"Were it not for the immediate question of the fighting to grow out of the question of the possession of Washington, I should say it were best that the border States should now all go at once, so as to make the North feel the absurdity of further prosecution of war. But reunion is now, I fear, scarcely to be hoped for! "My wife sends you her affectionate regards. "Ever yours, "J. L. O'SULLIVAN." "The great question for me here of the success of our copper establishment is not yet decided. I had expected to find the works in operation. They will not be ready to begin short of a week or fortnight, and then there may be further delay from changes required in details of machinery. Everything is very encouraging. I have good prospects of a contract for rifles and artillery from this government--it is under consideration now. Could not do anything _at present_ in France, though the plan was recognized as superior to their own or to anything known. But in the present state of Europe they could not introduce a _change_, their existing armament on their own plan being on so vast a scale. But I was encouraged for a later day. "In regard to politics, I suppose the North will be too hot to hold _me_ hereafter, if the papers are right in their account of the Northern feeling." M. VAN BUREN TO MOSES S. TILDEN "LINDENWALD, _May 13th, '61_. "Many thanks to you, my dear sir, for the compliment conveyed in your obliging letter.[34] "But be assured that if the time ever arrives for the consideration of such a work there is another man in this State who could do it far more justice than I could hope for, and that is your brother Samuel. For myself, I shall for the rest of my life have but one thing to tinker on in that way, and how that will fare in these troublesome times is, I fear, very doubtful. "Do me the favor to present me very kindly to your good sister and all the other members of your family, and to believe me, as ever, Your friend, "M. VAN BUREN." MR. TILDEN'S WAR RECORD His patriotic address to a regiment in 1861. Published in New York _Tribune_, November 3, 1874: "NEW YORK, _Nov. 2, 1874_. "SIR,--On Saturday afternoon, June 22d, 1861, a stand of regimental colors--the gift of its Democratic friends, merchants and others--was presented to the 37th Regiment, N. Y. S. Volunteers. The colors were presented at the Battery, the regiment then being drawn up in line, and being at the time ready to depart for the scene of war, which it did on the following day. "There was some ceremony at the presentation of the flags, and several speeches were made. One of the speakers on the occasion was Mr. Samuel J. Tilden, who made a stirring appeal to the officers and men of the regiment--a speech not excelled in patriotism by any public speaker during the War of the Rebellion. "The writer of this letter knows whereof he affirms, for he was also present and took part in the presentation ceremony.