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Washington
8th Jan. '61

My Dear Andrew,

Yr message is
clear, strong, & right.
I feel happy that Mass.
at last has found
her voice.

I deplore every back-
ward step, whether here

or in Boston.

The cotton states are
doomed. Even the com-
promisers, who have been
here from New York, ad-
mit that nothing can
be done to arrest them.
They are trying on the
tobacco states; I think
in vain. They will

all go.

Therlow Weed came
to see me Sunday evng
with Seward. He
admitted that he was
"alone", -- found that
he was "not wel-
come here"-- & that
the Republicans had
made up their mind
to have no compromises.
Good! I always like

Mr. Weed when I see him;
but he is a politician
-- not a statesman. I
think we are in too
deep water for him.
True; we are now
away from shore, &
can only steer by the
sun & stars -- God
given guides.

The President’s change
of policy disorganizes

the traitors, who curse
him as a "black Repub-
lican.” Genl. Scott
says the President’s
change occurred on
the “2nd Jan”; -- "yes
sir, since the 2nd Jan
the Presdt has done well."

If possible, we
must avoid civil
war; indeed to
avert this dread ca-
lamity, I will give

up, if necessary,
territory & state; but
I will not give up
our principles.

But the slave masters
hurry to their doom.

The sense of insecurity
here seems to have passed
away. Had not some-
thing been done, I do
not doubt that the
capitol could have
been taken -- like the
other posts in Southern
territory.
Virginia will go
& will carry with her

Maryland & Ky.
There is intestine
unrevealed trouble
in Tennessee which
I do not yet com-
prehend.

[Endorsement]