threatened, but I have,
since the latter part of May, been suffering from a most
distressing affection of the eyes which has rendered it
extremely difficult, and frequently, for days together, quite
impossible to do so. Even now, though much improved, I write
in great pain, but I cannot get my consent to delay it longer
on any account. You are to be congratulated, my dear friend,
and you know that no one could possibly do so with more
genuine, heartfelt sincerity than I do myself. * * *

I had been troubled, ever since I saw you had gone to your
circuit, with apprehensions that you would be assassinated, or
at least subjected to some gross outrage, and cannot express
my admiration of the serene heroism with which you went to
your post of duty, determined not to debase the dignity of
your exalted position by wearing arms for your defense,
notwithstanding you were fully conscious of the danger which
menaced you. It didn't surprise me, however; for I knew the
stuff you were made of had been tested before. But I _was_
surprised and disgusted, too, that _you_ should have been
charged or even suspected of anything wrong in the matter. The
magistrate who issued the warrant for your arrest may possibly
have thought it his duty to do so, without looking beyond the
"railing accusation" of a baffled and infuriated murderess,
which all the world instinctively knew to be false, yet I
suppose there is not an intelligent man, woman, or child on
the continent who does not consider it an infamous and
unmitigated outrage, or who is not thoroughly satisfied that
the brave fellow who defended you so opportunely was legally
and morally justifiable in what he did. I have not been in a
condition to _think_ very coherently, much less to read
anything in relation to the question of jurisdiction raised by
the State authorities in the _habeas corpus_ issued in your
behalf by the U.S. Circuit Court, and it may be that, from
the mere newspaper's reports that have reached me, I have been
unable to fully apprehend the objections which are made to the
courts hearing all the facts on the trial of the writ; but it
occurs to me as a plain principle of common sense that the
federal government should not only have the power, but that it
is necessary to its own preservation, to protect its officers
f