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, and in 

 all your pious and wise sentiments looking to the great Gov- 

 ernor of the world, 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 slave 

 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 we 

 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 entire 

 nation was when our Revolution began. He will dispose 

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





