The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-04
THE HONORABLE DANIEL s. DICKINSON ON
THE WAR.

BIsGHAgroN, May l, 1901.
DEAR srR;-y am favored with yours OF numerous
pnges calling my attention 10 newspaper article pur
porting to contain expressions Of mine upon
the exciting questions OF the day. and nquog serious
iy whether really had sad therein alleged, that in
the present contest 1 would, IL necessary, wipe the
South from the face Of the earth The paper you quote
deer not however, state think II should have DONE
10 you inquire, whether this extraordinary feat
10 be accomplished socially politically geographical
w. only surprised that any one and especially your
self, with the record OF my sentiments, public and pr
great meeting recently held in New York should have
taken tho trouble TO inquire whether in the face OF these
views conceded by most believe, TO be Ilst and mode
rate, had at The time entertained and publicly
pressed thoee Of character exactly opposite. can fur
psb you with an alswer IN ess words than you have
employed 10 frame the Inquiry. Ny views are mature,
f and resoluie but neither heated oxtravagant
| entertain tho idea that whatever may be, or may
have been, the wrongs Of the South, the remedy
sought by force in not suited 10 the case, but
10 calculated 10 aggravatc the disease tenfod and that
the overthrow OF the OF the United states by
violence for nny OF the reasJrs, under any OF the pre-
fences cged, would be ~ tho greatest caamtol
that has ever befalon civilized man have neither en-
tertanod expressed the crude an absurd sentiment
attributed 10 me, nor anything q tho kind have ex
pressed the opinion that, after al efforts al peace hal
failed, vigorous conflict md speedy settlement was
more humane than pforactcd guerilla war; that the
quarrel the fault anil folly of tho present
and its sustmtnt should net Nc cowady turned over 10
innocent future; that H protracted Il would finally
produce seryc as well civil war and Tor tiroo ds
sroy tho pro Ierty Of both sectonsthe Commerce ~
the North and the attutions OF the southbu, that tho
South had less rccpcaye energy than the North end
would therefore nud reconstructlon more dlncut and
be the creates. suilrer and that compariton with the
moral and political foundations of our constitution and
government, The present material inter esis of both sec
tcns were of itue value aud that N would be better
tney Fh,u'd &c swep, from tho earth both North and
souh Than that TIE goversrent OF our fathers should be
oyeth own by violence, faction aud rebellion, aud made
70 give place 70 hwlesEntss and anarchy. said was
for supporting .he constitution In It's true spirit and for
Wfserving the lnon for uphodi5g the government In
the rthsfu exercise of all lawful authority, Rarss of
coniequcrctS ard at sny cost I quite willing those
Whole paiTctsm imrcls them In sush direction should
criticize tho sc views nj their leisure shall publish this
note, not 10 correct the report yoL mention for long
since learned better than 10 give conlequence curren
cy 10 a misrepresentation by attempting 10 head II cG
but that may answer all inquiries At once. Sincerely
yours, ID. s. DICKINSON