Tillotson, Edwin (fl. 1861-1898) To George Tillotson

Enclosed with GLC04558.122.01. Written by George Tillotson's sister Mary and her husband Edwin. Mary writes of her hard work and says Nelly [Nelson] was taken prisoner. Edwin's letter (beginning on p.2) complains of poor health (consumption) and answers GWT (punctuation regularized): "I can scarcely believe you serious in your accusation against abolitionists as the cause of the war. It was the slave masters who first made opinions on slavery [into] political tests, and demanded 'soundness on the [illegible]' of every man north or south who asked office at Washington. It was they who over 40 years ago under the threat of dis[s]olution forced the Missouri Compromise line on the north and then by the same means broke it up when they hoped to extend slavery North of it, filibustered for Cuba and overrode the constitution with the Fugitive Slave Law and Dred Scott Decision, Freedom of Speech and of the Press. Constitutional guarantees which our modern Democrats are so sensitive about when denied to the aiders and abettors of Rebellion, (yes Slavery's Rebellion) have been denied in every Slave state systematically and entirely for the last 40 years, and Democrats as a party the puppets of the Slave Power have howled down every voice of remonstrance. And they repeatedly attempted to suppress free speech even in the halls of Congress by bowie-knife, Bludgeon & Revolver. No brother slavery caused this war...." He shifts the argument a couple sentences later: "You detest abolition! Then you love slavery and your democracy and republicanism are shams and you are at heart at despot and a tyrant and you belong in the ranks of 'Jeff' fighting for slavery." The letter condescendingly tells GWT to think about slavery and emancipation, so as to "speak more complacently of abolition."