, 1861-01-05
GEN. WOOL TO GEN, CABS.
Tprfrasn1

[Prisasc.l
TEor, Dec. 6, 1900.
MT DEAR GENERAL Odd associations aud
former friendship induce me to venture to ad-
dress to you few words on tEe state OF the
country Ny letter is marked private, because
l au nut authorized to address you officially.
have read with pleasure the Presidents
leave The Union. Her representatives III Con
gress say tI,e has already left the Union. It
Wonid seem that she is neither to be concili+
atcd or comfurted. T command the Eastern
Department, which includes South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.
You know INC we'll have ever been Il firm,
decided, faithful and devoted ffienu Of my
country. If can aid the President to preserve
the Union, hope he will command my SER
yiccs. It will never do for him or you to leave
Washington without every star in this Union
is IN its place. Therefore, no time should be
lost in adopting measures to defeat those who
are conspiring against the Union. Hesftancy
or delay may be 10 less fatal to the Union than
to tue President. or Jour own high ssaudiDg as
q statesman.
i. sccus 10 n,c 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 oi these companies should
hc sent without n molnent's delay to Fort
Muultric. 1t will save the uuiou, aud the
President much trouble. II is said that to send
at this time troops to that harbor would pro-
lacc crest excitement among the people.
Tint is nonsense, when the people are rs much
excited as they eau be, aud the leaders arc de-
tesminsL to execute their long n,edjtatrd pur-
pose Of separating The State from the Union.
SO long as YOU command the entrance to the
city OF Charleston, South Carolina cannot sep
ar.te herself from the Union. Do not leave
the ferris In the harbor in condition to induce
an attempt to take possession OF them. 1t
might easily be done at this time If South
Carolina should take them, it might, is che
anticipates, induce other States to Join bcr.
Permit me TO cnt7eat you to urge the PEesi-
dent to send at once three or four companies
Of artillery to Fort Moultric. The Union cau
be preserved, but it requires firm, decide d,
prompt nn1 energetic measures On the part Of
the President. He has only to exert the pow
er conferred upon him by tile Constitution aud
Mws of Congress, and all will be safe, and lie
will prevent civil war, which never fails to
call forth all the baser passions Of the human
heart. If q separation should take place, you
may rest assured blood would flow III torrents,
aud Senator Stewards irTepfessil1e conflict
will be brought to n conclusion much sooner
than he could possibly hare anticipated. Let
me conjure you to save the Union, aud there
the States of Mexico. 4 separation oil the
States will bring with it the lcso}atipn Of the
Cotton States, which arc unp1epared for war.
Their weakness will be found ln the number
Of their slaves, with but few Of the essentials
to carry on war, whilst the Free States h%4 all
tho elements md materials for war, anu 10
greater extent than any other people On the
tact Of the globe
Think Of these things, my dea. General, and
farc the country, anti gave the prosperous
South from pesti1encc, famine and dceolation.
PeIeeah1c secession is not to be thought Of.
Even II 1t should take place in three months,
VIC wonld laye Z bloody war On our hands.
Very truly your friend,
JouS E. WOOL.
Hon. LEWIS CAss, Secretary Of State, Wash
in:tau, D. c.