tor, and calm the agitated elements. She lives and moves and has her being in the essence of the constitution; she is revered for her patriotic devotion to the Union, in the spirit of its founders, and she can procure justice, equality, and security for both sections, without bringing detriment or humiliation to either.

But if, after every reasonable effort, the mediation shall be rejected, and one or more States in either section shall persist in urging unreasonable demands or in refusing just terms of arrangement, that State or section must do so at its peril. It is a principle of international law as old as civilization, that contending States have no right to prosecute to the ultima ratio of nations conflicts capable of ready and fair adjustment by peaceful means, to the disturbance of the world's repose and the destruction of their neighbor's; and it has been the custom of friendly powers, when menaced and endangered under such circumstances, to demand in the name and by the authority of their own strong arm that the safety of other States, the cause of humanity, and the interests of commerce be no longer imperilled by the bloody contentions of those who "abhor each other." When all other efforts at reconciliation have, therefore, failed: when Congress shall have exhausted its powers, the appeals of patriotism prove unavailing, and the blood of one section shall be demanded to appease the cravings of the other, let Virginia summon to her aid the assistance of other powerful and peaceful States, and in the name of the constitution and of the Union, of Christian civilization, of the great memories of the past, of the glorious fruition of the present, of the rich promises of the future, and the last, best hopes of liberty, equality, and the rights of man, prescribe, and if needs be enforce, by the common judgment of mankind, terms which shall be equal and just to all and grant special favors to none-which shall demand no sacrifices and subject none to humiliation, but shall place every State and each section in the dignified relations suggested by the spirit of a common compact and guaranteed by the plain provisions of the constitution.

We have at all times justified the expulsion of savage tribes from their possessions upon this continent under the plea that we were to substitute civilization for barbarism, an

enlightened Christianity for heathenism, knowledge and refinement for ignorance and degradation, and the arts of peace for the devastations of war. We are now in the last half of the nineteenth century-a period signalized by its religious pretensions, its enlightened commerce, its progress in the physical sciences, its devotion to letters and the arts, its widespread spirit of philanthropy, and its diffusion of the gospel; and if, while basking in the light of such blessings, moral and material, as were never before vouchsafed to man, our patriotism is so deficient, our purpose so feeble, our morality so questionable, and our virtue so weak, that we cannot reconcile our sectional differences upon terms which justice suggests and the constitution demands, but must resort to a conflict of arms, we should restore to the original and rightful proprietors of the soil what we wrested from them for purposes of Christianity and civilization, with a confession that our mission has failed, and that they are lawfully entitled to resume possession under their paramount title-deeds of blood.

With my anxious prayer for the deliverance of our beloved country from the evils which threaten her, I am, with high consideration and regard,

Sincerely yours,

D. S. DICKINSON.

Hon. JAMES M. MASON and Hon. R. M. T. HUNTER, Senators in Congress from Virginia.

MR. DICKINSON TO MARY S. DICKINSON.

NEW Y RK, January 8, 1861.

MY DEAR MOLLIE-I did not hear from home this morning as I expected, and have about come to the conclusion that not only has the "kitchen chimney been on fire," but that you have all been trying to cross the railroad bridge in the night and fallen into the Chenango. If I do not hear to-day, I shall think that South Carolina has dammed the Chesapeake Bay and drowned all Binghamton.

I walked down to the office this morning, and on the way decided that I was not like the rest of the world and ought

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not to be held to the same judgment as others. It makes me positively unhappy to be in a large, heartless city like this. That which is enjoyment to most persons is pain to me. You meet at every step so much wealth and so much poverty, so much surfeit and so much destitution, so much" silken sloth " and so much rags and wretchedness, that I constantly shudder at the sight, and sigh for a "lodge in some vast wilderness." But it is past all hope, beyond all reformation, and must fulfil its day; and to many, a terrible day it is.

There is no sleighing yet; and when it is pleasant here, it is very pleasant, and vice versa.

