Letter from HIRAM POWERS to GEORGE PERKINS MARSH, dated November 4, 1864.
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My Dear friend Marsh--
It is a long time since I have written to you, but I am not going to fill up half a Sheet with excuses -- I have not forgotten you and your dear Wife -- her bust is now in the hands of my best workman and it is nearly finished in a very fine piece of marble--only some small spurs upon it here and there -- When done--I shall send to her some photographs--& the original will be subject to your order -- I have been in hot water--about the war at home--these 4 years nearly -- It has been so like some soul stirring romance -- every chapter (by telegraph) has left us in an awful suspense--and I have not unfrequently passed almost sleepless nights thinking about the matter --
Your estimate of Mc:Lellan is fully sustained by
his own conduct--but what worries me is--that there are so many who are as bad as he
is--and if he is elected for President--I shall give all up -- There will be no hope
for us--
he
will compromise with our "Southern Bretheren"--and we shall have Slavery back with a
fair prospect of extension including every white man, woman and child in the Country
-- The election of McLellan would prove us unworthy to exist as a nation--and quite
worthy all the sarcasms of the London Times Saturday Review--Examiner amp;c. amp;c.
-- But I--don't believe it, I can't believe it -- Such an event would seem to set
aside the doctrine of a Divine Providence --
It would appear from the last news that Lincoln's chance is still very good -- And if he is elected, then I shall expect to hear of the arrest of Valandigham--Fernando Wood & GovSeymour -- I want to hear that those three traitors have been hanged -- Please write me a line or two of encouragement if you can --
All well and all unite in kindest regards,
Ever your Friend
References in this letter:
Powers, as a gesture of friendship to Caroline Crane Marsh (1816-1901) and her husband, George Perkins Marsh, American ambassador to Italy, had her sit for a bust in June 1862. The marble replica made from the plaster cast, presented to the Marshes in late 1864 or early 1865, is now in the Fleming Museum of the University of Vermont.
General George M. McClellan, Democratic presidential nominee in 1864, lost to Abraham Lincoln but garnered 45 per cent of the vote.
Clement Laird Vallandigham, 1820-1871, was a politician and statesman from Ohio. He was devoted to the South, the home of his ancestors. He felt slavery was morally and politically evil, but advocated a policy of non-interference, much to the dismay of the North. He was considered the leader of the Copperheads, or the Peace Democrats, Northerns sympathetic to the South.
Fernando Wood (1812-1881), a leading member of the Peace Democrats, was mayor of New York City 1861-62 and member of the House of Representatives 1862-65.
Horatio Seymour (1810-1886) was Democratic governor of New York from 1863 to 1865.