Washington Feby 10th 1861
My dear wife
I received a dispatch and then a letter from Henry H Curtis1 S. Louis urging me to make out a mortgage immediately to secure his debt. He says the court is in cession and judgements will be increased against me so as to endanger his claims.
I do not understand that court is siting I wrote brother Hosmer on this subject some time ago. I supposed there would be no more courts till some time after the adjournment giving me a little time for reflection and arrangement. I wish you would ask brother Hosmer and write me immediately. I wrote Henry I did not wish to give any more mortgages unless I could postpone difficulties and expressed a preference for an assignment. If others are trying to get ahead I must prevent injustice among friends.
Mr Sturges is here quiet and rather disconsolate. Sadie Kate George and Edward have been enjoying the last two days sight seeing. They are gone over to see the Coxes this evening. It has moderated as Suddenly as it became cold last week. I never saw such sudden changes. I see by the papers there was a great snow storm north. I suppose you had your share of it at Keokuk and I fancied you and Caddie would have a renewal of bad colds. I could hardly keep warm by a good coal fire here in Washington and you must have felt it much worse there at home.
The first instalment of news from Tennessee comes in today favorable to the Union. If Tennessee comes up right I shall consider the border States quite2
The Southern Convention-however-have elected a strong President and Vice President-Davis and Stevens.3 They however may be better able to secure a compromise as they are both very reasonable men; but if they will not have adjustment and union ; then these men are formidable as leaders of a Southern Confederacy
It looks in their hands like a defacto Government likely to be respected by foreign nations and therefore likely to be permanent fixture. It looks as though my apprehensions are to be consumated. The republic will be divided before Mr Lincoln takes his seat and Mr Buchanan will pass over only a broken septer and divided sovereignty The democracy will glory in the shame of having transmitted to their successor despoiled treasury a divided country and a civil war. Let us hope that enough may remain to restore the tottering edefice and secure a renewal of the happy days of our great republic.
My mail last night was so overwhelming, I have laid it aside and attended church today. I should have taken a walk it was so pleasant but somehow I neglected it until it was too late.
The city is filling up with strangers. The Peace Conference has increased till it makes a large assembly. My business in the House prevents me from doing much at the Convention. Mr. Harlan has the post of Committee man there and I leave him to try his hand as Grimes, Vandever,4 and I have done on former occasions. He thinks they will agree to leave the matters to a convention of the people. I suppose this may do: but it will continue and perhaps embitter the slavery discussion throughout the country. It may defer disastrous civil war and possibly give time for sensible reflections.
My correspondence is mostly about office. Every candidate gets his friends to write as much and as often as possible.
The apprehensions in regard to the taking this capitol grow less as military companies arrive daily and the determination of the border States look more towards perpetuating the union. We have now near a thousand regulars here, and the danger of attack is therefore insignificant. If reaction takes place in favor of secession we will make further guards against accident.
Continue to write often and fully. I am glad to see the time now begins to shorten. Only 3 weeks. A long time in revolution: and much may traspire during this period. Still the dangers that threatened Lincolns advent seem to have received a quietus by the Virginia election. And I regard his inaugeration as an accomplished fact.
Much love to all and many kisses to Caddie
Affectionately yours
Saml. R. Curtis
1. relative whose address was also given later as Quincy, Illinois
2. A call was issued for a state convention in Tennessee on January 7, 1861, to consider position of the state in the impending crisis. The elections, held February 9, gave the Union friends a clear 67.000 majority, the people voting down the holding of a convention. After Sumter, however, the tide of secession rose rapidly, and the state cast its lot with the Confederacy May 1, 1861. Cf. American Annual Cyclopedia, Appleton & Co., 1861, pp. 677-679.
3 Jefferson Davis, graduate of West Point in 1828, veteran of two wars, representative in Congress from Mississippi, Senator, and Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce, was an ardent States Rights Southerner who probably yearned for the command of the Confederate armies more than for the presidency. He resigned from the U. S. Senate Jan. 21. 1861. inaugurated President of the Confederate States of America February 18 and 22, 1861. He was a contemporary in the Senate with Curtis.
Alexander H. Stephens, a short, crippled representative from Georgia, was, prior to 1861, a compromising Democrat, serving in Congress from 1843 to 1859. Elected Vice President of the Confederacy in February, 1861, after the war he served in Congress from 1873 to 1882. He likewise was a contemporary in the House of Curtis from 1857 to 1859.
4. James W. Grimes, junior senator from Iowa, one of the three principle leaders of the Republican party in the state, served as U. S. Senator from 1859 to 1870. He was one of the Committee of 13 appointed in the Senate December 18, 1860. Vandever (see January 19, 1861 footnote 7).