February 25, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
WASHINGTON, February 21, 1861.
Those in the middle classes, who have access to the soldiers now quartered here, and are on intimate terms with them, assure me that they are just as anxious as the citizens themselves that matters should be amicably adjusted. Many of them, some say a majority, affirm that when the worst comes to the worst they will not fight against the South. Those who can resign, will do so; those who cannot, will desert.
A great deal of breath has been wasted in the Peace Congress about the acquisition of future territory. The old fogies argue just as if the Confederate States had no existence. All is based on the idea of the treachery of politicians. This is very silly. Not one inch of soil will ever be added to this Union south of the Rio Grande. All expansion in that direction will be made by and for the Southern Confederacy. But the drift of the action of many really true Southern men in the Peace Congress shows that they are still laboring under the delusion of reconstruction. I heard one of them declare positively that the Gulf States would come back on the CRITTENDEN amendment. It really seems that the most intelligent men in the Border States are totally ignorant of the Southern people.
The returns from Arkansas and Missouri are very encouraging to the Republicans, who now, more than ever, are convinced that the Border States be kicked out.’ They are not far wrong. Certainly nothing short of steady kicking can do it. If the Border States are to be saved, LINCOLN will be their saviour. The natural desire of an ignorant man to atone for mental deficiency by assuming an immense amount of moral firmness, may lead him into acts of great folly and oppression. And his so called conservative Cabinet will join him, heart and hand, as soon as the reins of power are fairly within their grasp.
Northern men are slowing waking up to the fact that, when war begins, it will be waged on Northern soil; and even they who have urged the border States to remain in the Union as a barrier between the combatants, begin to think that this barrier will not only give way to the advance of the Southern army, but actually join it. When men get to fighting with revolvers, it is not usual for persons, even of the largest size, to stand in the way of the bullets. They step aside very quickly, and, if they happen to be so situated that they can do that, they join one party or the other, as a matter of security and self defence.