July 15, [1847.]
I have no reason to suppose that you know anything more of
me than what my argt. for Vanzandt last winter made you acquainted with, & perhaps
I am unwise in writing you this letter. Still as I think it may be the means of
some good to our country & the character I have heard of you induces me to
believe that you will treat my communication as made in strict confidence I
will proceed with what I have to say, only observ'g that I shall be glad to
hear from you in reply & that you may depend on my making no other use of yr.
letter than that wh. you expressly authorize.
You are not ignorant that many of the Anti slavery men who
have heretofore acted with the Lib. Party are prepared to support Mr. Wright of
yr. State for the Presy. upon Wilmot Pro. grd., understand by that term not
merely the exclusion of Slavy, from future territorial acquisition,
but also a return to the line of policy marked out for the Nat1. Govt, by the
Ordc. of ’87, by putting the example & influence of the Govt,
on the side of Liby. instead of the side of Slavy. I am
persuaded that very many Whigs of the west shall have these sentiments &
that shd. the Whig Party commit itself to the support of any
Slaveholder — even of Gen. Taylor, Mr. Wright may be elected to the Presy.
by the votes of the Free States alone.
If there is any proby. that Mr. W––– may be the
candidate of the Wilmot Prov. Democy. for the Presy. it
is now very important to ascertain his views. The Lib. Party will hold its
nominating Convention in October, and if no candidate of the other parties can
be relied on for a firm though temperate & strictly constitutional
opposition to Slavy., they will doubtless nominate their own
candidates & adhere to them with unanimity: whereas shd. Mr.
Wright be likely to be a candidate upon the grounds I have indicated, a vast
number of them wd. feel it to be their duty to give him their cordial support.
For myself I sympathize strongly with the Dem. Party in
almost everything except its submission to slaveholding leadership &
dictation. I cannot abide the crack of the whip, but if the Demo. Party takes
independent ground, & follows boldly the lead of its own principles,
then I am willing to give to its nominations my humble support.
I was shewn yesterday a letter written by a gentleman,
represented to be an active politician of your State &claiming to be
possessed of the views of “the Great Man of New York,” meaning Mr. Wright. This
writer informs his correspondent Mr. Taylor, the Editor of the Signal, that Mr.
W. is prepared to render important aid to the election of Gen. T. &
suggests the connection of Mr. W's name as can. for the V. Py. with
that of the Gen. as can. for the Py. I can hardly imagine that there
is any ground for this representation. If Mr. W. be willing to accept such
aposition, he is not, of course, the man to be the leader of the Democracy of
the Country in the impending struggle with the Slavehg. Arisy.
& its supporters North & South. Surely such a leadership is a far more
honorable position than a nomination for the V. Presidency upon any ticket
whatever. I have misconceived the character of Mr. Wright if he does not so
regard it. And it does seem to me that if the N. Democy. will but
maintain the ground, which you & others marked out first last winter, its
success will not be less signal than its position will be glorious.
As to Gen. T. I have reason to know him to be as honest as
he is brave; but he is certainly not a democrat in our understanding of the
word or in any proper understanding of it: and it seems to me that it wd.
be nothing short of suicidal vanity, to indulge the expectation that a man in
his circumstances & with his connexions can ever be relied on as a friend
of the Wilmot Proviso or any measure at all antislavery in its character. I
shall feel much obliged by the favor of an early reply & remain
_______________
* From letter-book 6, pp. 96-97. Preston King, 1806-1865,
Member of Congress, 1843-1847,1849-1853. At this time a leader of the “Barnburner”
wing of the New York Democrats. He became a Republican in 1854, and was United
States Senator 1857-1863.
SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 120-2
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