. 50.] TO GEORGE ENGELMANN. 467 



not the heart to write you. You have seen your dream 

 of peace policy fall in pieces, and Douglas coming out 

 for the war. You have also seen enough to perceive 

 that under the let-alone policy Missouri also would 

 have seceded, under the same discipline which has 

 been applied elsewhere. In which event, let alone, 

 St. Louis would dwindle to a country village. 



No, the first and paramount duty of a country is to 

 protect and preserve itself against destruction. The 

 Constitution and government must be maintained, and 

 treason put down if we are able to do it. 



If it can't be done, then, and then only, may we 

 submit to disintegration. 



Stick firm to the Union, and Missouri will come 

 out well. I am sorry for the bloodshed at St. Louis. 

 Your population is hard to manage. But Harney, as 

 you say, is doing well, and I expect to see your State 

 soon a loyal one. Even those with secession affinities 

 must soon see their own interests. It is impossible 

 there should be peace, peace is not worth having 

 till the rebellion, based on a plot formed years ago, 

 is put down. 



If you think me belligerent, I am nothing to Agas- 

 siz. Of course we shall all suffer severely. But 

 better to suffer in devotion to the Union than prosper 

 in petty fragments. 



Enough of this. May God preserve and keep you, 

 and let us hear from you when you can ; for we take 

 great interest in you, and know your position is a try- 

 ing one. 



CAMBRIDGE, August 6, 1861. 



MY DEAR ENGELMANN, As soon as I got clear of 

 college work, my wife and I started off (on the 12th 



