have commenced a bitter warfare on me. Robinson of the Green Bay Advocate, who expects to get the Democratic nomination, commenced to traduce me by attacking in the grossest and most sophistical manner my Milwaukee speech, representing it as a libel on the people of Wisconsin. Another paper has started the story that I was a minion and an agent of the king of Prussia and am still in the pay of that Government, etc., and other Democratic organs have followed suit. They endeavor to kill me off before the nominations are made. Well, all these things cannot injure me, they will rather help me, but they are in so far disagreeable to me, as they treat me as a candidate while I am none.
Now, I want your advice, my dear Judge; tell me openly, whether in your opinion I should put a stop to it by declaring my intention not to be a candidate, or whether I shall let the thing go on.
What effect had Douglas's decapitation on his Democratic friends? My impression is, that he will not be nominated by the Charleston Convention and that he will gradually destroy his chances North and South by carrying water on both shoulders. Do you not think so? But Douglas out of the way, and the victory will be ours in 1860 unless we destroy ourselves by bad management.
How are you getting along personally? I should be very glad to hear from you at your earliest convenience.
TO EDWARD L. PIERCE[1]
Milwaukee, March 26, 1859.
Your favor of the 15th came duly to hand. The action of the legislature of Massachusetts on the suffrage question
- ↑ A young Massachusetts lawyer and reformer and, many years later, biographer of Charles Sumner.
