JET. 50.] TO GEORGE ENGELMANN. 465 



this way a few years will test it thoroughly. I incline 

 to think that its principles will be to a certain extent 

 admitted in science, but that, as Darwin conceives it, 

 it will prove quite insufficient. 



As to our country, we have been, as a people, un- 

 dergoing a steady demoralization for the last fifteen or 

 twenty years, the natural end of which lately seemed 

 to be that we should crumble into decay almost with- 

 out an effort at recovery. If it had been sought under 

 legal forms and in a less outrageous spirit, I think the 

 North would have consented to the peaceful separation 

 of the cotton States, and we should have prospered 

 by the separation. But it has become clear that there 

 would be no living with such a people as our neigh- 

 bors would be, so long as they allow themselves 

 (against the better judgment of the best) to be ruled 

 by the political demagogues who now hold sway over 

 them. It is clear we must fight, and we had better 

 do it now, and fight for the integrity of the country 

 and the enforcement of the laws. So we are fairly 

 and justly in it, and we are going to conquer the South. 

 They have appealed to force. They must abide the 

 consequences of the appeal, and, we trust, God will 

 help the right. So you may expect to hear of stirring 

 times here. Ever, with great regard, 



Yours most cordially, ASA GRAY. 



TO GEORGE ENGELMANN. 



January 25, 1861. 



The Union is overthrown by a conspiracy which 

 would have been kept within bounds, and soon shut 

 itself up, if the border slave States cared enough for 

 the Union to take hold, or even allow it to be arrested 

 or checked. But no, they must become insane, like 



