He brought it forward because of
that distrust which he had in the capacity of the Government to bear the
rude shock to which it was exposed. His apprehension, no doubt, to some
extent sharpened and directed his patriotism, and his reflection led him
to a conclusion to which, I doubt not, to-day he adheres as tenaciously
as ever; but from which it was my fortune, good or ill, to dissent when
his letter was read to me in manuscript--I being, together with some
other persons, asked, though not by the writer, whether or not it should
be sent. At the first blush I believed it to be a fallacy--a fallacy
fraught with mischief; that it escaped an issue which was upon us which
it was our duty to meet; that it escaped it by a side path, which led to
a greater danger. I thought it a fallacy which would surely be exploded.
I doubted then, and still more for some time afterward, when held to a
dread responsibility for the position which I occupied. I doubted
whether I should live to see that fallacy exploded. It has been more
speedily, and, to the country, more injuriously than I anticipated. In
the mean time, what has been its operation? Let Kansas speak--the first
great field on which the trial was made. What was then the consequence?
The Federal Government withdrawing control, leaving the contending
sections, excited to the highest point upon this question, each to send
forth its army, Kansas became the battle-field, and Kansas the cry,
which wellnigh led to civil war.
Pages:
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926