Give much love to all the dear ones at home, and believe

me as ever

Your affectionate father,

D. S. DICKINSON.

MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. DICKINSON.

NEW YORK, January 9, 1861.

MY DEAR LYDIA-I am sorry to hear by Mary's letter received this morning, that you are still sleepless and ill. If you continue so long, I shall go home, regardless of everything else. I am uneasy, when absent from you, at best, and when you are not well, my anxiety becomes painful.

I went to Tammany Hall, last night, to the supper. Many friends urged me to go, and I did. I called a few minutes, with Mr. Schell, at the St. Nicholas ball—a brilliant one it was -though I did not waltz. I left as soon as I could, and was home before twelve. The national troubles seem to thicken, and I fear war; but have some hope it may be averted. Well, let those who have produced it turn pale and tremble.

Do not try to write me when you are not well, but let some of the family write every day. You know not half my solicitude and affection.

I shall better know what my own professional movements are to be in a day or two, and will write you.

Very affectionately,

D. S. DICKINSON.

MR. DICKINSON TO DANIEL S. DICKINSON, JR.

FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL, NEW YORK,
January 9, 1861.

MY DEAR STEVIE-When I am away from home, much dependence rests upon you and your little brother. I want you to be little men and take good care of everything in my

absence.

In this great city there is much wealth, but much distress and poverty so great that it cannot be alleviated, and I do not enjoy myself here as well as at home for that reason amongst many others.

There is great danger of war at the South, but we hope it may not take place.

You must be very careful of your eyes and get them well as soon as you can, so that you can go into the office and help

me.

Give much love to your mother, and all the family.

Your affectionate father,

D. S. DICKINSON.

MR. MASON TO MR. DICKINSON.

WASHINGTON, January 12, 1861.

MY DEAR SIR-Returning from Richmond two days ago, I found your letter of the 7th, with a copy of your letter to Mr. Hunter and myself through the Herald. Being absent from the city, I should not otherwise have seen it.

Events, I fear, have progressed too far, to admit of Virginia becoming a mediator now. She will share a common lot with the South. Still, if we had a man and a statesman at the helm, war could be stayed, at least till the sections could reason together. The South stands, and will continue to stand, purely on the defensive. The North has the issue of peace or war in its hands; and none can so well serve both sections as yourself, or for the present at least, to stay the hand of violence. Come what may, however, I shall ever cherish a

grateful sense of our, I trust, mutual regard—long, I hope, to continue.

Very cordially and truly yours,

JOHN M. MASON.

GOVERNOR LETCHER TO MR. DICKINSON.

RICHMOND, VA., February 2, 1861.

DEAR SIR-I received this morning a printed copy of a letter addressed to Senators Mason and Hunter by you, on the 4th of January last. I have read it with satisfaction and pleasure, and endorse cordially the views it embodies. I send you a copy of my message, from which you will perceive I take the same view as to the mediatorial position of Virginia. I have no reason to suppose that either of our Senators sympathize with such views. I have, however, adopted my own chart, and I am entirely satisfied that the people of Virginia are with me.

With thanks for your polite attention,

I am, truly, your obedient servant,

JOHN LETCHER.

MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. DICKINSON.

Narrowsburgh, February 8, 1861.

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MY DEAR LYDIA-We reached here on time" last night,that is, it was high time-about half past ten. It was getting colder and very blustering, and the poor workmen on the outside of the trains were nearly blinded with storm and frost. Everything was so much out of time, that it was dangerous to run, and Mr. Morgan and myself stopped over here. We had beds in a room where we did not need to raise windows for ventilation, and I covered my head with the "comforter," and thought of Sir John Franklin and Dr. Kane. I got up at half -past seven, washed in a bowl of water which had more ice than your "patent freezer " ever contained, and went down to breakfast with my hair looking like Nebuchadnezzar's the last VOL. II.-35