be a firebrand elsewhere, and especially in a national convention.  As instances, the movement against foreigners in Massachusetts; in New Hampshire, to make obedience to the fugitive-slave law punishable as a crime; in Ohio, to repeal the fugitive-slave law; and, squatter sovereignty, in Kansas.  In these things there is explosive matter enough to blow up half a dozen national conventions, if it gets into them; and what gets very rife outside of conventions is very likely to find its way into them.  What is desirable, if possible, is that in every local convocation of Republicans a point should be made to avoid everything which will disturb Republicans elsewhere.  Massachusetts Republicans should have looked beyond their noses, and then they could not have failed to see that tilting against foreigners would ruin us in the whole Northwest.  New Hampshire and Ohio should forbear tilting against the fugitive-slave law in such way as to utterly overwhelm us in Illinois with the charge of enmity to the Constitution itself.  Kansas, in her confidence that she can be saved to freedom on ‘squatter sovereignty,’ ought not to forget that to prevent the spread and nationalization of slavery is a national concern, and must be attended to by the nation.  In a word, in every locality we should look beyond our noses; and at least say nothing on points where it is probable we shall disagree.  I write this for your eye only; hoping, however, if you see danger as I think I do, you will do what you can to avert it.  Could not suggestions be made to leading men in the State and Congressional conventions, and so avoid, to some extent at least, these apples of discord."[1]

  [Sidenote] Colfax to Lincoln, July 14, 1859.  MS.

By this time Colfax was cured of his late coquetting with Douglas, and he replied:  “The suggestions you make have occurred to me....  Nothing is more evident than that there is an ample number of voters in the Northern States, opposed to the extension and aggressions of slavery and to Democratic misrule, to triumphantly elect a President of the United States.  But it is equally evident that making up this majority are men of all shades and gradations of opinion, from the conservative who will scarcely defend his principles for fear of imperiling peace, to the bold radical who strikes stalwart blows regardless of policy or popularity.  How this mass of mind shall be consolidated into a victorious phalanx in 1860 is the great problem, I think, of our eventful times.  And he who could accomplish it is worthier of fame than Napoleon or Victor Emmanuel....  In this work, to achieve success, and to achieve it without sacrifice of essential principle, you can do far more than one like myself, so much younger.  Your counsel carries great weight with it; for, to be plain, there is no political letter that falls from your pen which is not copied throughout the Union.”

  [Sidenote] Lincoln to Canisius, May 17, 1859.