Call Family and Brevard Family Papers, 1788-1920s
(The original letter is 12 pages long, I was only able to obtain 4 pages, 1, 3, 9 & 11)
Lake Jackson 1st November 1860
Mr. Hart,
I have read with attention your remarks on the speech delivered by me
before the Bell and Everett Club on the 29 th ult. You say “we cannot
agree with General Call in some of his positions. While he did not
advocate resistance to Lincoln’s inauguration, he was exceedingly
severe on those who would hold office under him.”
No Sir, I did not advocate resistance to the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln.
I did not, nor will I advocate a measure, which, if adopted, must
precipitate our county in to civil war, with all its attendant calamities,
and for which the South is at this time so entirely unprepared. And
although I shall regard Mr. Lincoln, if called in to power by a sectional
party as organized on revolutionary principles, a party organized beyond
the boundary of the constitution, and in open violation of all the great
principles of our representative govt., a usurper called in to power not by
a majority of the American people but by a sectional faction subverting
the Government through the constituents and powers in the make up of
the election franchise.
If Mr. Lincoln should be elected, it will not be by a majority of the American
people. It will be the result of fortuitous circumstances. It will be from the
unhappy division of the Nation into four contending parties, of which his
may chance to be the most numerous.
Then I say should Mr. Lincoln be elected, let him be inaugurated without
resistance. And yet I am disposed to show not by words but by decisive
action the just indignation of our insulted people by his temporary
usurpation of the government, and that if he has the temerity to attempt to
put in practice the theory of his political faith, that such attempt will call
up an armed resistance which will drive him and his cohorts from the National
Capital.
But you say I “was exceedingly severe against those who would hold office
under him.” I am not aware of that severity beyond the bounds of truth and
justice. And if these have inflicted wounds, I have no balm to heal, no palliation
from offense. I did express an earnest hope that every political office holder in
the State of Florida may be inspired by that Southern pride, that lofty patriotism
which will induce him on the election of Mr. Lincoln to send forward his
resignation to take affect on the 4th of March next. If they have not that pride,
if they have not that patriotism, then it is no fault of mine but the misfortune of
their country.
But Sir, let our citizens hold office under Mr. Lincoln; let those officers continue
to invest the offices with honorable distinction as the reward of merit. Those out
of office will then seek to obtain office. They will seek the favor and patronage of
the executive; one will vie with another to win the generous approval of the usurper;
men will cease to consider and condemn the revolutionary principles on which he
came in to power, and the same wild hunt for offices which prevailed under all
Democratic Administrations, which has brought our unhappy country to its present
danger and humiliation will be rewarded.
But Sir, I would go further. I would suspend all social and commercial intercourse
between Florida and the North during the Administration of Mr. Lincoln. I would
import nothing from the North. I would send nothing to the North. I would open a
direct export and import connection with Europe, and I would employ no Northern
ships in that commerce. Ours is a small community, and from our geographic
position we can open a direct trade with Europe more conveniently than any other
State, and better than by connecting ourselves with any other. Let the People of
Florida will it, and it can be done.