June 7th and 23rd, 1861-Dated Letter Written from Memphis, Tennessee to a Northern Correspondent, a Deeply Committed Defense of Southern Secession Written in the Weeks Surrounding Tennessee's Vote, referencing Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, the Battles of Big Bethel and Aquia Creek, and the Fate of Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland Extremely Fine.
This exceptional extraordinary Civil War Political Content 8-page beautifully Hand-written Letter that measures about 9.75” x 7.75”, Signed, "H.F. Farnsworth" dated June 7, 1861, being written from Memphis, Tennessee. It is addressed to a Northern relative named “Frost,” notable for how bluntly and articulately it lays out the Southern Secessionist case in the Civil War's opening weeks, and discusses the U.S. Constitution’s role months before most Americans on either side grasped how long or bloody this conflict would become.

Farnsworth opens by dismissing Lincoln's own assurance that, "the Union is not dissolved" and that secession is merely, "a rebellion of a small portion of a few States," countering at length, in part:

"the raising of an army, the blockading of ports, the stoppage of mails, the increase of the navy and regular army, the confiscation of property, all such acts you well know are equally unconstitutional, and said Abraham has no power in him vested to institute or carry out."

He is unsparing toward Northern leadership generally, writing, "I must confess, I have no patients left, when I reflect upon the Acts of the Oligarchy at Washington and the Party whose servants they are, Since November 1860," and insisting that, "every measure tending toward a peaceable settlement, was at once voted down by Northern Black Republicans."

Pausing mid letter on "June 23rd," Farnsworth resumes with fresh news that Tennessee's separation vote had since passed by an overwhelming margin, reporting, "A few months since she gave a majority for the Union of over 80000; and now only a small minority in the whole state of about 17000 in it favor," and issues a direct, chilling warning, "Believe it or not, it is now a fixed fact, that the states now separated will never again owe any allegiance to your government. Now, remember what I say."

He predicts further that continued Union war policy would soon push Kentucky, Missouri, and Maryland into open revolt, writing of Kentucky, "she will soon burst forth in a blaze that will take all the armies you can raise to quench it alone," and of Missouri, "she will carry it forward until she is free a military despotism, and until every vile soldier quartered upon her is destroyed or driven out." On the prospect of continued war, Farnsworth is unflinching, "They would far sooner, in case of being 'borne down by superior numbers' offer themselves and become 'a colony' and 'a dependency' of England... But if fight we must, we shall do it with a vengeance never before known in the annals of warfare. God save us from the necessity!"

This letter closes on a personal note entirely at odds with everything preceding it, reporting the family in good health and a six week old baby recently named Nannie, a small human counterweight to eight pages otherwise consumed by the coming storm of civil war. This lot includes a typed transcription of this full letter prepared for ease of reading period handwriting.
Full Transcription of this Letter reads:

Memphis June 7, 1861 --- Dear Frost,

Yours of the 20th was received on the 1st instant. It gives me pleasure to reply although I fear our views will not coincide at present. We must grant to each other equal sincerity, and hope in whatever matter we are in error, time may reveal the right. One thing is sure, you have little knowledge of the true condition of the South at this time either politically, socially, or commercially. Nor do you know or appreciate their principles of action.

Though very much worn out by a hard days work, and having intended daily to write you since the 1st, yet I must write you tonight as we are formally notified by Abraham I, "that after tomorrow should our State ratify the "ordinance of Separation" passed by our Legislature, our mails will be discontinued"; yet he still vows "the Union is not dissolved", and "it is only a "rebellion" of a small portion of a few States"; "that it will soon be put down", crushed out by the overpowering numbers "of the North".

So he instructs his foreign ministers equally deceiving the nations of the earth, with devoted admirers of the North, But they will all soon find their error, and will react on the Federal Government like a thunderbolt in a clear sky. The raising of an army, the blocading of ports, the stoppage of mails, the increase of the navy and regular army, the confiscation of property, all such acts you well know are equally unconstitutional, and said Abraham has no power in him vested to institute or carry out. But in these latter days, "the Constitution" which the North pretends to have such a profound respect for, is a dead letter when interest or power suggests its violation.

