Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Hall, James. 'James Hall to William H. Herndon' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: letter]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon580.html

else was talked in public. Such a thing as a black Republican was unknown in Balto. at that time, or if known as such, dared not speak out in public — The very air was lurid with rebellion — equalling Charleston S.C. — Long before that period in the Freemont & Buchanan Canvass a very highly respectable Episcopal Clergyman, Harry B. Goodwin of Charles County, & by the way, Lucket's Pastor when a boy, declared to me, that if Freemont was elected, he should never live to reach Washington, that if the South did not rise to act, he, individually, would put a bullet through his heart, that he would consider it his duty as a Christian to save his Country from nigger rule — And Goodwin too, was a Northern Man, married a Chs. Co. Lady, & even freed some fifty Slaves & sent them, under my care, to Liberia — Nor was he more crazy than Mr Calhoun with whom he was somewhat intimate — "Why was Ferrandina & others not molested?" Simply because, they had only talked as most others talked & as there was no chance for action, their talk subsided, & there was nothing to apprehend from them. It might as well & better be asked why were not the Southern Editors, who urged the "assassination of the Tyrant" punished, or the fellow who offered to do it for a certain sum? or Mr Southern ^[7] of St. Marys Co. who shot down a sergeant for coming on his place for his Negroes? I cannot but think Mr Lamon has treated this matter too lightly, considering how the Mass. troops were treated by our people not rabble, soon after. Not knowing Mr Lamon's address, I pitched this at you — & you may pitch it at him, or into the fire, as you see fit — but I must express my obligation to you & him for a pattern biography, scarcely second to Boswells Johnson —

very respectfully —
James Hall.

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 3094 — 95