Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and letters of Charles Sumner: volume 4

Executive Mansion, Tuesday Morning, May 9, 1865.

My dear Mr. Sumner—Your unwavering kindness to my idolized husband, and the great regard he entertained for you, prompts me to offer for your acceptance this simple relic, which being connected with his blessed memory I am sure you will prize. I am endeavoring to regain my strength sufficiently to be able to leave here in a few days. I go hence broken-hearted, with every hope almost in life crushed. Notwithstanding my utter desolation through life, the memory of the cherished friend of my husband and myself will always be most gratefully remembered.

With kindest regards, I remain always

Yours very truly,

Mary Lincoln.

Not even the tragedy here can make me indifferent to the death of Richard Cobden, who was my personal friend and the friend of my country. I felt with you entirely in the touching words which you uttered in Parliament. I wish he could have lived to enjoy our triumph and to continue his counsels. His name will be cherished here as in England. History will be for him more than Westminster Abbey. You will be shocked by the crime in which belligerent slavery, crushed in arms, has sought to revenge itself; but your confidence in the people and popular institutions will not, I am sure, be shaken for a moment. Our government will continue tranquilly, according to the requirements of fundamental law. It is probable that the policy towards leading rebels will be modified. President Lincoln was so essentially humane and gentle that he could not make up his mind to any severity, even to Jefferson Davis. I was with him for four days, shortly before his death, on an excursion to the front; and during all this period he was not for a moment tempted into any remark indicating any desire to punish even Jefferson Davis. When a person of his family said, “He must be hanged,” the President repeated again and again, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” President Johnson is in a different mood. My own line, so far as I can now see the true course, would be between the two. I confess my desire that our terrible rebellion should close without a capital punishment. Of course, I do not allude to military courts; but the men who have made so many tombs and vacant chairs must not be allowed to govern us again, and the colored people must be protected. To this end we must drive all the leaders out of the country.¹ President Lincoln's policy with regard to foreign powers was fixed; that of his successor is less certain. But I trust that the sense of responsibility and trust will make him wise; and there can be no wisdom in war. There are some who have supposed that Congress would be convened at once. I hope not. President Lincoln had determined not to convene it. We are not ready for the discussions on domestic policy; while on foreign policy, I think it probable the House of Representatives would, by resolutions passed without debate, call at once for the withdrawal of Maximilian from Mexico, and the payment of our claims