CHARLES SUMNER. Wilson says he should like to see our State do this promptly. * * * * * WASHINGTON, January 26, 1861. MY DEAR ANDREW,--Yesterday I was with the Attorney-General,[134] an able, experienced, Northern Democratic lawyer, with the instincts of our profession on the relation of cause and effect. He drew me into his room, but there were clerks there; opening the door into another room, there were clerks there, too; and then traversing five different rooms, he found them all occupied by clerks; when, opening the door into the entry, he told me he was “surrounded by Secessionists,” who would report in an hour to the newspapers any interview between us,--that he must see me at some other time and place,--that everything was bad as could be,--that Virginia would certainly secede,--that the conspiracy there was the most wide-spread and perfect,--that all efforts to arrest it by offers of compromise, or by the circulation of Clemens’s speech, were no more than that (snapping his fingers),--that Kentucky would surely follow, and Maryland, too. “Stop, Mr. Attorney,” said I, “not so fast. I agree with you to this point,--Maryland would go, except for the complication of the National Capital, which the North will hold, and also the road to it.” Of course you will keep Massachusetts out of all these schemes. If you notice the proposition for a commission, say that it is summoned to make conditions which contemplate nothing less than surrender of cherished principles, so that she can have nothing to do with it. My opinion has been fixed for a long time. All the Slave States will go, except Delaware, and perhaps Maryland and Missouri,--to remain with us Free States. The mistake of many persons comes from this,--they do not see that we are in the midst of a revolution, where reason is dethroned, and passion rules instead. If this were a mere party contest, then the circulation of speeches and a few resolutions might do good. But what are such things in a revolution? As well attempt to hold a man-of-war in a tempest by a little anchor borrowed from Jamaica Pond; and this is what I told the Boston Committee with regard to their petition. I have but one prayer: Stand firm, keep every safeguard of Human Rights on our statute-book, and save Massachusetts glorious and true. Ever yours, CHARLES SUMNER. * * * * * SENATE CHAMBER, January 28, 1861. MY DEAR ANDREW,--I did not unite with the delegation yesterday in recommending commissioners, and I think they signed without much reflection, certainly without any general conference.