February 3, 1861
Letter from Matthew Williams in Quebec to Sir Arthur Kirkland in London
My Dearest Brother,
I must first apologize that I have allowed so much time to pass since I last wrote to you. It seems only yesterday you were here in Quebec, but at once it seems as though ages of history have passed since you left.
I do not know what the newspapers say in London, but I must assume they've reported on the American situation. Namely, that Abraham Lincoln is the new President-Elect, that he is unpopular in the Southern United States, and that as a result of their displeasure, many of the Southern States have opted to secede from the Union entirely. South Carolina was the first to do so—I received that news two days before Christmas, and felt at once my heart seize up for fear of what I knew would come after.
Upon witnessing the candor of their neighbor, nearly all the other coastal southern states have followed S. Carolina's path. Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana have all seceded. I do not know if you will have heard yet, but just yesterday I learned that Texas has seceded as well. To make matters worse, my men tell me that across the South, states have seized control of U.S. armories and arsenals—some at the behest of their own governors, who up until mere weeks ago, were under oath to protect the United States from aggressors! I fear it is only a matter of time before fighting breaks out in earnest. Whether it will be in isolated incidents in the slave states, or between the United States and its wayward south, I cannot say. War feels inevitable.
I have written to Alfred multiple times since Christmas. He has yet to reply. I cannot begin to imagine the chaos unleashed upon Washington at this hour. Lincoln has not yet been inaugurated and already war is marching north toward the capitol. I have met the incumbent, James Buchanan, only once. I held my tongue resolutely around Alfred, but I will bare my thoughts honestly to you: the man will do nothing to quell this rising rebellion. He has striven to avoid the slavery issue since the first days of his oath. I would not be surprised if, upon finding an angry Southern governor on his doorstep with a musket and a torch, he rolled over and showed his belly. For better or for worse, it will be Lincoln's duty to bear the brunt of the trouble that follows his election. His success in meeting such a crisis is moot. I have never met the man, and preceding the election Alfred only ever wrote of him in the briefest of terms.
I know, Sir, that you and Mr. Jones have not been on truly amicable terms in many years, but I trust you share my own concern over his welfare. If the United States should splinter into fractions, be it two or three or ten, it will surely disrupt too many treaties and trade agreements to name. Over this I wring my hands and pull my hair. However, I confess to you that it is thoughts of Alfred himself that have kept me awake in the darkest hours of the night. I worry for him dearly. I trust you will not judge me to harshly for harboring such sentiment. The United States is the United States, but I shall never forsake the love I hold for my brother. He must be in great pain. I know you must have an envoy (or many) en route to the U.S. right now. If you hear word of Alfred, would you tell me?
I trust that you remain well in England and are, I hope, staying arm's length away from your good friend Lord Palmerston. I've heard accusations that you attempted to choke him, Sir, and must communicate my hope that such gossip is baseless. It would do no good for a nation to attack his own Prime Minister. Of course, far be it from me to tell you your own business. I miss you and your conversation. You make tea more skillfully than I. Quebec is frozen solid still, and I would benefit from sharing a drink with you. The ocean may be as broad as Tartarus (especially at this time of year) but please know the candle in my window is ever-lit.
With warmest regards and affection,
Your Brother Matthew Williams
Historical Notes:
1. James Buchanan was the president before Lincoln, and largely avoided getting involved in north vs south concerns regarding the acceptance of slavery. He took office two days before the Dredd v. Scott decision, (a court ruling that opened any U.S. territory to slavery up until the time that the territory became a state). Buchanan himself was a northerner, but was sympathetic to the southern argument, and fought for "popular sovereignty" rather than taking firm stances for or against slavery during his tenure.
2. Although the battle at and capture of Fort Sumter in April 1861 is generally regarded as the start of the Civil War proper, southerners, often with the support of governors, had begun to raid U.S. armories and arsenals in the winter, while some states were still seceding. Months before either the Confederacy or the Union called for troops, the South was preparing for a fight.
3. The Lord Palmerston referenced here is Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston. He was the Prime Minister of England at the time. During the American Civil War, he was sympathetic toward the Confederacy, a sentiment he shared with most other upper-crust Englishmen of the same time. In my personal interpretation of Temple and his personality, I think that he and Arthur would get on like oil and water. Arthur is certainly 'upper crust' in a sense, but I think like all nations, his heart lies with his people, not the stodgy old men running the government.