Cincinnati, January 27, l849.
My Dear Hamlin;
As I write, entirely uncertain whether you will receive this or not, I shall be
very brief.
I am glad you approve my letter to Giddings. I am far from
sure that it is worthy approval. I more than half suspect that I did a very
foolish thing when I wrote it. However the truth can hardly do much harm and I
certainly have not the slightest feeling of antagonism towards Mr. Giddings, and
never shall permit myself to have so long as he remains faithful to the cause
of Free Democracy. I think, also, as I said to him that he being in Congress,
and I not, that the interests of the cause require my election or that of some
reliable man not in Congress, rather than his. I may be wrong in this — misled,
perhaps, by the “Ambition” so freely ascribed to me. If so let Giddings be
chosen. I shall not complain. I cannot help thinking, however, that the
election of one who has been longer convinced of the necessity and is more
thoroughly identified with the policy of a distinct & permanent Free
Democratic organization, will do the cause and the friends of the
cause more good.
I do hope you will not find it necessary to leave Columbus
until after the elections. Your presence there will be doubtless important.
You must not decline drawing on me from any motives of false
delicacy. Through the blessing of Providence and the confidence of the
community I have a good business; and I am willing to give to the extent of my
means and beyond my means even, to advance the cause, and I want no one
to feel trammelled in his action for the cause, by any sense of obligation to
me. “The cause first, and friends afterwards,” is a sentiment I
am perfectly willing to have applied to me by my friends.
I have written Stanley Matthews in regard to the Clinton
member. Get him to read to you what I have written about him, and see he
gets the right seat.
SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 160-1
No comments:
Post a Comment