Summary

Imboden, a fiery Whig, could see many alternatives apart from immediate secession in the wake of Lincoln's election. He hoped to contain Lincoln, circumscribe his power, and freeze the president's power until the crisis passed. Although a prominent party activist in Augusta, Imboden would give limited time and attention to the wild national politics in 1860-61. Instead, he was busy with a new plantation venture in Kentucky.

EXCERPT:

"We are not really so far apart as you suppose. I understand that you are a 'Union man'--so am I. You would resist Republicanism--so would I. We neither think Va ought to secede, or rather revolt just now. You think S. Carolina ought to go out now, I think not--and here is the only point of difference between us, so far as I can see. That the entire South will speedily have to leave the Confederacy under the present Constitution I entertain no doubt whatever, but I dont think S. C. has put the issue upon a defensible ground--the mere election of a President under the Forms of law."

"If I had my way now, I would fight the Republicans thus--I would say to Lincoln 'You have been elected by the vote of only about one third of the people of the U. States. Your party is revolutionary in its organization, tendencies & aims. No man of your party ought to fill any national office if it can be prevented. We--the conservative 2/3rds of the American people still control the Senate & H. of Reps. of the U. States. We will use our power in those bodies to protect ourselves. We understand your party aims at the subjugation of 15 States & you as their head are expected to further their objects. We therefore declare war upon you & your party as you have declared war upon us. You shall have no tools of yours in office to aid you in your unholy work. The Senate must confirm all your appointments to office before they are valid. Now Sir! no man of your party is fit for any office, because his political opinions are destructive of American liberty. The Senate therefore will refuse--as they ought to do, being the reps. of the Sovereignty of the States which you seek to assail--to confirm to office any man who votes for you. We offer you the range of all other parties from which to select your Cabinet, your ministers, Post Masters, Collectors, Attorneys, Judges &c and we will confirm no others.' If this ground was firmly taken & maintained, Lincoln would be // utterly powerless. It would soon be understood that not he, but the Senate was the real appointive power, and then no man need hesitate about taking office under his administration for he would hold it, not from Lincoln but from the Senate. The President would have a Cabinet to watch him & control him. It may be said such a course would be revolutionary--perhaps it would--but it would be under & within the Constitution. And I would go further if he refused to submit to this control. I would defeat all appropriations of money for all purposes whatever & thus dissolve the government into its original elements."

Full-text web version of letter

Location of original letter

McCue Family Papers (MS 4406), Box 4, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia

"Augusta's Whig Party emphasized that slavery was safer within the Union than without and that in the 1860 election slavery had become needlessly politicized. The Augusta Whigs moved to develop a new party around Constitutional Unionism."