Civil War Letter to Governor Call, 1860

I feel under great obliga-
tions to you for the confidence
in me, manifested by you, in
placing my name with those
of the distinguished persons
whom you recommend as
umpires & mediators in the
present distracted State of
the county. In peaceful times
or war in times of danger of
an ordinary kind, there is safety
"in a multitude of counsellors," but
the present Sharp & dangerous
crisis [requires] the patriotic en-
ergy of one.--The old Con-