The Territorial
Question has become a mere abstraction. We no longer talk of it."
"Then your great grievance is the election of Lincoln?"
"Yes."
"And the grievance is all the greater because he was elected according
to all the forms of law?"
"Yes."
"If he had been got into the Presidency by trickery, by manifest
cheating, your grievance would have been less complete?"
"Yes."
"Is Lincoln considered here to be a bad or dangerous man?"
"Not personally. I understand that he is a man of excellent private
character, and I have nothing to say against him as a ruler, inasmuch as
he has never been tried. Mr. Lincoln is simply a sign to us that we are
in danger, and must provide for our own safety."
"You secede, then, solely because you think his election proves that the
mass of the Northern people is adverse to you and your interests?"
"Yes."
"So Mr. Wigfall of Texas hit the nail on the head, when he said
substantially that the South cannot be at peace with the North until the
latter concedes that slavery is right?"
"Well,--I admit it; that is precisely it.
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