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.

Goodbye! God Bless you!
Ever Yours,
Charles Sumner

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]

[Placed at bottom left of page; writing is perpendicular to main text of letter.] S
C. Sumner
January 8. 1861