The Real Cause of the U.S. Civil War


Robert Hosea to Abraham Lincoln, February 7, 1861


Page 12



to create a difference and division of the

northern confederacy, which would consol-

idate the agricultural states in one

body, place the continent at the feet of

the south, and thus effect what they do

earnestly desire, a permanent separation

from the states of Penna, New York

and New England, and make Charleston

Mobile & New Orleans, through their free

trade system, the grand ports of entry for

merchandise for the whole continent.

This is their plan as they freely acknowledge.

They imagine these last events could be brought

about by the natural desire to get foreign

goods cheaper than we now obtain them

under the revenue system, and they feel

certain they could divide the sentiment

of the north west on the tariff question, but

of course will not attempt it, until after

the settlement of a final dissolution.

And thus they think they could finally

accomplish the ruin of northern manufactures

for whose benefit they imagine the Revenue

system to be carried on.

It would be useless to argue

with them; free trade is bred in their bone

and they will have it, if it results in the

ruin of the country. The weakness of Mr Bu-

chanan has given the conspirators reason

to think they have no government, and they are

daily gaining strength by his imbecility.






Hosea Letter Page 12