[Letter to] Dear Lizzy
Contributors: Laugel, Elizabeth Bates Chapman, b. 1831, recipient
Series: Maria Weston Chapman Correspondence (1835-1885)
Published: 1862
Place of publication: New York [City], 46 W. 17th St[reet], [NY]
Language: eng
Format: [manuscript]
Number of pages: 20
Subjects: Correspondence; United States. President (1861-1865 : Lincoln); Democratic Party (U.S.); United States; Women abolitionists; Antislavery movements; History
Notes: Holograph, signed with initials.

Maria Weston Chapman is at her son Henry's home, after a week at Staten Island. She describes life in the house. Mr. Jay, after being rejected from the delegateship of his Bedford church to the Episcopal convocation, has presented himself for the nomination of St. Phillips, the New York black church. She discusses Lincoln's proclamation. "All but the worst of pro-slavery democrats are disappointed with it as not going fast enough or far enough... Henry is ready to slay old Abe." Emancipation with compensation "stinks in the nostrils of people." She believes that Daniel Webster is taking care of the interests of the cotton manufacturers. She tells of the Democrats taunting the Republicans and the plentifulness of such epithets as "secessionist." If the Democrats "do as they threatened, i.e. call back their troops from the army because emancipation is revolution & so on, why the saddle will be on the other hourse." Chapman tells about her idea of colonizing [the South]. She fears that young Hovey has been wounded. Chapman would be "terribly afflicted to see Europe, looking on, blind to the case," when we have to look to other lands for counsel "at a time when we really have for statesmanship a feeble dolt & a selfish knave, for political philosopher, not one." She criticizes [George Brinton] McClellan. She praises Harriet Martineau "for she knows as well as feels aright; while in these last matters all our abolitionists but Garrison, have shown themselves utterly unequal to the occasions as they arose, & even Garrison was the first to suggest compensations to the president!"