5–11 August 1861

The war goes on educating us to a trust in the simplicities, and to see the bankruptcy of all narrow views. The favourite pet policy of a district, the spicier party of Boston or New York, is met by a conflicting hpicier party in Philadelphia, another in Cincinnati, others in Chicago and St. Louis, so that we are forced still to grope deeper for something catholic and universal, wholesome for all. Thus war for the Union is broader than any State policy, or Tar- iff, or Maritime, or Agricultural, or Mining interest. Each of these neutralizes the other. But, at last, Union Party is not broad enough, because of Slavery, which poisons it; and we must come to " emancipation with compensa- tion to the loyal States," as the only broad and firm ground. This is a principle. Everything else is an intrigue. I wrote to Cabot, that, huge proportions as the war had attained from des- picable beginnings, it is felt by all as immensely better than the so-called Integrity of the Re- public, as amputation is better than cancer ; and we find it out by wondering why we are so easy at heart in spite of being so beaten and so poor. A rush of thoughts is the only conceivable prosperity that can come to me.'