BLACKWELL FAMILY Henry B. Blackwell Spofford, Ainsworth[* A R Spofford*] West Brookfield Mass May 1, 1855 My dear friend I have just entangled myself beyond the propibility of release by promising to love honor & cherish Lucy Stone in sickness, or health, in joy, or sorrow, so long as we both shall live! Being a lover of exact Justice, I have postponed informing you of the terrible misfortune about to befall me, as you did in a similar case -- But, like yourself, I lose no time in conveying information of the frightful casualty the moment it has become irremediable. Time presses. I must be brief - The affair was thus - place- a wild rocky Massachusetts mountain farm, hour 7 A M. day May 1st Weather cold, cloudy drizzle- Scene front parlor, adorned with running pine & evergreens-- persons Lucy Stone & Heather & Mother, brother & sisters & nephews & nieces - guests Chas C. Burleigh & Rev T.W. Higginson & wife - Enter Lucy Stone in silk dress & HBB (of unenviable notoriety) in a mulberry coat & white vest -- Performance 1st Ready of protest by the Unenviable H.B.B. - 2d Remarks by T. W. Higginson3. Promise to look after each other, by the unenviable & the Bride - 4. Pronouncements of our matrimonial status by the Rev Higginson - 5th prayer by Rev Higginson - 6th Small oration & solemn benediction by Chas C Burleigh 7th tears & wedding cake by all the Company - 9th Departure of the Company - the Unenviable & the Bridge taking cars for N.Y. - 8th Breakfast however having intervened between the imposition of the Halter & the Exeunt omnes -- I hope to be home Saturday night -- meanwhile accept wedding -cake & sympathize with my bereavements- Give my [half] love & half the Cake to Sarah - Tell her it was my fault she married you & now I am paid up for my past actions. In fine, excuse all the above nonsense (in consideration of the circumstances) & believe me Your fellow Sufferer Henry B Blackwell P.S. Please present to Neogenos the assurances of my distinguished consideration & esteem H.B.B.Newark N.J. Jany 1 1868 A R Spofford Esq My dear Sir While I am aware that your official position makes it unwise to take any active part in the political movements of the day, I would be glad to ask your aid in laying before influential members of Congress & especially Mr Fessenden of the Senate & Mr Washburne of the House a proposal for such action as, in my judgement will save the Nation, ensure the triumph of the Republican party and place the originators of the measure in the very first rank as statesman. The situation is as follows 1. In thirteen of the late Slave States - the Republican party are powerless upon the basis of white suffrage - but overwhelming preponderant in at least ten of them on that of Manhood Suffrage-- If these states are allowed to act in the Govt on the white basis, the Rep. party is lost - -a war of races will ensue - and the Democracy will regain power - Therefore the Rep. party will stand or fall with the establishment, or defeat the Manhood Suffrage 2. The late elections show that on the direct issue before the people, a temporary defeat is more than probable. 3 Congress is Republican by over two thirds majority of both houses in consequence of the War. It never will be so again - unless from the result of a second civil war -- This Session will terminate its overwhelming preponderance success Truly Yoursand reduce it,at best, to a bare[?] majority of both Houses. [3.] 4 with 2/3 majority, Congress can now submit to the legislatures of the States a Constitutional Amendment, which, when ratified by a majority of three-fourths of these legislatures will be a part of the Constitution [4] 5 The Republican party now possess the Governor & a majority of both houses of the legislatures of 19 out of 27 of the States now in the Union; [?] and in nine of the unreconstructed States the registered voters stand as follows Alabama 74450 Whites 90350 Blacks 164800 Total Florida 11100 75354 26457 " Georgia 95234 93150 188072 Louisiana 44792 82907 127639 Mississippi 48926 88925 137851 N. Carolina 133000 71667 174714 S. Carolina 46754 79585 125339 Texas 56666 27430 104096 Virginia 116000 104000 229000 595838 473669 _________ 1269571 In Arkansas the loyal party are in a large majority-- thus, counting in the latter, we can hope to carry 29 States which will more than carry the Amendment--But [5.] 6 If, upon a careful consideration, the requisite three fourths of the legislatures could not now be obtained--the Constitutional Amendment establishing [?] impartial Suffrage might be laid by Congress before the Legislatures not to be voted upon by them until the year 1869 or 1879 [6.] 