Richmond, [va.], October 18th, 1859.
Dear Hunter: I
have been expecting a letter from you for some time past. And I write now to
know whether the correspondence by your friends hereabouts has been politic and
prudent and such as you approve. The fact is that without hearing from you
frequently, we feel at a loss how to act. As to Douglas, for instance, it was
necessary to take action and we did so, upon reflection unaided by our friends
elsewhere. Was our course good or bad? Now in regard to this Harper's Ferry
imbroglio, in its political bearing or that which it will be made to assume by
designing men, we should like to hear your views. Of course we will stand up to
and by our section “at all hazards and to the last extremity,” but we do not
desire nor design that this outbreak should be used to subserve the selfish
purposes or schemes of profligate and unprincipled politicians.
We have been very still and quiet of late, thinking that it
was best; on me rely to write freely and fully, you know that you can do so
unreservedly. Wm Old's eyes are still, too bad to be used. He is now staying
with Frank Ruffin and can give more active supervision to the paper than he has
been able heretofore to do. Jack Barbour thinks that things are moving well and
that quiescence now is the best policy. He is very hopeful. He has been North
and East as far as Boston. He thinks Douglas is done and you rising.
SOURCE: Correspondence of Robert M. T. Hunter, 1826-1876, p.
272-3
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