New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-01
LETTER FROM JOHN l.. O'sULLI-
VAN.
II o.s Editor Of TIE n. Y. Tribune

SIR. In your SEMI-WEEKLY Of April %. find
published letter Of mine to Mr. L. Butler King, Of
Aug. Is last. i have not the slightest objection 10
its publication but do object to your editorial sue-
gestion Of my "sudden conversion to Secession
views" suggestion founded by VOC on some ilheS
written by me some months before on The olar,
Spangled Banner in 1861, which, though they mao
little merit beyond the fervor of feeling from wicn
they sprano Won iustly call patriotic Union ODE
which learn from you was "puonsnea !" 4 u, -'
tional Iuteilieencer of May 81, 1901. also ioAin
with surprise that sent those lines 10 you s'"'
them to TIE London Ane'seaH, toge'ner WIN " ''''
ter ON chr American affairs and 1 also sent copy
70 friend in America. You are mistaken III your
;mnression that sent them to you, though that is
point of no importance. They were written IN
February, 1861, and expressed the sentiments nat
ural to passionate lover of his country and OF the
Union. who witnessed Disunion being achieved
through tie united faults Of both South and NORTH
while he held the North the more TesP'nS'Die ~ me
too as lis true original author, through three pTii-
cpal causes: lst It's tariffs, by which II had long
plundered; ID It's AboliIiorism, by Which 1t had
long irriiated and, Sd, lis final sectionaza'on OF
party politics. by Winch 1t had at once ihSgieu
and Cravtly menaced Tie South. / wholly deny
that there il in them The slightest INCONSISTENCY win
what you call my Secession views.' l clam TO
be, and TO have been, far truer ana more ue-
voted friend to the Union-l Will not say than your
eelf-but than the party yon represent. My views Is
were clearly indicated IN the stimuli aneous letter IN
The London american May 29), and my very letter
to Mr. King onght TO have at least protected me
against your charge Of "sudden conversion, since
it contains tie following passages: " Tie letters
have long ago sent home for put hc8ion, at the
moment when all the North seemed TO rush oil
with unanimous insanity into this dlabolical
war, have cut Inc off, as l have freely
declared to all my friends, from any possible
return to the North, even if were willing to I'VE
under tie political principles and practice into which
the North has been seduced." And again, have
felt, and feel very deeply this cruel compulslon,
which at such a tine literally chains me down at u
distance from the scene OF ciilzens dnty' nave
however done all could by letters for publication
over nv name which | have sent TO friend III
New-York" TIE friend referred TO whose name
omit only because have no authority Tor Its p"Dh,
cation no doubt retains those letters, which we're Oh
the dates of May IL and June -: IL seems lie GiG
not publish either OF them; no doubt because he dld
not deem it expedieut, on other grounds thAh Win
reference to the system OF treS de cGcht then Hour
ishiug 1T New-Yofk, by which our country has been
more profoundly and permanently disgraced thah Oy
ANYTHING else that has occurred, snce II can never
be forgotten that party found ready to prac-
tee and another to submit to, such DuIlhcaton OF
eli the principles so long Haunted by Us before the
world under the name OF Amerlcanism.
Your charge against me comlels me to appeal to
the former Of those letters, which began us private
one but ended with view to it's publication, though
I then expected soon to come home and 90 to Fort
Lafayette for it. | think have night 10 make
this request, long that letter unfortunately II,
since AN 4,C00 miles away. The political sen,i-
ments of ny letter TO Mr. King were your fair prey,
and neither surprised uor dlspie ased at their
publication. adhere TO them still, aud shall ever
do so So whatever be the fate that may be reserved
for the Soath, viciimized under tie triumphant
tyranny Of superior force-the South even more
sinDed against than SHINING. At the tine when the
two armies which had gathered on tie banks OF the
Potomac for this most hOrrd OF war; ye witnessed
by the world, had not yet moved, whichever side
should begin the terrible aggression OF invasion de-
served before the justice OF God and OF man. to be
driven back by the side standing on the defensive;
and any means were good which should at that time
have caused the Government to desis from the great
crime. and tie greater blunder, of its crusade Of
7 MIGHT also refer 70 several communications, over
my own name, IN yoor own columns ara 'h9'e o.
The Times, Herald, M0TDlRg Ncws and Ihteh1'
gencer, during the few months that preceded Mr.
lipcoln's imagination through all Of which runs
the conssten thread Of the same sentiments aud the
same general political opinions to which siI stand
firm and f,tbiul and most so IN their lour Of dis
as,er. Before long, hope you may receive print
ed COW of a pamphlet with the title Union, Dir
upion and Reunion" the arguments Of which
should be glad TO see you answer.
On only one point have my views undergone any
bic home could remain for me except Switzerland or
tue South since would not live in my own section
under the ban OF such a public sentiment as
seemed then universal at the North. IL il some
small consolation IL u e midst Of she affection caused
by the present state OF my country, 10 observe Low
the signs Of a healthier reaction III the mind Of the
North which will not, now believe, stop short Of
q pretty general concurrence, sooner or later, III
what you call, my " Secession VIEWS" but what
/ claim to be the views OF most true and patriotic
devosee OF the Union. This may relieve me from
the necessity OF seeking habitabie free republic in
Switzerland. have always condemned Secession,
though insisting that there was an immense amount
of provocaton TO pueh the South toward 1t and into
it, b., condemn still more strongly your vain and
mad War of Coercion. Unconstitutional as may
have been the former, the latter fortified in this by
Mr.. Stewards admirable ietter 10 tue London Le-
cation of Anil 10, 1901 bold to have ben still
more 40. and far more so; TO cay nothing Of the III
cidents that have attended it; a. the time that
every fratricdal battle fought IN II aggravated the
difficulty Of that Reunion 70 tue hope OF which
have stil clung and shall still cling long Il
possibility of hope shall remain. The difference be-
tween US wide as IL Is, is simply one Of means. Ny
mode wOud have been: No lighting, and arrest Of
the fighting by all possible means, even including
temporary recognition Of tie Confederate States. as
a means OF stopping The war; with view to Interior
reconstruction Of Iegeneraied UDion through con-
stutional reform and reconciliation based thereon.
Yours IL, conquest and suhjuyatiOn. Well you
have had full swing on your plan. The country
will vet have 10 come, sooner or later, 10 NINE,
unle.s it should then he too ate; and then TO toll
and sweat through many generation TO pay of the
debt which Will remain tie monuIIssut Of the
Republican party To that period adjourn the
final decision OF all controversy between ns "a to
who was the truest and oes friend Ci tue Union aud
Of the Star-Spangied Banner.
II may DO, be improper inasnuch as Gen. Nor
gsn's name mentioned IN NY letter 10 Mr. King,
that should acqut HIM Of any " solidarity With
my opinions. IL is but justice to him TO say, that
before be lett Lisbon, well as slice, he went IN
l. All L. 4 L..