Otis2.html

Harrison Gray Otis to William Sullivan, February 9, 1820

Page 2

It is a fact, though to my shame be it spoken, that none of

us anticipated the magnitude and political tendency

of this question last year-Mr. King admits that he did not.

Indeed I first told him of the debate in the house,

and he treated the question as of little or no importance, but

of this more hereafter-It was the terror discovered by the opposition

that opened my eyes, while on my road hither.

I awoke as from a trance-The thing has now taken

such a turn that first or last probably Missouri will

gain her point, though the restriction will be applied

to the territories-But we ought to have stopp'd it, in

toto- and the Secptre [sic] would thus have passed from

the ancient dominion forever-As it is, her hand

shakes-Pennsylvania unanimous against her

is what she has never seen that I remember-It is

a fearful looking for of judgment to her-But She

may yet come upon her legs-The fear of federalism