I must confess, I have no patients left, when I reflect upon the Acts of the Oligarchy at Washington and the Party whose servants they are, Since November 1860. The present condition of our country could have easily been prevented by them had they desired it, and they knew it. Yet in every "Committee", in the "Peace Congress", and on the floors of the "Senate and House"; Every measure tending toward a peacable settlement, was at once voted down by Northern Black Republicans. This you know full well.

As I said in my last, I now repeat in substance, that I boldly maintained the right to settle all disputes and the acquirement of "equal rights" in and under the Constitution framed by our forefathers, and cling to "the Union" and flag under which I was born with a death grip and never did give it up until I was calmly and fully satisfied that no adjustment was intended or could be made, securing equal rights to the North and South in the States and Territories.

You know I am no politician, nor am I influenced by any such "Cattle"; but you must not regard me as ignorant of the true feelings at this time of the people of the South. When I read your letter, I said to myself "is it possible that my connection whom I esteem so highly, can be so ignorant of everything pertaining to the present state of things in the South?" Were I to tell him what I know, he will only laugh and not believe me half as quick as he would a newspaper. "What then is the use of my writing about it". But I speak what I know, and a future day will prove to him that I told him the truth.

I have ever hated to believe in the so called "doctrine of Secession", and "States rights action"; until I was satisfied that it was fully recognized by framers of the Constitution and by the many acts of the States in our past history; by many of our greatest Statesmen in by gone days (even J.Q. Adams and Henry Clay) down to the day when Massachusetts placed on her legislative record "that if Texas was admitted as a Slave State, she was out of the Union forever" (and it has never been repealed so far as I know) and many subsequent acts by her and other states, that as for them the provisions of the Constitution should not be carried out, affixing heavy penalties even for attempts.

Call it "Revolution" if you please; or a "small rebellion of a few States" as you and your wise President seem to think and soberly affirm; and brand the people of the South as "rebels", "haitors", "unloyal" as you find almost every Northern paper filled with such eprithrts, (except a few who dare to say they know better) and it by no means heals the breach now made after 25 or 30 years hard trying, nor does it stop the civil war now being waged upon us by our loving, devoted friends (?) of the North, who so worship the Constitution and the Union"=Bah. The time was, six months ago, when these were the strongest Union loving men in "the U.S. " --in the South -- in the now Separated States.

The remarks you make about the large number of "Union men in the South", and the information of those Southerners would have been true at that time. But I tell you what I know, when I tell you it is not so now. There is an entire change, and your "1 per cent" would not now apply to even Union men". What has produced this great change? The North, and that wise obigarchy at Washington are alone responsible. From November last the number "Union men" began to decrease, and as one effort after another to "save the Union" failed, and finally when the foul scheme of forcible coercion & subjication was developed from beneath their "cloaks of peace", there were none to be found to resist the tide of separation -- none who could respect or love the bonds of such a Union, and revolution was the motto of "Union men".

"When Ala, Miss, and La went out "there yet many who voted against it. I can assure you that now they are a unit with Georgia South Carolina, Florida and Texas. Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee have held back, and struggles hard to get a just settlement, and maintain "the Union", and coax their sisters back. But what and where are they now? Why this change? You may be able to answer. The first three Va, Ark, and N.C. are the most bitter revolutionary states to be found, and a large majority in slow, calm moving Tenn are not a whit behind them. Even in these States there were many who voted for the Union who are now asking shoulder to shoulder with "the majority" which the North frequently whines out as the enormous crime of the South, in not being willing to obey, as "the essence of the Government"!

Tomorrow, the people of Tennessee cast their vote as to "separation" and you will see a large majority in the State ratifying it, but in East Tenn, where the people either can't or don't read and think for themselves, you will doubtless see a majority against "separation" of at least 18,000. But this will not affect the majority in nor the action of the State: nor would this minority rise in opposition to the action of the State and their Sister States, though aided by the boasted millions of our dear Northern Troops & money made out of out soil. If you think otherwise, you are deluded.

Believe it or not, it is now a fixed fact, that the states now separated will never again owe any allegiance to your government. Now, remember what I say. It is for you to reflect and, with opened eyes appreciate who has done all this mischief, so wide spread, so appaling, so irreperable. It surely is not "a few partisans or "party leaders" of the South"; surely "a few" of the same class at the North, have not done all this in so incredible a space of time! No! it is the steady determined work of the whole free soil & abolition party of the North for the last 30 years.

