nation, and who is still at the head of its army,
whose presence has almost as often been the
pledge of peace in scenes of strife, as it has
been Of victory on the field of BATTLE-GROUND
be sent at once to Kansas, with full powers to
command and enforce a cessation of lawless
violence add conflict, and to put down the reign
of terror in that region, the dangers which now
threaten the peace of the whole country, might
still be averted. But if nothing is to be at
tempted but to send more men and more
money, and more munitions of war into That
territory, in heated and furious competition
between the North and South, you and |, my
dear sir, may not live to see the termination Of
a struggle, from which nothing but disaster and
downfall to Republican Liberty and to Human
Liberty can result.
But forbear from entering upon topics, on
which have neither time nor heart to enlarge
Let me only express my fervent hope and
PRAYER that the meeting at Faneuil Hall may
not fall short of the exigencies of the occasion
in the moderation and wisdom of its oOunses;
and that spirit of comprehensive and Chris
tian patriotism, rebuking everything of public
violence and personal wrong, and bringing q:
all back into a temper of mutual forbea rance
forgiveness and good will, may speedily re-
assert itself in all quarters of our land.
Believe me, dear sir, respectfully and truly
your obedient servant,
ROBERT O. WINTHROP.