Washington, Decr.
21, 1849
My Dear Hamlin,
As to unfaithfulness, I deny the charge. This is my third letter to you, and it
is in answer to your third just received.
It is quite true that I don't give you a quid pro quo, for
your letters are very interesting, and give me an insight into things in Ohio,
which I greatly desire to have, whereas mine to you are very barren; and this
present one must be most barren of all.
Mrs Chase, since coming here, has become quite
ill, and her symptoms, pulmonary, are quite alarming. I have concluded to take
her to the Hydropathic Establishment near Phila. and shall start tomorrow. 1
write, therefore, tonight; and must write briefly. Next week I hope to be back
and settled.
Mr. Giddings has written to Mr. Randall advising him to vote
for Swift and to aid in repealing the Hamilton County division clauses as soon
as possible. He seems to have a clear idea of the necessity of this action. You
suggest that Randall may be elected if he will agree to recognize Randall
[Johnson?]. Giddings says Randall will vote for admission of Johnson as prima
facie entitled, but wants a pledge that he will not vote in his own case. To
require such a pledge is absurd. Mr. Johnson has rights — Mr. Randall is
bound to recognize them. He has no more right to ask pledges of Johnson, than
Johnson has to ask pledges of him. I do hope to hear soon of the settlement of
this affair. Randall is bound by every consideration to yield to Swift — not
Swift to Randall, this year.
I regret to see what you say of the hesitation of the Old
Line Democracy to take decided anti slavery ground. But if they wish to lag
behind the people they must take the consequences. Defeat will follow the
adoption of the stationary policy as surely as day follows night. If the
Democracy wishes to succeed let them act boldly — declare openly for freedom — adopt
the first of the two slavery resolutions of '47 & instead of the second
adopt one declaring the want of power in Congress to legislate for emancipation
in the states, but its possession of power to exclude slavery in the
Territories and to repeal all Acts of Congress by which slavery is
sustained in this District & elsewhere & its duty to exercise that
power promptly & efficiently. If they will do this & nominate any man
of fair character who will heartily espouse the platform, they can triumph.
I trust you will refer to the resolutions of '47, & put
them into shape, and use all your influence to bring the democracy right.
The Old Line Caucus in the Senate had much discussion about
me. All the northern democrats, I believe, except Dickinson & possibly one
or two more were for placing me at the head of one of the prominent committees,
and some of the southern men concurred. The majority, however, decided the
other way, and my name was, therefore, as you see, omitted from the list of
committees.
I have no time to write more. Goodnight & may God bless
you — Write often.
Dimmock, Myers or Carter — either it seems to me wd make an
excellent Candidate for Governor.
SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 192-3
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