If they had minded their own business at home, and let the South alone, this state of things would have never been. The whole people here have now risen, and sooner than bear with such interference, and denial of equal rights of property and life in all the States and Territories; or be ever again under the "Federal Government" they would let out the last drop of blood. They would far sooner, in case of being "borne down by superior numbers" (as is constantly threatened them) offer themselves and become "a colony" and "a dependancy" of England.

This would be far preferable than to be held in subjication by a standing army of their own Countrymen. England would quickly and gladly take the boon. But if fight we must, we shall do it with a vengence never before known in the annals of warfare. God save us from the necessity! I enclose you a few questions from the N.Y. Journal of Commerce and entreat you to think soberly on them and answer every one in a christian spirit. Demand of your political and military leaders that a stop be put to the present mad war policy, which is daily widening the breach!

Believe it or not, I tell you by the persisting in the present war policy you will soon make the State of Kentucky, Missouri and Maryland in like manner revolt, even if they have to hew their way through fire and blood out of "the Union" you would hold them in by force; and the combined armies of the North and their dependancies" in that warmer climate spoken in history cant hold them. There are now many in these states who are favorable to the old Union; many in the seceded states who would sacrifice everything, but their rights and honor, to have this matter settled without war, and tens of thousands like myself who love their whole country so well that they would go through all labor & privation to have a "peaceable seperation".

But neither of these love the former U.S. so well, and are opposed to seperation so much, that it would only require the presence of Federal troops to aid them in resisting what you suppose to be a state of things forced upon them. On the contrary every act of the Northern people for many years and especially since the entering into power of the Black Republican Party with their Constitution and law annulling President a spirit has been roused that can never be put down by menace or coercion. This war made upon us distroys all hope of a reconstruction of any part of the broken fragments.

Your Government may take care of itself. Every slave State is thoroughly estranged; and parts of the States now free states will ultimately join the Southern Confederated States. This may seem incredible to you but such may happen. Now look on the mischief you have done, and are daily increasing by your acts, and encouraging by your words. None but madmen could think of healing such a wide spread defection or "Sister (states)" by such a course!

June 23rd -- I put this letter aside so carefully, I have not been able to take it up until now, and I will finish it through state and not much account perhaps in modifying your view as I wish I could.

What events have transpired in this short interim! Tennessee has separated herself from the oppression of a corrupt government by the voice of her people; the majority exceeding the wildest expectation. A few months since she gave a majority for the Union of over 80,000; and now only a small minority in the whole state of about 17,000 in it favor; and these desiring it only on equitable terms!

Missouri, has commenced the work, and she will carry it forward until she is free a military desprotism, and until every vile soldier quartered upon her is destroyed or driven out. Remember this!

Kentucky, will soon burst forth in a blaze that will take all the armies you can raise to quench it alone. Remember this! She is going to make one more struggle in Congress, through Mr. Crittinden, and if his proposals are not accepted at once then you will hear the howls of the dogs of war!

Maryland, you cannot be deceived in her true feelings and intent. Even the Fed'l Gov't are afraid of at every step, and at every point. Her Legislature has spoken in terms not to be misunderstood. Battles have been fought which have given you but a faint idea of the material you have to subdue into submission to your Government, your Laws, and your Flag.

Through the battles of Big Bethel, Acguia Creek &c &c, were disasterous to your troops, yet these are mere child's frolics compared with what will be met when we can get your troops far enough "into our house" to get a fair chance at the whole of them. Regiment after regiment are being returned back here from Virginia by Pres't Davis, as they now have there many more than needed. Having as many as needed to protect the Mississippi against any invading foe; these troops are concentrating for other points where they may soon be needed.

And this great mischief has been brought about by the South! We beg to be excused from such a mad, foolish imputation! Certainly the present policy will soon open your eyes as to how many "Union Men" there are here. May your Congress about to assemble adopt a wiser policy, and then take the sword from the hands of both sections.

We are all in fine health. Our little babe (6 weeks old today) has been named Nannie after Thos wife, our dear sister. I wish we could see you here, and hope yet to shake you by the hand, rejoicing in our nations peace. Remember us with love to each and all. Write me very soon.

Truly Yours, (Signed)

H.F. Farnsworth.

Some one has carried off my slip from the N.Y. paper...” (END)


[Civil War, Confederate States of America, Secession Crisis] [Political History, Tennessee, Border States] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Autograph Letters Signed]