The Real Cause of the U.S. Civil War

Steve Hurlbut to Abraham Lincoln, March 27, 1861


Page 9


yield jurisdiction - it is a most serious

question what is left for the administration

to do in the premises?

The question is actually in my judg-

ment one involving Peace or War.

With this unfortunate contingency that

it is by no means certain that any

thing less than unqualified recognition

of absolute Independence and of course

unqualified surrender of jurisdiction

will satisfy, and this as I understand

the Constitution can be done neither by

the President nor Congress but only by a

National Convention.

The administration alone should not

in my judgment bear this burden.

The Legislative Department by whose

past neglect the Executive is shorn of nec-

essary means should bear its portion

of the Responsibility.

But as this will require time, and as

it is certain that the South will not be

united on any one policy - those diffi-

cult questions must be temporarily

met as they best can be.

I have no doubt that a ship known

to contain only provisions for Sumpter

would be stopped and refused admittance

[8396]

Hurlbut Letter Page 9