City or Washington, 3d May, 1847.
My Dear Friend, The
newspapers are so far ahead of me that I can inform you of nothing that is new.
At the President's some evenings since I told him that I saw that it was
suggested by a writer published in the Constitutionalist of Augusta, that he
ought to run again for the Presidency. He said no, that he had honor enough and
was content to retire; but I think in the course of the conversation he said it
depended on the people. I think he would be glad to serve for another term. He
told me that we ought not to let Berrien come back in the Senate — that he was
troublesome. Virginia you see has come out badly — the Whigs have not given
larger votes than usual, but the democrats held back. It is attributed here to
the influence of Mr. Calhoun entirely, and Bagby1 thinks that influence
will be felt severely in Alabama. In fact he thinks Calhoun and Webster will
coalesce, and it may be that Webster's Southern journey is in connection with
such a plan. Great preparations are made for his reception in Charleston. But
nothing but death can prevent Taylor from being the next President. Men, women
and children are rising up in his favor; and Blair (Blair and Rives) says that
the democrats ought to be the first to nominate him, so as not to let the Whigs
have the forestalling of his opinions and action. Bagby thinks the Calhoun
influence will operate strongly in Georgia also. I hope not. I see you will
have a covention in June to choose a candidate for governor. I am told Herschel
Johnson is spoken of. If a strong man is not started we shall be beaten.
I am afraid this
commission will not last long enough for my comfort. I am tired asking favors
of my friends, but don't you think a resolution, a recommendation of the
convention in my favor, would be beneficial to me? If so set the ball to
rolling. Abb will probably be a member, and I can influence all of the low
country to join in it. I would be glad to hear from you on this subject.
P. S.—I have been
so rudely used by the Indian claimants that I was advised and did arm myself. .
. .
_______________
* Judge of the city
court of Savannah, Ga., 1845-1847; United States Indian commissioner, 1847;
author of "The Life of George M. Troup", Savannah, 1859.
1 Arthur P. Bagby, Senator from Alabama.
SOURCE: Ulrich Bonnell Phillips, Editor, The Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911, Volume 2: The
Correspondence of Robert Toombs, Alexander H. Stephens, and Howell Cobb, p.
87-8
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