7 In that case, this Amendment should be thus submitted, after its adoption in caucus, as a strictly party measure, with as brief a public discussion as possible and as early as possible in the present session--As it will not come before the people directly, but little should be said about it in the party newspapers--The vast personal popularity of Gen Grant ensures both his nomination by the Convention and his election--Upon this wave of presidential success, the requisite strength in the State legislatures to ratify the Amendment may reasonably be hoped for & expected--counting in, the Negro Suffrage legislation of the South-- [7] 8 With the new President and a majority of the Senate & House of Representatives in 1869-70--enough new Judges of the U.S. Supreme Court can be added to ensure beyond a doubt, the affirmation of the validity of the addition to the Constitution. Impartial Suffrage being thus affirmed, no party fluctuations can ever affect it--the Negro question will disappear from our politics forever and the late Rebel States will be the strongest and most reliable Republican States in the Union, instead of being hopelessly and overwhelmingly Democratic on a white basis-- [8.] 9 This Suffrage Amendment should be offered by Convention men and Grant men and will thus be an affectual pacificator in the Republican ranks, will ensure Grant's harmonious nomination next May and his support by the Radicals upon such a platform as is deemed most expedient by the Convention--private assurances being given, if thought advisable, that Gen Grant, when elected, will sustain the Congressional policy-- 9. If it is thought probable that the Constitutional Amendment can be put through the 3/4 of the legislatures before the next Presidential election and a decision of the Supreme Court as to its validity be staved off until it can be reorganized by the new Prest. & Senate - then might it not be best to submit two Constitutional Amendments, differing in phraseology, but agreeing in substance, - one for immediate Submission to the existing legislatures - the other for submission to the State legislatures in 1869-70. Then if the first failed the second might be carried through after Grant's election - while the success of either one would suffice and that of both would be a mere re-affirmation. Mess Fessenden & Grant will see at once the salient points of my project viz. the employment of the providential temporary omnipotence of Congress to settle a vexed question, otherwise incapable to solution, -- in connection with the probably future increased preponderance in our state legislatures when our present Congressional ability to effect the object will have passed away for ever -- In the next presidential election the staple of Democratic argument will be "White-man's Govt" versus "Negro Suffrage" in any event. With Grant's popularity and the various collateral issues and questions of later date, the submission of these Amendments will not enter prominently into the Contest, but will, if desired, remain in the background, while it will enable the Rep. party if successful to lay the foundations of permanent9. If it is thought probable that the Constitutional Amendment can be put through the 3/4 of the legislatures before the next Presidential election and a decision of the Supreme Court as to its validity be staved off until it can be reorganized by the new Prest. & Senate - then might it not be best to submit two Constitutional Amendments, differing in phraseology, but agreeing in substance, - one for immediate Submission to the existing legislatures - the other for submission to the State legislatures in 1869-70. Then if the first failed the second might be carried through after Grant's election - while the success of either one would suffice and that of both would be a mere re-affirmation. Mess Fessenden & Grant will see at once the salient points of my project viz. the employment of the providential temporary omnipotence of Congress to settle a vexed question, otherwise incapable to solution, -- in connection with the probably future increased preponderance in our state legislatures when our present Congressional ability to effect the object will have passed away for ever -- In the next presidential election the staple of Democratic argument will be "White-man's Govt" versus "Negro Suffrage" in any event. With Grant's popularity and the various collateral issues and questions of later date, the submission of these Amendments will not enter prominently into the Contest, but will, if desired, remain in the background, while it will enable the Rep. party if successful to lay the foundations of permanent