tl i aa aaa 
#7. 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. 
s 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 
