Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

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“Northern men all seem to be dumb and paralyzed!”—Horatio King (soon to be Buchanan administration’s last Postmaster General)

December 28, 2010

Turning on the Light: A Dispassionate Survey of President Buchanan's Administration, From 1860 to its Close, by Horatio King

(Confidential.)

P. O. Dept., Dec. 28, 1860.

My Dear Sir,—I feel as though we were on the verge of civil war, and I should not be surprised if this city is under the military control of the disunionists in less than one month! There can be no doubt that the Cabinet is divided, and rumor has it that the sympathies of the President, as well as of Mr. Toucey, are with the disunionists in reference to the question of sustaining Major Anderson!  Holt, Black, and Stanton are firm for the Union, there can be no doubt.

Is there no way to bring a healthful influence to bear on the President and Governor Toucey? Northern men all seem to be dumb and paralyzed!

In haste, yours truly,

Horatio King.

Nahum Capen, Esq.

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