The Bold Enterprises Are The Successful Ones.

In Sumter And Other Counties [in South Carolina] The Whites Are Resorting To Intimidation And Violence To Prevent The Colored People From Organizing For The Elections. The Division There Is Still On The Color Line. Substantially All The Whites Are Democrats And All The Colored People Are Republicans. There Is No Political Principle In Dispute Between Them. The Whites Have The Intelligence, The Property, And The Courage Which Make Power. The Negroes Are For The Most Part Ignorant, Poor, And Timid. My View Is That The Whites Must Be Divided There Before A Better State Of Things Will Prevail.

I Regard The Inflation Acts As Wrong In All Ways. Personally I Am One Of The Noble Army Of Debtors, And Can Stand It If Others Can. But It Is A Wretched Business.

I Prefer To Make No New Declarations [on Southern Policy Beyond What Was In The Letter Of Acceptance]. But You May Say, If You Deem It Advisable, That You Know That I Will Stand By The Friendly And Encouraging Words Of That Letter, And By All That They Imply. You Cannot Express That Too Strongly.

No Officer Should Be Required Or Permitted To Take Part In The Management Of Political Organizations, Caucuses, Conventions, Or Election Campaigns. Their Right To Vote And To Express Their Views On Public Questions, Either Orally Or Through The Press, Is Not Denied, Provided It Does Not Interfere With The Discharge Of Their Official Duties. No Assessment For Political Purposes On Officers Or Subordinates Should Be Allowed.

My Policy Is Trust, Peace, And To Put Aside The Bayonet. I Do Not Think The Wise Policy Is To Decide Contested Elections In The States By The Use Of The National Army.