N. W. Harris to Richard Yates

Laclede Linn Co Mo

July 23d 1861

Gov Yates

Dear Sir: Ardent, impetuous, often wrong, but always intending wright, I feel that I owe you an apology for not believing your statement that this war is simply to put down Rebellion & not for the extinguishment of slavery. I never for a moment doubted your sincerity but beleived you were deceived in the intentions of the administration. Since then I and a number of others of my county - through the false representations of some malicious persons - were taken prisoners sent to St [L?] - kept there a few days - then sent to Palmyra where I was discharged by Col Smith 14th Ill. The others sent to Quincy kept a few days & discharged by Col Palmer - no charges appearing against us. In all this round I had numerous conversations with the officers & became convinced that you were right & I wrong in my convictions. They all declare that they would have nothing to do with the war if my opinion was correct. We of the south were led into this error by designing politicians & some of your northern Democratic papers conjoined by the ranting

of the Abolitionists; whose declarations we took as an expression of the Northern sentiment.

I was a conditional secessionist - wanted our gov & legislature to arm the state & the convention to secede if we found our constitutional rights were to be invaded but as the issue was tried in our election of the convention & the action of that body was for unconditional union I felt myself bound, as a good citizen by it. Hence when our governor & legislature undertook to take the state out the Union by the military bill I could not endorse the act knowing that they were not empowered to do such an act for the people of the state of Mo : and that our convention was yet in existence & could pass an ordinance of secession if it became necessary to do so to protect our constitutional rights. Notwithstanding the opinion of many to the contrary, I see nothing in the acts of the Federal government in Mo infringing on our rights & as I have become convinced that the government intends simply to do justice to all sections, I can truly say that I am no longer a Conditional Secessionist but a Union man: In fact I feel bound to this course by the acts of our convention, in any

event as it was selected to determine that great issue for us.

When the President first called for troops I was panic stricken & was anxious for our governor to arm the state beleiving that the Convention would meet & secede. As it did not (& acted wisely in not so doing) I did not & never can give my consent or aid to the Rebellion of Gov Jackson.

I have just heard of the deplorable fight at Manassas. It makes my blood run cold to hear of such slaughter of brave Americans. Oh God can not something be done to stop this terrible war! I think Congress should pass a resolution similar to the one offered by Mr Breckenridge & rejected a few days ago. If it would do so the south should immediately lay down her arms; if she did not she would have no excuse.

The kind gentlemany treatment of Cols Smith & Palmer & their officers has been salutary with myself & neighbors & is doing more to put down secession than brutal treatment or bullets could. I feel satisfied that none of the sixteen will ever do aught against the government - I know that we from our hearts condemn this [miserable?]

guerilla war & bridge burning in Mo and am happy to state that no outrage of the kind has been committed in our county.

Hoping that you will bring your influence to bear to bring this destructive contest to as speedy an end as possible consistent with justice to all parties

I am Sir Respectfully your fellow Citizen

N. W. Harris

PS

If not too busy I should be much pleased to hear from you. And hope to be able to call some day & pay my respects in person.

N.W. Harris

about secession -

July 23