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revenue deposited with her in 1837. Mr. Adams said that the Secretary wished to issue his proposals on Monday, if possible, and hoped these resolves would be passed before that time.
I told Mr. Adams that Mr. Seward and Mr. Wilson had impressed me with the importance of this on the previous day, and that I had conveyed their request already to your Excellency.
Mr. Adams then said I could do no more, and that he would write to you at once.
I, however, saw Mr. Wilson about it yesterday morning, and he said he would consult the Massachusetts delegation yesterday, if possible, and get them all to sign a letter to you on the subject, for you to show to the Legislature.
I should mention that I called the attention of our delegation to the unsatisfactory state of the United-States militia laws, and the questions that have arisen with us already.
I left a copy of Lothrop's opinion with Mr. Wilson.
He will read it, and read again the debates in our Constitutional Convention, and see what can be done.
They all saw the delicacy of the points, and their importance, and will do what they can.
Finding I could do nothing more, I decided to leave Washington last night, though, for my own pleasure, I should have liked to have remained some time longer at the centre of action in this great crisis.
I accordingly came here last night.
We were detained by ice and the extreme, savage cold; and I found this morning that my baggage, though properly checked and shipped at Washington, had not come through; indeed, none of the baggage did. This will detain me here; but I can only repeat in more detail what I have already written to your Excellency, when I have the pleasure of reporting my return to you in person.
I hope your Excellency will not think my journey has proved entirely unprofitable.
I think, at any rate, that an understanding and communication has been opened that may prove very useful in the future.
In connection with the letters of
Colonel Ritchie, the following extract from a letter addressed to me by
Secretary Seward, dated
Washington, June 13, 1867, is of interest and importance:—
In regard to February, 1861, I need only say, that, at the time the secession leaders were all in the Senate and House, with power enough, and only wanting an excuse, to get up a resistance in the capital to the declaration of Mr. Lincoln's election and to his inauguration; in other words, to have excuse and opportunity to open the
