Washington Mar 4 1861
My dear wife
The inaugeration has gone off very quietly. The attendance was very great and the day very delightful. Congress finally passed through both houses the measures proposing amendment of the Constitution so as to prevent one state medling with other folkses business and some other matters suggested by the Committee of 33.1 The Senate set all night. Grimes & Harlan both voted for the compromise measure. Mr Lincolns speech was concilliatory but firm. It approves of the concilliatory measures but ably argues the duty and necessity of executing the laws.
Unfortunately we could not carry any measure to enforce obedience when the difficulties amount to great magnitude So the President cannot do much without exceeding or being charged with exceeding his functions. The Union men of the South and the people of the city seem pleased with the spirit and tone of the message as well as the final action of Congress.
These may give a further check to revolution and disappointment the malevlent hopes which some fanatics entertain that a general insurrection and bloody civil war would be immediately inaugerated. Yet this will not satisfy the revolutionists. They will try hard to keep up the storm. Wigfall2 told me he liked the message it was ” ‘war to the knife and the knife to the hilt’ and if we do not remove our troops they will attack them next week.” Of course he is determined to make everything a menace however kindly the tone and conclusive the logic. They will now have no earthly excuse. If they are determined to invoke war they will find it difficult to prove to the world we are the aggressors, and they must proceed with a consciousness of wrong surmounted with a painful conviction that we are right.
If revolution can prosper under such auspices surely the days of the downfall of civilisation like that which devasted Rome has returned to dessolate the world.
Sadie has too much headach to go to the great ball to-night so I am working in my room surrounded by Uncle Johny, Mr. Scholte3 and others. It is late. I will enclose Sams last and bid you good night.
Affectionately and ever yours
Saml. R. Curtis
1. Passed February 27; proposed: “No amendment shall he made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere within any State with the domestic institutions thereof including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State.”
2. Louis Tresvant Wigfall. U. S. Senator from Texas 1859-1861. A native of South Carolina he was an ardent Southern rights man, was present at the firing on Fort Sumter, later served in the Confederate army.
3. Hendrick Peter Scholte, “Domino Scholte,” leader of the Hollanders who settled at Pella. Iowa, in 1847. A man of brilliant attainments, early a Democrat, joined the Republican party in 1856.