The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-01-12
GEN. WOOL 10 GEN. CAss.
~ Private 1'Ee ~ 9l

"a alo. aiToL = .oat ~ Troy, Dec. Q, 1850.
MY Dx4R GBNRRAL: Old associations and for
iner friendship induce me to venture to address
to YOU few words on the state Of the country.
My letter is marked private, because am not
authorized to address you officially. 700
q have read with pleasure the Presidents Mes
sage. South Carolina says she intends to leave
the Union Her Representatives in Congress
say she has already left the Union 1t would
seem that she is neither to be cunciliated or
comfOrted- i command the Eastern Department
which includes South Carolina Georgia, Flor.
'da, Alabama and Mississippi You know me
well. have ever been firm, decided, faithful
and devoted friend of my country If / can aid
he President to preserve the Union, l hope he
WIZ command my services. 1t will never do for
him or you to leave Washington without every
star IN this Union in its place. Therefore no
time should be lost in adopting measures to de
feat those who are conspirng against the Union
hesitancy or delay may be no less fatal to the
Union, than to the President, or your own high
standing as a statesman. l15f--Isa
1t seems to me that troops should be sent to
Charleston to man the forts in that harbor. You
have eight companies at Fort Monroe, Va
Three or four of these companies should be sent
without a moments delay TO Fort Moultrie. 1t
will save the Union, and the President much
trouble. 1t is said that to send at this time
troops to that harbor would produce great ex-
element among the people. That is nonsense,
when the people are as much excited as they can
be, and the leaders are determined to execute
their long meditated purpose of separating the
State from the Union. So long as you command
the entrance to the city Of Charleston, South
Carolina cannot separate herself from the Union.
Do not leave the forts in me harbor in a cond-
| ton to induce all attempt to take possession OF
| them 1t might easily be done at this time II
South Carolina should take them it might, as she
anticipates, induce other States to Join her
Permit me TO entreat you &c urge the President
to send at once three or four companies of artil-
lery to Fort Moultre. Tie Union can be pre-.
served, but it requires firm, decided, prompt and
energetic measures on the part of the President
He has only to exert the power conferred upon
| him by the Constitution and laws Of Congress
and all will be safe, and lie will prevent civil
war. which never fails to call forth all the ba ser
passions of the human heart. II separation
| should take place, you may rest assured blood
would flow in torrents, followed by pestilence
| famine and desolation, ana Senator Stewards il
repressible conflict will be brought to a concIu-
sion much sooner than he could possibly la ye
anticipated. Let me Conlure you to save the
| Union, and thereby avoid The bloody and desc
| lating example of the States. of Mexico A sep
aratioE of the States will bring with it the desc
ation of the Cotton States, which are unpreparat
Tor war. Their weakness will be found in the
number of their slaves, with but few of the es
sentias to carry on war whilst the Free State.
have all the clements and materials for war, aiIt
to a greater extent than any other people on the
face OF the globe.
Think of these things, lny dear General, AND
save the country, and save the prosperous South
from pestilenee, famine and desolaton. Peace
| able secession il not Ia he thnuyht nf Evan Il
it should take place in three months, We woulC
have bloody war on our hands.
Very truly your friend,
| JOHN E. Wool
Hon. LEWIS CAss, Secretary Of State, Wash
| ington, d. G.