Your talking politics, not what the majority of Southerners were feeling or how they acted. If Benjamin Franklin Butler could visit Charleston, South Carolina representing Massachusetts at the Democratic National Convention in 1860, Lincoln could visit New Orleans in November 1860 as president elect. Southerners were not assassins and would give a man a chance to visit as a guest. Union officers were allowed to visit Fort Pickens and Fort Sumter unmolested at the height of tensions in 1861, why couldn't president-elect Lincoln visit a Southern Governor?
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William H. Price to Abraham Lincoln, Friday, November 09, 1860 (Recommends Lincoln tour the South)
From William H. Price to Abraham Lincoln, November 9, 1860
New York
Nov 9 1860
Dear Sir
As a lover of our Common Country I venture to suggest to you that it becomes your duty in the present grave Crisis of the Nation's History to repair at once in person to Charleston S C and other southern cities and by direct
intercourse with the people through the medium of public address make known to them your determination to administer the Government, not only according to the letter, but in the Spirit of the Constitution.
It is folly ever to blind our Eyes to facts in connection with the present agitation & Excitement of the public mind, consequent on your Election to the Presidential Chair--
No reasonable man can fail to perceive in this condition of things the imminent peril which threatens our Existence as an United Nation of Sovereign States-- To my mind a visit, at once to be made, by Yourself through the Southern Section of our Country, would accord at once not less will the promptings of fearless patriotism, than an honourable self respect.
It is proper for me to say that I have been no advocate of Your Election to the high office to which you have been called-- I Earnestly & honestly laboured for Your defeat. This however is past-- I trust that it is not out of place now to appeal to your patriotism, and invoke you to rise superior to all party considerations, and throw the influence of your present position in favour of the Nation's highest interest
I am Dear Sir
Very Respy
Yr Obt. Svt
Wm. H. Price
77 Front Street
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From J. H. McKee to Abraham Lincoln, December 12, 1860
St Louis Dec 12th 1860
My Dear Sir
Since my interview with you last Saturday, with which I was much pleased, & which I have related to many of my business acquaintences, who of course are principally, wholesale merchants & who are of course are at their wits end:, to know how they are to pay, their just debts, coming due at the East,-- Exchange is becoming so very scarce & ruling from 7 to 8 per cent, gold is not to had, under 9 to 10 per cent, & no amt to be had, even at that price; in this perplexing state of affairs, the cause of which, all think, is, the present political, state of things, in our Country, & consequently, all ask, is Mr Lincoln going to speak, or use his influence to quel?
This of course I cannot answer, but can suggest, that at the proper time, if you would address yourself, to your country men, you alone, can quiet this fearfull storm, & I would also suggest, that if you & 6 or 7 conservative men, were to visit ci the following Southern cities, Nashville, Louisville, St Louis Vicksburg, New Orleans, Mobile, Savanah, Charleston, Wilmington, N. C. (Norfolk, or Richmond) Washington, D. C. & Baltimore, in the order I have named them, being all in direct rail road route, with the exception of Mobile Alba, there is no calulating, the benefit, such a visit, would produce, all hearts would be won to you, & lasting peace, would be established, within our borders, & thousand, yea, millions, would rise up to bless you, & your name, as the great Peace Maker, would be heralded throughout the world--
I would mention, in this embassy of Peace, for your consideration, Millard Fillmore, of New York, & the only northern man, I would suggest, on acct of his great popularity, throughout the South, John Bell, of Tenn, A. H. Stevens, of Geo, Mr Crittenden, of Ky Mr Bates, of Mo, Mr Reeves, of Va. & J. Winter Davis, all these men, are patriots, & conservative men, & would enter eagerly, into any measure, that would tend to allay this excitement, or return to Confidential Brotherhood, our distracted & allienated fellow citizens, North & South
I hope you will excuse my trespassing on your time, & may the God of Nations, guide, Strengthen & bless you is the sincere prayer
of your friend & fellow citizen
J. H. McKee
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David Upton