CINCINNATI, March 17, 1861.
DEAR UNCLE: — I received yours of the 13th yesterday. I
shall not come out for three or four weeks, perhaps not so soon. It is not yet
possible to guess how the [city] election will go, but the chances are
decidedly against our side. The Democrats and Know-nothings have united and
will nominate their ticket this week. If they nominate men tolerably acceptable
to both wings of the fusion, they will succeed beyond all question. Their
majority at the last election over the Republicans was nearly three thousand.
We can't beat this. Our chance is that there will be some slip or mistake which
will upset the union. I shall go under with the rest, but expect to run ahead
of the ticket. Of course, I prefer not to be beaten, but I have got out of the
office the best there is in it for me. I shall get me an office alone, and
start anew — a much pleasanter condition of things than the one I left with
Corwine.
Yes, giving up Fort Sumter is vexing. It hurts our little
election, too; but I would give up the prospect of office, if it would save the
fort, with the greatest pleasure.
Elinor Mead * leaves us on Tuesday to return home the last
of the week. She has enjoyed her visit, I think. Mother is very well again; is
able to go out, to shop and to church. Little Ruddy (our brag boy now) has been
sick, but is getting nearly well. The other boys count largely on going to
Fremont this summer. . . .
Sincerely,
R. B. HAYES.
S. BIRCHARD.
__________
* A cousin from Vermont; later to become the wife of William
Dean Howells, who that winter was a newspaper correspondent at Columbus.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 6
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