Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-06-12
A DOnghface Letter from Hon. r. c.
Winthrop.
BosToN, Monday Evening, } !.
June, 1856,

4
June, 1856.
S. 6. HOWE. Esq.
DEAR SIR: 81 thank you for your kind in
vitation OF this afternoon-I have just return
ed home-much earlier than / could have
wished--from short journey which the state
OF my health required in order to fulfil special
engagements which could not be postponed,
and which occupy the whole of my time at
this moment. Without any reference, there.
{ fore, to the precise purposes of the meeting
tomorrow evening, l am compelled to say at
once, that it is out ofmy power to attend it
l must beg you to excuse me, also, from being
named as one of the Vice. Presidents Of the
meeting, 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 that 1t is not necessary for me to go
to Faneuil Hall in order to be believed when
say, that no one deplores more deeply than
myself. the distressing occurrences which have
recently taken place both in Kanzas and at
Washington, and that no one would more
gladly assist in relieving the personal suffer-
ings and redressing the public wrongs which
have resulted from them. Especially would
cooperate, with the utmost eagerness, with
those who mey be ready to propose and to
sustain any just, practicable, and constitution
al measures for arresting the progress of Civil
War in Kanzas, and for restoring to the Sons
and Daughters Of Massachusetts,, and of every
other State, in that devoted Territory, the Sc
curity, peace and freedom which they are en-
titled TO enjoy. must be perfectly frank in
saying, however, that l have no great hope
that violent speeches, angry resolutions, or
imfammatory appeals, will do anything to-
wards accomplishing such result 1t is no
time, in my humble judgment, for indulging
in sweeping denunciations, indiscrimitate and
insulting reproacbes, or clamorous challenges
and dehanees towards other sections of the
Union. On the contrary, beyond almost all
other periods i'll our history, since we had
history as a United Nation-unless we are
willing to see that history brought to bloody
close and the volume shut forever-it is a
time for the calmest, wisest, most collected and
best considered words of which any man is
capable. But unfortunately, though by no
means unnaturally after the agitating events
which have SO recently occurred and, which
are still IN progress, we are hardly ina condi-
ton either to utter anything, or to listen to
anything, which is not angry, violent and
VIndictlve. am not sorry, under these cir.
cumstances, that it has not been in my pow
er to speak at all in relation to them. There
may be time for juster views and wise utter
lence may have subjected me, the pass by me
like the idle wind of which they are composed.
am by no means disposed to reopen the
issues of other years. But l cannot help
thinking, 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, could be sent at once to Kanzas, with
full power to command and enforce cessa-
ton of lawless violence and 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 attempted but to send
more men and more money, and more NUM-
tions of war into that territory, in heated
and furious competition between the North
and the South, you and l, my dear sir, may
not live to see the termination of a struggle,
from which nothing but disaster and down.
fall to Republican Liberty and to human Lib
erty can result.
But forbear from entering upon topics, on
which have neither time nor heart to en-
large. 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 counsels. and the, p m. Of cnmprehen-
sive and Christia,SSSo; 80 81 p m uking everv-
thing of public violeYl.SO 4.so p. wrong, and
e-inging us all back in ,,er of mutual
forbearance, 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 G. WINTHROP,