New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-08
A PRIVATE LETTER FROM EDWARD
EVERETT
Private letter, written without thought OF pubhca
ZION 10 a CORE spondent in yjrrinis:l

Ifrlyate ieter, written without tnOuSnb vi Pup"N'
eion, to a correspondent in yirgnis;l :, ,o.,
MsDsAs Ms-: Your letter of the 9th reached
me yesterday read it with mingled feelings; grsS-
fled that your friendly regard bad us yet survived the
shock of the times and deeply geVed AZ Tue oinereht
view we take of the existing crisis. -, -,
IL is well known 10 you that sustained the South,
at the almost total sacrifice OF influence and favor at
home as long Sc thought she pursuing COnstitu-
7ional objects This did, although the South had
placed the conservative North In false and ndefensi
BE position, by the repeal Of the Missouri Compro-
mise and the perseyercg attempts to force Slavery
into the Territory OF Kansas, by surprise, fraud and
violence against the known wish of an overwhelming
majority of the People. pursued this course for the
cake Of strengthening the hands OF patriotic Union
men at the South; although was well aware, partly
from facts within nv personal knowledge that leading
Southern politicians had for thirty years been resolved
TO break up the Union they ceased TO control
che United States Government, and that the Slavery
question but pretext for keeping up agitation
and rallying the South.
Notwithstanding this state of things and the wholly
unwarrantable manner in which the policy OF Secession
was initiated by South Carolina, and followed up BY
ahe other Cotton States and IN spite OF the seizure OF
ahe public establishments and the public property
which in the absence of any joint act Of PARTITION was
sbeer piunder-t was my opinion that, II they woul9
10 separate had better part in peace. Buthe wsn-
aon attack Fort Sumter (which took place. not from
any military necessity, for what harm was a single
company cooped up iD Charleston barbor, able TO do
70 South Carolina but for the avowed purpose OF
stirring the blood Of the South, and thus bringing
an the Border Staes and the subsequent proceedings
at Montgomery have wholly changed the state Of
affairs. The South hiss levied an unprovoked war
against the Government Of the United States, the
xdest and most benefeent in the world and has
made it the duty of every good citizen to rally to iIs
support.
perceive that my having publicly expressed that
continent and contributed my mite toward the regi-
ment of MIR. Webster (whO inherts the conservative
opinions Of his lustrous faher has caused surprise
fto n nf of
among the most valued of tbem-ss if my doing was
inconsistent with the friendly feelings have ever
cherished toward the Souh But these friends forget
chat early the 18TH Of April that is, before the
Proclamation Of President Lincoln, the Secretary of
War Montgomery had threatened that by the LIT Of
May, the Confederate flag should float over the Capt.
col at Washington, and in due time Isneu Hall.
When General Beauregard proceeds to execute this
threat, his red hot cannon balls and shells will not
spare the roof that shelters my daughter aud four little
children at Washington, nor my own rooi in Boston
Must because have been the steady friend Of the
South sit still while he Is batterng my house about my
ears
certainly deprecate the choice Of President, OK
slusively by the electoral votes Of one section OF the
country, though cODsening with tie greatest reluc-
tance to be myself upon Of the opposing tickets
II was however fully In the power OF the South TO
have produced different result. But the disunionists
were .e ermined TO have tbeir own candidate, though
mistaken trust in the belief that be shared their DIS
loya views make this charge against them without
scruple justified by subsequent events, as wen az by
~--N--~
during the canvass.
After the election was decided, the Disunionists
syoud not wait for acts because they knew none
could or would be committed. They knew that there
was an anti-Republican majority IN the Senate and
9bat there would be in the present Houre. 1hey
S'precipated the rupture OF the Unon beeause they
knew that If they waited, the pretext fort would
fail. =,
After the Cotton States had seeded, and, although
9hat circumstance greatly increased the difficulty oil
compromise, measures were nevertheless adOpted or
lroI,osed in Congress, which must have removed all
sincere alarm the part Of the South that Their con-
stitutionsl rights were threatened Inc accredited
leaders of the Republican party, including the fTes-
Ienelect uniformly pledged themselves 10 that effect
The two Houses by constitutional majority pledged
themselves in like manner against any future amend
ment of hel Const tution violating the rights OF the
sSouth member from Massachusetts tMr. Adams,
possessing the entire confidence OF the incoming Ad-
aminstraiion proposed TO admit NewMexco as eSaie,
and three new Territories were organized without any
Ant-Sayery restriction While this was done IN Con-
Rress the States repealed modified the laws throw
ng obstacles in the way of recovering fugitive slaves
l-laws which have never been OF any practcalnJury
Ito the Cotton States. These concilaory demonstra-
ons had 10 effect in staying the progress OF Secession,
lecause the leadeTB Of that revolution deter
mined not to be satisfied and to maias their policy,
(which In the light of the Constitution s simply rebel
lion and treason they have appealed to the sword.
4 You say that the South desires nothing but peace
and ask whether the North viii not let you aloneP
But my good friend tire South demands great deal
country although she has but third Of its population
Ebe claims the control of the outlet OF Chesapeake
Bay aud its tributaries; the right to command the
nost direct route TO the Atlantic from Ohio, Indiana
srd Ilnois-Statss whose population amounts TO five
And-ahsk millions the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
he right TO dmgoon the State Of Maryland and the
western part of your own State, with Kentucky,
missouri and Tennessee into joining the Southern Con
seracy; the right TO occupy the orresses which pro
beet the trade Of the Gulf OF Mexico the right to shut
Ap the outlet Of the Ohio, Mississippi, and the Mis-
uri-and finally, she claims the right for any State,
& chooses to pass law to that effect, 70 break up the
fnon. la enforcing these unconstitutional, mon
rous and unheardof usurpations, she asks to be et
None" and when The Government Of the United
Bates in obedience the solemn oahs Of its members
From which the leaders OF the revolt dspense them:
byes takes measures to defend ITSELF the Capital OF
ke Union the public establishments, and the rights Of
ke whole people against this invasion, long premedit-
BED by the ambitious and disappointed politicians tfor
fr. A III. Stephens truly declares that 10 be " the
PURGE Of great part OF our troubles, she e1cEnns
bet the North seeks 40 subjugate the South
cannot describe TO you, my dear friend, the sorrow
fased re by this state Of things. Circumstances, 40
lu well know, had led me TO form personal friendly
kations at the South, more extensively than most
korthem men, and the support given especially in the
tprder States, TO the ticket on which ny name was
pine ut the late election, filed me with gratitude Ii
sacrifice Of all have could have ayerted the pres
disastrous struggle could bsve made it willingly,
Efuly. But, pray yon believe he, ~, me that speak
k'ah when say that we feel that the conflict has
Ia forced upon u.s. to CRAFTY the aspirations Of am
vtus men; that it is our duty 10 ourselves to our
ldren and to the whole people, TO s1s,an the Gov
nsnt; and that it H. If possible, the interest of
South than Of the North that tins attempt TO break
the Union should fail.
remain. my dear Nj. -,
sOnOwfaly and sincerely your.
reisnsd) Ep"~Ap h'hi' l.
THE BENEFIT OF HAvELOCKs.