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University of Va
Feb. 28. 1861

My dear [Fin,?]

I am afflicted with [this?] intense [are?] anxiety to learn definitely, the impression the Peace Conference Compromise had made after the Convention - I mean the rational part of it, - to weigh the reasonableness of [] year, - [in?] [] or I doubt [] your time in, - to inform me.
I received it myself, with a joy [] - [time?] almost unalloyed.
I can indeed, at first somewhat uneasy at the phraseology of the 1st [Lection?], [teaching?] the introduction of [slave?] property into the territories south of 36 [degree] 30, fearing that the masters input were left to be determined by the Common Law. (underline)
A second reading, however, showed that the Common Law was intended [at?] to regulate the [] of the [Count?]. And [] [mount?] {the} confess that I could have wished [if?] more clearly confessed by what law the [men?] [?] [rights?] are to be determined.
[] to complicating the [skeins?], al-ready to [] tar led by inventing a [precision?] for [tering?] here after to be acquired.