William T. Leacock Biographical Files Document 13

???, Lee and Davis? The incident so profusely commented upon on both sides of the ocean, of Bishop Polk(?) of Louisiana having accepted a commision in the Confederate army, is no derogation from the religiousity of Confederatism, but rather the contrary, irrespective of the right or wrong of the proceeding itself. Bishop Polk had been educated as a soldier; and he was ?intecedently to his consecration at first 'missionaryBishop of the South-west,' an office he held before Louisiana was raised into a Diocese, a proprietor-a slave owner, we grant, on a considerable scale-but a seigneur-cleric, who baptized, catechized, and married all his belongings. He believed, with whatever truth or falsehood, that the irruption of the United States' invading army would

New Orleans, July 1, 1861

My dear Bishop, The whole cannonade of the North w. not have shaken me more than the announcement of yr. course-but I [stood?] the fire, because I had confidence in my Leader-nevertheless, inquries are rife upon the streets and when forced to answer, I co. but say he the Bp. is right - but I condemn the act. [What?] condemn the right? Yes. He is too [fast?] for me. I know he is right because he has reasons for [what?] he has done. I condemn the act, only [true?]. I am not in [posession?] of those reasons - but when I ascertain them, I feel confident I shall approve then. Now I never was afraid of you before - but - I am now because I know your propensities, and I am afraid that these have had more influence in determining your course, than the [exegencis?] of our cause. I pray you write to me. I do not desire a full explanation of your reasons, []. it may be imprudent to give them by letter in these times

but only tell me, that yr. views have been [canvessed?] ^endorsed^ by unimpassioned, [right]-thinking, Christian men, & I shall be satisfied, til I see you. I tell you seriously and affectionately, I am afraid of the Polkism of your nature. You are right, inasmuch as you violate no law-but is it [expedient?]? If it is, then surely our cause is hazardous. Write - for I, tell you, you have shaken me to the very core of my being.

I shall not attend this meeting, for reasons that I cannot now mention. [?] is it necessary, for the object, for [ur? it may] called, being a recorgnition of our dismemberment is now a fact, recognized by the whole Confederacy-or is at [] but a preliminary Your affectionately, W.L. Leacock