January 20, 1861 (Sunday)

Caring for Words

Letters and Diaries

(Diary of George Templeton Strong:  January 19. 1861 , New York Times, January 19, 2011)

"Even under the present epidemic of treason and reign of terror, there is a strong minority in Southern states that has thus far been silent; that has not voted or has voted against what they call secession.  Reaction, and the pressure of calamity, may strengthen this inert and suppressed anti-secession party, wake up the whole people to the true state of the case, and bring the conspirators, who have raised this storm for their own selfish ends, to a stern reckoning."

(Letter to Franklin Pierce from Jefferson Davis:  Laments his departure from the Union, Papers of Jefferson Davis, January 20, 1861)

"I have often and sadly turned my thoughts to you during the troublous times through which we have been passing and now I come to the hard task of announcing to you that the hour is at hand which closes my connection with the United States, for the independence and Union of which my Father bled and in the service of which I have sought to emulate the example he set for my guidance.  I leave immediately for Mississippi and know not what may devolve upon me after my return.  Civil war has only horror for me, but whatever circumstances demand shall be met as a duty and I trust be so discharged that you will not be ashamed of our former connection or cease to be my friend....May God bless you is ever the prayer of your friend."

(Letter to Abraham Lincoln from Marvin Huntington, The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress)

"Not haveing the honor of your acquaintance I perhaps may be intrudeing to address you -- but I cant feal easey to have you go to the White House without a word of caution.  Sire, if you will onley reflect a moment up on the Death of Harison and Taylor you nor no other man can come to any other conclusion then that they both came to there Death by poisen...Now I would advise you to take from your neighbourhood and Friends evry person that you will neade around you at Washington and discharge evry one that is there at this time.  I may be foolish perhaps I am, but I cant help the fealings above discribed...."

(Letter to Abraham Lincoln from an Anonymous "Jackson Democrat" January 20. 1861, The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.)

"Beware of the Ides of March...As an honest man I tell you the Suthron people will not Stand your administration unless the Personal Liberty Bills are Repealed and the Fugitive Slave Law is carried out you may think this is written to Intimidate you.  But it is for no such purpose what I have stated are facts and you will find it so in less than six months.  The Suthron States will not be Coerced--mark that in your Book.  you are in a hard place.  But come up to the constitution like a man and the country will move on in prosperity.  We will not stand Abolitionism in any Shape whatever.  Let Northern men stay at home and attend to their own Buisness and let Slavery Alone and they will Live longer and be more prosperous.  Charity begins at Home and they had better take care of the poor and unfortunate at Home than to be meddling with other peoples property.  We want nothing but our Rights in the Union and will protect them out of it."

(Diary of Fanny Seward, only daughter of William Seward, Secretary of State for Abraham Lincoln, University of Rochester, Rare Books and Special Collections, Lincoln and His Circle)

"Sunday, January 20th:  Mother was sick.  I did not go to church.  She was much better in afternoon tho' she did not come downstairs.  Aunty and I dined alone.  Will and Jenny were out.  I wrote to Father, to Eliza and Laura Stratton.  Hada a nice talk with mother.  Began Life of Marie Antoinette.  Another nice talk after we went to bed."