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San
Francisco
March 19, 1861
San Francisco,
Cal March 19th 1861
I can assure you my dearest friend no "command or coercion"
was necessary to prompt me to reply to your very very welcome letter
which I have just received. I wish indeed that you were right in your
conjectures, and that this Spring would finish my tour of duty on this
Coast. But Robert is correct - my four years will not be up until next
fall, and in the present unsettled state of affairs there is no telling
where I will be then, of one thing dearest Elizabeth you may be assured,
that wherever I may be, or whatever scenes I may be called upon to pass
through, I shall ever cherish with the warmest affection my remembrance
of you all. Though I have been with you but very little since I left
Home the first time for the Military Academy, my interest in all that
concerns you has not diminished, and I anticipated my returning visit
with as much pleasure as formerly. The sad news communicated in your
letter, though it increases my wish to see you, and will if possible
hasten the time when I can express to you in person my heartfelt sympathy,
will cast a shadow on my next visit, for I shall miss the friendly,
familiar countenance, kind words and good advice of one of the best
friends I ever had, one whose counsels have sunk deep into my heart,
and have exercised a purposeful influence in causing me, to try at least,
to merit the continued friendship of one so pure and noble. Would that
I was present to console with you, to express in a manner more purposeful
than words how deeply and sincerely I mourn His loss. I hope however
that you all bear up under this affliction with as much fortitude as
could be expected, and that we all look forward to meeting him in a
brighter happier land. I am at present stationed in this city &
in a very short time will have done all in the Fortifications at Alcatraces
Island that existing means will allow. As Congress has ajourned I believe,
without making any further appropriations, I am entirely at a loss to
know what will be my next duty and station, and in fact nothing definite
can be known until the new administration is fairly under way. Whether
the Southern States will regard President Lincoln's Inaugural as a declaration
of war and commence hostilities or whether through the influence of
the border states they will be induced to yield and accept "Curious
propositions," which from our telegraphic reports seem to have
pressed Congress by a Constitutional majority you probably know by this
time or will know ere this reaches you, while we on this far off coast
have to wait the arrival of the Pony. Of course the deepest anxiety
prevails - and I can assure you, I am far from being an indifferent
spectator. I maintain that the Gov't is in full force that the doctrine
of secession is subversive of all Government and cannot under any circumstances
be acknowledged, that the evident design of the founders of our Union
was to make it perpetual, that the Constitution and the Laws passed
in pursuance thereof are superior to all state Laws and that the duty
of every good citizen, and especially army officers is first & above
all to the General Government, such being my opinion I shall be ready
to obey at all times the orders of my lawful superiors and to assist
in supporting to the best of my ability the Government to which I have
sworn allegiance. I think however some compromise ought to [be] effected.
The population of this state, composed as it is of men from every state
in the Union, might be taken as a fair expression of the sovereign will
and judging from the debates in the Legislature, the tone of the papers
& the Sentiments of the people as expressed in Conversations &c,
the majority are decidedly in favor of the Union and a settlement on
some basis like the Crittenden Measures. You must give my best Love
to Lydia and Clemmy also to Emeline & Kate and reserve a goodly
share for yourself. I will write you again in a short time, when I hope
the skies will look brighter and I can give you some more definite information
concerning myself.
Sincerely,
J. B. McPherson
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