“Say to the seceded States, "Wayward sisters, depart in peace."”

— Winfield Scott

Letter http://www.familytales.org/dbDisplay.php?id=ltr_wfs1343&person=wfs to William H. Seward (3 March 1861); though the only suggestion from this letter commonly quoted, this was actually the last and final alternative of what he considered to be 4 options available to President Abraham Lincoln in dealing with the secessionist states.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Say to the seceded States, "Wayward sisters, depart in peace."" by Winfield Scott?

Winfield Scott 6

Union United States Army general 1786–1866

Related quotes

“To say that any State may at pleasure secede from the Union, is to say that the United States are not a nation”

Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) American general and politician, 7th president of the United States

Proclamation against the Nullification Ordinance of South Carolina (11 December 1832)
1830s
Context: To say that any State may at pleasure secede from the Union, is to say that the United States are not a nation because it would be a solecism to contend that any part of a nation might dissolve its connection with the other parts, to their injury or ruin, without committing any offense. Secession, like any other revolutionary act, may be morally justified by the extremity of oppression; but to call it a constitutional right, is confounding the meaning of terms, and can only be done through gross error, or to deceive those who are willing to assert a right, but would pause before they made a revolution, or incur the penalties consequent upon a failure.

“South Carolina ought to know what was the cause for her seceding. The truth is the modern Virginians departed from the teachings of the Father's.”

John S. Mosby (1833–1916) Confederate Army officer

Letter to Samuel "Sam" Chapman (June 1907)
Context: The South went to war on account of slavery. South Carolina went to war, as she said in her secession proclamation, because slavery would not be secure under Lincoln. South Carolina ought to know what was the cause for her seceding. The truth is the modern Virginians departed from the teachings of the Father's.

“Oh the sisters of mercy, they are not departed or gone.”

Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) Canadian poet and singer-songwriter

"Sisters of Mercy"
Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967)
Context: Oh the sisters of mercy, they are not departed or gone.
They were waiting for me when I thought that I just can't go on.
And they brought me their comfort and later they brought me this song.
Oh I hope you run into them, you who've been travelling so long.

“Again: If one State may secede, so may another; and when all shall have seceded none is left to pay the debts. Is this quite just to creditors? Did we notify them of this sage view of ours when we borrowed their money? If we now recognize this doctrine by allowing the seceders to go in peace, it is difficult to see what we can do if others choose to go or to extort terms upon which they will promise to remain.”

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) 16th President of the United States

1860s, Fourth of July Address to Congress (1861)

“Joy, with peace, is the sister of charity. Serve the Lord with laughter.”

Padre Pio (1887–1968) Italian saint, priest, stigmatist and mystic

“Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.”

Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian writer

What then must we do? (1886)
Context: If there may be doubts for men and for a childless woman as to the way to, fulfil the will of God, for a mother that path is firmly and clearly defined, and if she fulfils it humbly with a simple heart she stands on the highest point of perfection a human being can attain, and becomes for all a model of that complete performance of God's will which all desire. Only a mother can before her death tranquilly say to Him who sent her into this world, and Whom she has served by bearing and bringing up children whom she has loved more than herself - only she having served Him in the way appointed to her can say with tranquillity, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace. And that is the highest perfection to which, as to the highest good, men aspire.