Charles Francis Adams, Jr., to Henry Adams
Boston, November 14, 1864
I am disposed to believe that I have just witnessed the most sublime moral spectacle of all time. As you know I got home in time to throw my vote and found myself one of some 5000 superfluous majority in the solid city of Boston. Think of it! The state of Massachusetts, as the result of four years of war and bloodshed and taxes and paper money, reviews her action and declares it good, and reordains the ministers of that action by a majority hitherto unknown in her annals. I never saw a more orderly election. I never saw people after an election settle down to its results with so little discussion, exultation or noise. All seemed to breathe more freely when the result was known, but there was a sober serious tinge in the general feeling not usually noticed. We exult very much over Massachusetts and her verdict. She has not left treason a hiding place in her limits. I cannot but attribute the unanimity of that result to Mr. Everett’s manly and decided course. For the influences which led to it do not seem to have gone beyond the State, and the most surprising changes are to be found in the strongholds of the old Bell-Everett party. He seems to have carried with him the bulk of his party, and left to the opposition only its stock leaders and organ. I delight and triumph over some of the dead in this struggle, e.g. R. C. Winthrop. During the last fifteen years our old Commonwealth has been not infrequently sorely tried. Few of her children were silent when Sumner was assailed, and fewer still when Sumter surrendered. One of these few was Winthrop. In our moments of anger and sorrow and exultation he could not find his voice, or even make a sign; but at last, when the traitors within struck hands with the traitors without, and it seemed possible that the nation might soon cashier its own good name, then, at last, Winthrop found his voice and his strength, and spoke forth in company with Rynders and Wood; he made haste, to affiliate himself with traitors, and, verily, he has his reward.
Thus you see we are very gay over the election, and make out to count the living and the dead. We do not see that it has left us anything to be desired. We have the popular majority, two-thirds and over of Congress, and not one single State Executive, except New Jersey, that is not in harmony with the Administration. I do not see why now the rebellion should not be crushed out. This election has relieved us of the fire in the rear and now we can devote an undivided attention to the remnants of the Confederacy. As for you and for most of us, it is a new and not unnecessary lesson. Here we have for months been deploring this election. We have regarded it as an indisputable misfortune and considered its occurrence now as an incident from which much evil might ensue and no good could. The clouds we so much dread have in this case indeed been big with mercy. This election has ratified our course at its most doubtful stage and it has crushed domestic treason as no other power could have. It is very pleasant to us to think how cheering these tidings will be to you. Abroad this election can hardly fail to produce a greater effect than any victory in the field or military movement. It is not only a great moral spectacle but a decisive moral victory, and the world, I should say, could hardly fail to admire the people who have achieved it. . . .
