Letter signed C. Gibson [Charles Gibson], Atlantic City, to Governor Gamble [Hamilton R. Gamble], August 2, 1861
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Identifier: D03016
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English
- Hamilton Rowan Gamble Papers | Letter signed C. [Charles] Gibson, Atlantic City, to Governor Gamble, Uncle. I received your last letter just as I was leaving Washington, had already taken leave of Mr. Bates and bought my tickets. I was the more inclined to this course because I anticipated your election and I thought you recommendations would come with greater force when you were in office as the Union governor. I had, before receiving your letter, suggested to Mr. Bates my return to Washington in the contingency of the election by the convention of a good man to the office of governor. He said the administration was extremely anxious to bring matters to a condition in which the federal armies could be safely withdrawn. He did not seem fully to appreciate that many Missourians would serve faithfully as militiamen under the state government in supporting the laws, both federal and state, within the borders of the state, who would not enter the federal armies in this contest. I expect Mr. Bates to meet me either here or in Philadelphia shortly after the adjournment of Congress, when we intend visiting Colonel Van Allen of New York. I will then convene freely on the subject. I do not think the administration is inclined to force us all into the Republican Party, but many persons connected with it would like to do so. What I fear more than anything else is an attempt of the abolitionists to usurp the government and under the pretense of preserving the union and taking advantage of the passions inflamed by the war, to accomplish their hellish purposes. They know this would destroy all hopes of the Union by dividing the north and united the south to a man. I took occasion, on my last visit to Washington, to say to the President that Mr. Pomeroy of Kansas was doing us more injury by his abolition resolutions that Mr. Breckenridge was by his secession speeches. Mr. Bates, who was with me, joined heartily. During the next session of Congress I look for much trouble from these fanatics. As Governor of Missouri you can now represent with some force any outrages committed by our troops. I presume as a matter of course these representations should be first made to General Fremont, but if he does not correct them with nothing will give me greater pleasure than to represent in the strongest manner to the government at Washington the absolute necessity of punishing such offenses. I have done so as regards the shootings in the streets of St. Louis, but I was alone in my remonstrance and failed, except that I succeeded in getting Fremont stationed there. I fear the immediate presence of an immense army, army jobbers and contractors in and around Washington has localized the ideas of those in power, and so the importance of maintaining the government in distant parts is not fully appreciated. At least it appears to me this is the case regarding matters in Missouri. I am not interested in property in Norristown…too far from Washington, and as you will now be required by the constitution of Missouri to reside within the state, I suppose I will have to make some disposition of it. Individuals mentioned include Edward Bates, Colonel Van Allen, Congress, Pomeroy, General John C. Fremont, Breckenridge and President Lincoln. Places mentioned include Washington, St. Louis, Missouri and Norristown, Pennsylvania. (4 pages), 1861 Aug 2
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