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Re: Wars for Abolition
In Response To: Re: Wars for Abolition ()

Jim, this is from the book, "My Diary North and South" by the London Times correspondent William Howard Russell. He had been sent by the Times to cover the "very fine row." This is his unbiased view of some of the personalities.

Intro: After visiting the politicians and others in Washington and the North, Mr Russell traveled South to visit with the Southern inhabitants and troops. Learning the routes North would be severed and he would not be able to get his newspaper reports out, he hurriedly went back to Washington. This is what he wrote when he returned North in June 1861. PP 185-186

“As long as there was a chance that the struggle would not take place, the merchants of New York were silent, fearful of offending their Southern friends and connections, but inflicting infinite damage on their own government and misleading both sides. Their sentiments, sympathies, and business bound them with the South; and indeed, till “the glorious uprising,” the South believed New York was with them, as might be credited from the tone of some organs in the press, and I remember hearing it said by Southerners in Washington that it was very likely New York would go out of the Union!

The change in manner, in tone, in argument, is most remarkable. I met men today who last March argued coolly and philosophically about the right of Seccession. They are now furious at the idea of such wickedness – furious with England because she does not deny their own famous doctrine of the sacred right of insurrection. “We must maintain our glorious Union, sir.” “We must have a country.” “We cannot allow two nations to grow up on this Continent, sir.” “We must possess the entire control of the Mississippi.” These “musts” and “can’ts” and “won’ts,” are the angry utterances of a spirited people who have had their will so long that they at last believe it is omnipotent. Assuredly, they will not have it over the South without a tremendous and long-sustained contest, in which they must put forth every exertion, and use all the resources and superior means they so abundantly possess.”

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