The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-23
- CORRESPONDENCE.

dESTlE1hS .-LSdsuiHt, SSu tLdt tao r"H
which are poured into too crodalous ears, and
that am charged with having advised the , Az
weld to your solicitation to give publicity to my
lato communication to the Governinent-by which
ii will Do perceived that nothing could be farther
from the truth than " hat has been alleged against
me.
assert that no man in this nation has struggled
moro earnestly to preserve the peace of the cVun-
try than have done, and have even reached
that point that, with all my veneration for the
Union Of our Fathers, | am now supplicatng, as 1
did during my late visit to Washington, for Its
peaceful dissolution, rather than our people
should encounter the horrors of civil war.
That my patriotism and loyalty in a community
10 which have lived for nifty years should be
distrusted aud suspected, is the most m9rtitying
paper in Richmond to which could have appeal
ed for justice without humiliation, my position
IknoU, gho rould ind faux, though Ispohs 'ith
-fngeFs tongue
send you copy Of the letter asked for which,
/ hope, is now under the consideration of the
Cabinet, and W ch hope will meet with the aid
of the Press Of all parties and sections OF the
country.
lam very truly yours,
DR.. MARTIN BrRrox, PETER G. COSBY, and others
RICHMOND, April 12th. 1891.
Ny DEAR SIR: Your letter Of yesterday has
been received. Before this, you will have learn
ed through the Press all that has occurred at Nor
folk and at this place; bat cannot begin to give
you just conception Of the excitement created,
country, by the proclamation of the 18th,
which, in many respects, may be regarded as the
the Government. In the absence of hat paper this
State could NOT have been carried out OF tbs
Union with 1t, the Union party. and the Union
feeling, has been almost entirely swept ont Of ex-
istence. You cannot meat with one man in a
thousand who is not inHamed with passion for
ra, and every one seems to regard the proelama-
ton declaration of war for the subiusation Of
the entire South, and for the extermuation OF
slavery; reason with them on this point would
he IN nj ma 1S
would check the current Of their passions
When raw you in Washington, some ten days
members Of the Cabinet. as well as before Mr..
Lincoln himself, plan for the settlement Of our
vention, to give to the seeded States eare 10 ih
drdw thought then, as do now, that the plan
then suggested WAS the only sol ution to the dread
full crisis whicb vas upon u.s. Since that time. mat
ters have assumed u far more frightful aspect,
and now venture t. make one more effort to save
he unnecessary efusion of brothers blood; and,
Ia the name OF liberty, humanity, and Christian
ty, implore you to give II your earnest and sol
| need hardly say that no man in this patton has
held in higher appreciation the value of our
stantiy and earnestly for its perpetuation than
No mans heart can bleed more freely for its loss
than mine; no man can mourn more sorrowfully for
| Its overthrow than will. No man can condemn
| more severely the immediate causes that have so
unnecessarily led us into this awful and terrlbie
ter an entire night OF seepless reflection, when
prayed as | never prayed before for wisdom and
strength to do ny duty my I MIND mas oeen
brought to the conclusion that dissolution Is an
| inevitable decree of fate.
| lam satisfied that contest on the part Of The
! General Government, with its perfect military or,
SANITATION, powerful Naval forces. its command of
money and its credit with out limit, backed by egh
millions, Without military Organization, without
Naval forces. and without money or credit. is n OF
likely to be of doubtful result N the end-but at,
on such terms, or would it be worth preserving II
it could After the best blood Of the country has
| txoI .ra hir,h sat- ind
and Unnatural but mutual hate for ii. founda
| ton, intensified by the conflict, could the two
| sections ever be brought together as one people
| again land would it not require large standing
armies, In consa ut active service, to conquer nd
MAINTAIN peace And would not that end at last
| in 4 hateful, loathsOme military despotism?
| If am right in all this. would not peaceful
separation, not az military necessity, but as q
and religion, over passion, pride. prejudice, ha.
tired. disorder, and the force OF tho mob, be fal
wiser aud more desirable solution OF the probl en-
than such scenes as will result from purely sec
tiona warfare, (result as it may and from hich
| the heart sickers and the soul recOils with hor
You may cut, main, kill and destroy; you may
sweep down battalipns with your artillery; you
| may stArve out the thousands aud tens of thou
| sands OF the enemies OF the Government Yot
9r'a a sus you 1sna o gd.e the Units
NOT do it without nhicting an equal amount o
misery upon those tho are its best friends and W h
| have stood as long az there was plank TO stant
| upon, by the side Of the Union, the Constitution
aud the laws. Our streets may run red wit.
eaptI our hslds may be laid waste et's our hearth
stones may De made desolate; and then, at tn
eminent has exhibited its power which has ne
yer been questioned. but by the idle, tho igno
rant and the deiuded and for the display 0
which there will be abundant 0pporfunities, with
out an effort now, on either side, to cut eac
others thr0ats
So far from its being regarded as betrayal q
weakness by tho other pow ers OF the Globe vii
II not be looked upon In the present emergency a
an act of magnanfmity aud berosm on the part {
peace Lei ma, then, as strong, devoted, unal
tersble friend OF the Onion, III it could Be main
able opponent Of the fatal heresY Of secession
urge upon this Adm Illustration tho policy Of issu
ing another proclamation. proposins q truce q ~
Of the States desire to withdrsw from III i
ernmeut, which it win not, as tbiuk, take the
long TO discover 10 tho .nost egregious error ths
man, in his hoar Of ma ans.s over committed.
States would De stronger and more powerful tina
the thirty -four States we're six mouths sgo--Su
YOU will have Government permanent ard Ell
during for all time to come tn which ell who see
an asylum from oppression may resort hereafte
ment Of Southern Republic my opinions G
that subject are well defined, and too we'll unde
stood to - bs,. nsesis1ry that they shGad
out its own salvation.
II ihis policy can beadeptsd. sill shall ask +
-
secluded spot, where | can live In peses, al
mourn over the dow mall of the beat Gov ernmeat
trissty administeed-with which man waa CIV
blessed
/ could not willingly take up arms against
Union that have been Taught and q ecu stoned
adore, - indispeE sable to my own liberties, ass
!. asrer riH raise my hand against my native Sta,
although her arm has ever been against me 8
mine.
For Gods sake, let ma implors You to lot vi
dom, magnanimity, true courage and h1maai
prevail In your councils. and give peace to d
tracted and discovered country.
:, write as one who feels that he Is standing
the brink OF the grave OF alt he has Cherished
J. earth, my head Is bowed down with grief oy
}, the madness that rules the hour, aud pray q
a to give me the wisdom to know, and the strsnr
TO perform my duty. my whole duty TO my go
/ try, my state, and my friends.
Am, with great respect, yours. &c.
JNo, II. Bolts
Hon. EDWARD BArEs, Attorney General. Be
Will you grant me the favor to lay this last
fort 10 serve my country before the Cabinet al
erst meeiings appeal to you as . native con
T. Virginia to do IT. zap :s-ltl J, n. b
CARD .-Cireumstascss to viii
- wswiii not refer. induce rs 70 say