Note 370 — Chapter XXVI · SEYMOUR AND THE PEACE DEMOCRATS 1860-1861

Albany Argus, February 1, 1861.

William H. Russell, correspondent of the London Times, who dined with Horatio Seymour, Samuel J. Tilden and George Bancroft, wrote that "the result left on my mind by their conversation and arguments was that, according to the Constitution, the government could not employ force to prevent secession, or to compel States which had seceded by the will of the people to acknowledge the federal power."—Entry March 17, Diary, p. 20.