To John C. Bradley,
Huntsville, Ala.
New York, November 28, 1860.
My Dear Sir,—I have received your letter of the 23d inst., and am rejoiced to see that the conservative men of your part of the country have moved in the right direction.
The patriotic men of the country look to the Douglas and Bell party of the South as their only hope in the present crisis. Yancey and his compeers, by seceding at Charleston, broke up the Democratic party, and were the chief means of Lincoln’s election.
It is clear now that this was the programme, in order to throw the cotton States into their hands, and force a dissolution of the Union by terrorism and packed conventions.
If there is conservative spirit and love of the Union enough left in the South to prevent them from carrying out their treasonable schemes, all may be saved yet.
A convention of all the Southern States would certainly save us. It would be followed by a convention of all the States North and South, where the guaranties which the South has a right to demand, would be sure to be granted to her under the Constitution.
I inclose you a copy of a letter which I addressed a few days ago to John Forsyth, embodying my views on the present crisis. If you think proper you may show it to such friends as are with us in sentiment.