NORFOLK, [VA.], May 11, 1856.
DEAR HUNTER: I have
just returned from a visit to my old (Hampton) county and hope things will end
there as we desire. Booker is warm in your favor and out against Buch[ana]n
talking publickly of his Tariff vote in '42 and Missouri Compromise opinions. I
shall attend the convention there on next Thursday and so told Booker who
seemed much pleased at my promise. I shall be an outsider but will try my best.
Drop B[ooker] a Line the moment you get this. It will encourage him much. Your
letter to him had a fine effect.
He is fond of you
but has been much courted by Wise. High minded honorable and brave as he is
these little attentions are always agreeable especially to a country gentleman
living a secluded life. He still praises W[ise] but thinks him out of the
question this time. I want you to ask him to go and say you will leave him to
act according to his own judgment content with any action he may take &c. Wednesday
the convention for the Norfolk district comes off. But for the Wise men who
still look to W[ise] as residuary Legatee of B[uchanan] we should have no
difficulty. No one is opposed to you but the idea is afloat that B[uchanan] is
the strong candidate and as office here controls every thing they profess
preference for him because he is as they think the strong man. Simkins has
softened down very much and so has Blow. If either of them go from the lower
end I have a strong hope of getting him right. If they get in their men I will
work day and night to operate on them and if I can wield a little influence in
Washington I may succeed. I have just had a conversation with Simkins the
Leader of the Wise party here as to the proceedings in Portsmouth and he asked
me to draw up the resolutions (this of course confidential) and state his
positions: 1st Compliment Pierce and endorse his admin [istratio]n, 2d support
nominee of Cin[cinnat]i Convention, 3d Express no preference, 4th Leave
delegates free to act according to circumstances. We shall carry a true man I
think from the upper counties and will at least divide the district.
I told Banks to get
old Frank Rives (who he says is all right) to work on Boykin of Isle of Wight
and Atkinson and he writes me that it has been done. Boykin wants office and is
slippery. He is weak in intellect and his attachments by no means stable. He
wants to go as a Delegate. I cant advocate him but I know, I think, how and who
can manage him. He is more tractable than Blow or Smith. The son I can do
nothing with. He wanted the Collectorship here and is sound against Pierce. He
will make a hard fight for Delegate but we have quietly operated against him on
the ground, that the Elector comes from Portsmouth, Smith's place of residence
and that she is not entitled to [a] Delegate and none of the Norfolk City
Delegation will support him. Pierce's office holders give us no aid whatever.
They are afraid to take position. When I was Navy Ag[en]t I ruled my party in
the District and so could Loyall have done, but he is effete, selfish and
timid. Sawyer has no power, even with his subordinates. Will the above
positions (I mean the resolutions) suit you or would it answer to make an issue
for Pierce direct. The result would be doubtful in as much as the floating vote
in Conventions generally sides with the moderate party whether they be so in
fact or in fraud. Drop me a line the moment you get this and draft me a
resolution or two. You need not be afraid of my indiscretion. You fellows in
Congress did not know me half as well as I did you. If I talk at random
sometimes, so also can I be silent and prudent when there is necessity. If I
had position in the Line or on the staff I could win the victory here. If I can
do any good I will speak at both Conventions. I care not who gets the
nomination for Delegates I mean to commence operations on him and if it be any
but Smith (who hates me) I hope to succeed. I am far from giving up the fight
for these ten districts for none will be pledged or committed.
Send me the names of
your friends in Gloucester that will be in Hampton that I may know who to
approach. My Brother Chas. K. Mallory, a lawyer, residing in Hampton is a warm
and active friend. It will be hard if him and Booker acting together can not
carry things to suit us.
Tell Muscoe our
inspection law has so far put a stop to slave stealing in lower Virginia. It
works beautifully tho' the Senate did it much damage by its amendments. I have
got things quite snug for him in the lower end of his district in view of
Bayly's departure.
My son has just
returned. Many thanks for your kindness, and please thank Pierce for me.
If you wish me to
hear from you before the Conventions meet, write the moment you get this, which
is nearly as hard to decipher as your own. The Baltimore Boats leave in the
afternoon and arrive here next morning. This you will get Tuesday morning. If
the positions in the resolutions suit you, telegraph me in the words "All
right," if not "make an issue direct for P[ierce] or H[unter]"
as the case may be and sign it. T. M. provided you cant mail your letter by the
1 P. M. [boat] for Baltimore or 1½ P. M. or that which carries the mail through
to Norfolk which can be known by enquiring at the City p[ost] office. If the
vote of V[irgini]a depends on these two districts I dont think you have much to
fear let things take what shape they may just now. It is easier to vanquish men
in detail than attacking numbers. I shall act as we Doctors say "pro re
natu."
SOURCE: Charles
Henry Ambler, Editor, Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1916, in Two Volumes, Vol. II, Correspondence of
Robert M. T. Hunter (1826-1876), p. 189-91
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