The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-05-15
u ne ORosa bic DassteI 8. DEcssis,-
SON Ou the War.

B1NGHAMToN. May ], 1861.
DEAR SIR-1 am favored with yours of mn
merous pages calling my attention to o news.
| paper article pnrporting TO contain some re.
cent expressions ofmine upon the exciting cues.
tlons OF the day, and inquiring seriously. wheth
er really had said, as therein alleged, that in
the present contest Il would, if necessary,
wipe the South from the face of the earth. -
The paper you quote does not, however, state.
as think it should have done, nor do Won in
quire, whether this extraordinary feat was to
be accomplished socially, politically or geo
graphically. am only surprised that any one,
and especially yourself with the recofd OF nv
sentiments, public and private, for many years
be ore you, up to and including the great meet
ing recently held in New York, should have
taken the trouble to inquire whether, IN the,
ace OF these views, conceded by most, ! believe
TO be just and moderate, lhad at the same time
entertained and publicly expressed those OF a
character exactly opposite | can furnish vou
with an answer in less words than you have
employed to frame the inquiry. Nv views are
mature, firm and rrsolute, hut neither heated
nor exfravagant. | entertain the idea that
whatever may be, or may have been, the wrongs
OF the South, the remedy sought by force is no {
suited to the case, but is calculated to agra
'~'S S'S Ni'NoHO -sSh'oiut ANU btdb fIe over /
throw OF the government OF the United States |
br violence, for any of the reasons, or under anv
o tie pretences alleged, would be one of the |
greatest calamities that has ever be ALLEN civil. |
zed man. | have neither entertained nor ex-
pressed the opinion that, after all efforts at
oeaee had failed, q vigorous conflict and speedy
settlement was more humane than a proSsaoted
guerilla wal; that the quarrel was the aulv and
oily of the present generation, and its adjust
nent should not be cowardly turned over to an
innocent future; that. if protracted, it would
lnally produce servle as we'll as civil war.
nd Tor time destroy the property of both sec,
ions--the commerce Of the North and the in
ttutions OF the South-but that the South
ad less recuperatiye energy than che North.
nd would therefore find reconsru ruction more
ifficult, and be the greatest sufferer; and that.
4 comparison with the moral and political fonn.
atoms OF our constitution and government. the !
resent material interests of both sections were a
( little value, and that it woald be better thew
hould be swept from the earth, both North and {
outh, than the government of our fathers
nould be overthrown by violence, faction and r
sbelIlon. and made TO give place TO lawlessness i
nd anarchy. said was ioI supporting the 0
)nsu uton in its true spirit and for prescry
g the Union; or uphoding the government il
the rightlul exercise Of all lawful authority n
'gardless OF consequences and at any cost "a
n quite willing those whose patriotism impels 81
lem in such a direction should critlcise these d
ews at their leisure. shall publish this +
'te, hot to correct the report you monion. for q
long since learned better than to give conse- c.
lence and currency to misrepresentation by IL
to head it off, but that NAV an In
YER all inquiries at once. Sincerely yours, e.
ID. S. DICKINSON.
Hon. James B. Eldridee, Hamilton. n Y