Windom, William (1827-1891) to Edward R. Parry, Isaac Andrews, Truman Andrews, W. H. Wickoff, and Charles Mansfield
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02799 Author/Creator: Windom, William (1827-1891) Place Written: Washington, D. C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 December 1859 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 20.2 x 12.8 cm. Order a Copy
Windom, a United States Representative from Minnesota, states that he will attempt to postpone discussion in Senate regarding a proposed treaty with the Mankato (possibly referring to the Mdewakanton Sioux, who inhabited the region surrounding Mankato, Minnesota). Regarding disagreement between Northern and Southern Congressmen, declares "We have a warm time here with the Southern fire eaters ... In the House, so anxious were they to kindle anew the fires of agitation and sectionalism ... making inflamatory, disunion Speeches ... They openly avow their determination (in case of the Election of a Rep. President.) to dissolve the Union ..." Mentions that if Republican John Sherman is elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives, "Some of the leading Democratic papers threaten a dissolution ..."
We have a warm time here with the Southern fire eaters. They [are] so anxious...in the House...to kindle anew the fires of agitation and sectionalism, that they could not wait until the organization [of the leadership], but for a full week have delayed the business of the Country, for the purpose of making inflammatory, disunion Speeches. They openly avow their determination (in case of the Election of a Rep[ublican]. President) to dissolve the Union, that sentiment is loudly cheered from the "plug uglies" [anti-Republican gangs] of this City--who fill the galleries. Never until I came to a thoroughly Democratic district, did I hear a disunion Sentiment advanced or cheered but here both are very common. The whole thing is Simply a renewal of the old longtime threats--which have so long brought upon...the weak kneed gentlemen of the North. It is again having the same effect and in many parts of the Country the old fossils are calling "Union Meetings" for the purpose of propitiating the South. You will notice by the papers news the Republicans have all (or nearly all) kept silent thus far, and have not answered any of the Speakers. This is done by an understanding among our party for the purpose of affecting the organization as seen as terrible and for the purpose of showing to the Country who are really the slavery agitators.
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