RBSCP Exhibits

Letter from William Henry Seward to Abraham Lincoln, February 24, 1861

Sunday evening, Feb. 24^{th 1861}

The Honorable Abraham Lincoln

My dear Sir,

I have suggested many changes, of little importance severally, but in their general effect tending to soothe the public mind.

Of course the concessions are, as they ought to be, if they are to be of avail, at the cost of winning--the triumphant party. I do not fear their displeasure. They will be loyal whatever is said. Not so the defeated, irritated, angered, frenzied party.

I, my dear Sir, have devoted myself singly to the study of the case -- here, with advantages of access and free communication with

Letter from William Henry Seward to Abraham Lincoln, February 24, 1861

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all parties of all sections. I have a common responsibility and interest with you, and I shall adhere to you faithfully in every case. You must therefore allow me to speak frankly and candidly. In this spirit, I declare to you my conviction that the second and third paragraphs, even if modified as I propose in my amendments, will give such advantages to the Disunionists that Virginia and Maryland will secede and we shall within ninety, perhaps within sixty days, be obliged to fight the South for this capital with a divided North for our reliance, and we shall not have one loyal magistrate or ministerial officer South of the Potomac. In that case the dismemberment of the Republic would

Letter from William Henry Seward to Abraham Lincoln, February 24, 1861

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date from the inauguration of a Republican Administration.

I therefore most respectfully counsel the omission of those paragraphs.

I know the tenacity of party friends, and I honor and respect it. But I know also that they know nothing of the real peril of the crisis. It has not been their duty to study it as it has been mine. Only the soothing words which I have spoken have saved us and carried us along this far. Every loyal man, and indeed I think every disloyal man in the South will tell you this.

Your case is quite like that of Jefferson. He brought the first Republican party into power against and over a party ready to resist and dismember

Letter from William Henry Seward to Abraham Lincoln, February 24, 1861

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the Government. Partizan as he was, he sank the partizan in the patriot in his Inaugural Address, and propitiated his adversaries by declaring, "We are all Federalists, all Republicans." I could wish that you would think it wise to follow this example in this crisis. Be sure that while all your administrative conduct will be in harmony with Republican principles and policy, you cannot lose the Republican party by practicing in your advent to office the magnanimity of a victor

Very faithfully your friend

Letter from William Henry Seward to Abraham Lincoln, February 24, 1861

Letter from William Henry Seward to Abraham Lincoln, February 24, 1861

Letter from William Henry Seward to Abraham Lincoln, February 24, 1861

Letter from William Henry Seward to Abraham Lincoln, February 24, 1861

Letter from William Henry Seward to Abraham Lincoln, February 24, 1861

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