19 174
DAY BEFORE END OFWAR:“IS NOTTHISAN IMMENSE SOCIAL REVOLUTION?”
8
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(CIVIL WAR.) SUMNER, CHARLES. Autograph Letter Signed, to an unnamed
recipient (“My dear Sir”), apologizing that the memorandum accompanying the sender’s
letter was lost, requesting that it be resent, expressing satisfaction that slavery had been
overcome, stating that Lincoln’s assassination was a natural outcome of slavery, and express-
ing confidence that equal rights would eventually ensure security. 4 pages, 8vo, written on
a folded sheet; faint dampstaining to first page along center vertical fold, moderate
bleedthrough (but still legible), upper edge trimmed (without affecting text), minor
smudges to signature and scattered text.
Washington, 8 May 1865
[1,000/1,500]
“
. . .You will enjoy the overthrow of Belligerent Slavery. In assassinating our good Pres’dt it
acted naturally, logically & consistently. And yet there are foreigners here who are astonished
that J[efferson] D[avis] can be thought guilty of such an atrocity. For 30 years such things have
been done by Slavery.
“
There are some who have said that we could not Conquer the Rebellion who now say that we
cannot tranquillize the rebel country.This is a mistake.With equal rights to all without distinc-
tion of color the future is secure. Of this do not doubt. But it will take time; for is not this an
immense social revolution?”
On May 9, 1865, President Johnson issued a proclamation declaring that the rebellion of the
southern states had ceased.