After a conversation held last evening with a circle of intelligent friends, I retired to my room convinced that we are, as a nation, all adrift,--under cross tides,--under high and variable winds, without chart, compass or generalship,--except the secret purposes of the Eternal Mind. Paul’s experience on the Adriatic,--without sun, moon or stars for many days, comes up to my mind. This only I know, that God is serene; in knowledge and power,--the sure trust of His Church and people. The work of disintegration goes on,--without any combination, as yet, of the forces. The inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, (if he is inaugurated,) will give proportions and type to the entire Southern elements, which will present a distinct and palpable issue to the North and South. I incline to think that the South will become substantially a unit upon the main points at issue, whilst the North is likely to be divided both on the moral and political questions pressing upon them. Then a line will have to be conceded or fought for, or a reconstruction of the Federal Government will take place. The West and North West are inoculated already with the doctrine of free trade; and if Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile and New Orleans are declared free ports of entry, the laws of trade will prove invincible powers, aided by foreign diplomacy and interests, before which manufacturing New England will have an unequal struggle. The trouble is with Pennsylvania and her iron interests; but New York will force Philadelphia into Southern sympathies, and Commerce will butter the bread of politicians. Such are my poor thoughts. I go with a United South on such grounds as Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia may consent to. The Cotton States cannot, as I think, make themselves respected as an independent power, at home or abroad. They will feel this before their Conventions dissolve. Our pride needs to be humbled! our national and public sins to be felt and deplored. I trust the fourth of January will bring the people of God before Him in such an attitude, that He, as He alone can, will deign to hear and save us yet. ... If this Union is to be dissolved, and especially if extreme Cotton ideas are to prevail, I would willingly accept a home in England or Scotland. The thought of exile from America! Strange!!! But I am now humiliated and grieved, so that I know not what more I could feel except at the horrors of _blood_ shed by brothers.” APPENDIX: NOTE D: Page 88.