Polk Family Papers Box 10 Document 15

1861, May 23

The Rt. Rev. John H. Hopkins, Burlington Vt., to Bishop Polk, re: acknowledgment of his letter; his thanks that their views on the continuance of ecclesiastical relations do not differ; lenghty details on political matters and the War. 4 pp. ( mss. original, 1 typed copy).

Burlington Vt. May 23, 1861

Rt. Rev. & dear Brother,

I was really glad to see your handwriting once more, after so long an interval, and am particularly thankful that our views on the continuance of [{sic} of our ecclesiastical relations are not likely to differ. This, after all, is the most important question. Wars must cease, governments must change. Even [?] pass away. But the Church of God endureth for ever. The Church of Rome contrived to maintain her unity, during all the battles, sieges, and revelations of fifteen centuries. And surely our [underscore]truly[end underscore] Catholic and apostolic Church should prove that it is able to withstand all the distracting agitation of our political strife, as the kingdom of Christ, “not of this world.”

Most deeply do I sympathize with your feelings, about this terrible war, although I do not understand it to be

a war of subjugation. The views taken of it, so far as I can understand the matter, is that it is, [underscore] first, [underscore closed] an act of necessary defense against the threatened attack upon Washington. [underscore] Secondly, [underscore closed] an act of duty in recovering and preserving the public property of the U. States. And [underscore] thirdly, [underscore closed] an act of protection to those portions of the Southern States, who are supposed to bhe against Secession, but who are imagined to have been overborn by the leaders of the movement, and constrained to assent, unwillingly, to a separation which their real judgment disclaimed. Hence, the prevalent idea seems to be that the result is to be a return to the old Union, if the true sentiment of your people can be encouraged to proclaim itself. But, saving the few outrageous fanatics who desire the utter extinction of negro slavery, I have seen to evidence of any expectation or desire that the South should be deprived

of any of its Constitutional rights and privileges, at least beyond the open question of territorial expansion.

Now, of these views, I believe the first to be the popular one, and I have no doubt that it furnished the great motive which motivated such a body of volunteers in answer to the summons of Pres. Lincoln. The general impression is that the very existence of our Government depends on the forceful resistance of Southern [underscore] aggression. [underscore closed] The attack upon Fort Sumter is looked upon as the opening act, which was to be followed by the [sevising?] of the Capitol, and the destruction of the Union. If the Confederate Congress could remove that impression, by a distinct declaration that they only desired to be permitted to depart in peace, and settle all matters in controversy by fair negotiations with the approaching Congress of the U. States, it might yet stay the imminent danger of horrible encounters,

[several sentences here written diagonally across the main text and illegible] and perhaps, under God, relieve the County, North and South, from the awful prospect which is before us.

For my own part, I have not shrunk from the open expression of my opinions, for which I have been very heartily abused, as “a Northern man with Southern principles.” Yet, although I have maintained that you had as good a [underscore] right [underscore closed] to secede as the colonies had to throw off the government of England. I have not yet seen the [underscore] policy [underscore closed] or [underscore] wisdom of the act, [underscore closed] because the election of Mr. Lincoln was not, of it self, any evidence that your rights under the Constitution were in danger. The majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives were not subject to Republican [distraction?], and in fact the president was not elected by a majority of the people. Nor indeed could I doubt that the next election would have overthrown the Sectional party altogether. But the past is now irreversible. May God, in mercy, direct the present and the future, in accordance with His will, for the best interests of His Church and of both the great sections of our own United Country! With kindest regards to your dear wife & family, yr ever faithful & affectionate brother in Christ, John M. Hopkins