The Real Cause of the U.S. Civil War


Henry C. Carey to Abraham Lincoln, January 2, 1861


Page 2



to another session.

Nevertheless, the success of your

administration is wholly dependent

upon the passage of the Morrill bill

at the present session. With it, the people

will be relieved -- your term will com-

mence with a rising wave of prosperity -

the treasury will be filled -- and the party

that elected you will be increased and

strengthened. Without it, there will be

much suffering among the people -- much

dissatisfaction with their duties -- much

borrowing on the part of the Government -- &

very much trouble among the republican

party when the people shall come to

vote two years hence. There is but one

way to make the party a permanent

one, & that is, by the prompt repudia-

tion of the free trade system.

The grand difficulty of opposition

administrations, thus far, has been that

they have been obliged to wait two years

before they could carry out the wishes of















Carey Letter, Jan. 2, 1861, Page 2