292 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



struggle in our country." The great kindness received by 

 me and my family from your parents, early won my grati 

 tude and friendship, and when I was called to act a pub 

 lic part in Boston, occupying no fewer than six seasons, 

 and in a position both conspicuous and responsible, I felt 

 strong in the support and countenance of President Quincy, 

 and it is a great satisfaction to me to know that I had a 

 place not only in his esteem but in his affection 



How solicitous he was that the war might prove to 

 be the door to emancipation, is shown from the en 

 suing letters to Dr. Sprague. 



TO REV. DR. W. B. SPRAGUE. 



BANGOR, MAINE, August 5, 1861. 

 MY DEAR AND REVERED FRIEND, .... In all that YOU 



write concerning this most atrocious and wicked war, aud in 

 all your pious and wise sentiments looking to the great Gov 

 ernor of the worlfl, I fully concur. I also agree with you 

 perfectly in your estimate of the probable issue of this con 

 flict, as regards those on whose account it is waged. They 

 perfectly understand the matter, and no -doubt the sla\te 

 quarters on the plantations, and the kitchens of the houses 

 of cities, are the scenes of animated discussions and of inter 

 esting communications of the progress of events. Oh that 

 some State would inaugurate the experiment of making 

 their slaves hired laborers on their plantations, under due 

 regulations to prevent idleness and vice, and might w< 

 not hope for success as in Barbadoes and even in Jamaica. 

 One successful result would induce other States to follow, 

 and the negro would become, in many instances, ambitious 

 to acquire property and character. But the entire subject 

 rests with God, who will, in due time, dispose of the great 

 nation of Africans, now by a million larger than our.entii 

 nation was when our Revolution began. He will dispost 

 of it in some way that we cannot now foresee. The Sout 



