Elberton [ga.], May 27th, 1848.
Dear Sir:
Inclosed herewith I send a petition praying Congress to establish a line of
stages from the village of Anderson to connect with the Georgia Rail Road, via
Elberton. We will be much obliged if you will give yourself the trouble to
present it and see that it is acted on and either granted or refused. The
impression prevails very generally that such things are always treated with
contempt and suffered to die in silence, and I would beg leave to suggest that
you take such action in the matter as will be seen in the usual newspaper
reports of the proceedings in Congress. Such a course will at least be good
policy in this — the people here will see you have done your duty. Petitions
for the same purpose as the one inclosed will probably be forwarded by the
people of Oglethorpe and Anderson district, but whether these go or not we wish
you to act on ours. We stand greatly in need of mail facilities, and if our
rights are withheld much longer, I believe the people will secede and form an
independent republic bounded by Broad River and Savannah. Such a movement is
not only justified by the declaration of independence, but will be in
accordance with the spirit of the age. Of the 330 signers a larger proportion
than one-tenth sign by “his mark”, — a lamentable but overwhelming proof of the
necessity of the light of letters. . . .
Among the names I sent you in the neighborhood of Broad
River P. O. was one Henry Stephens. He lately got a speech from you on the
Mexican War. He says the Whigs have been lying on Polk about originating the
war. He says this speech has Gen. Taylor's letter in it, and it was Taylor “that
sent them troops from one river to tother.” We are all curious to know who has
been nominated, though we have no anxiety about the result. We have a perfect
confidence the Baltimore Convention will give us a man sound on Southern
rights. I have not heard a single man express himself for any favorite, though
all expect if Polk is not renominated the candidate will be a northern man.
Every day serves to strengthen the conviction that we can beat Gen. Taylor as
easily as Clay. I can count at least a half dozen Whigs who have pledged
themselves not to vote for Taylor on any conditions. I send below a short list
of democrats whom I expect you have not got.
_______________
* A lawyer and editor of Elberton, Ga.; judge of the
superior court of Georgia (northern circuit), 1855-1859; colonel of the
Fifteenth Regiment of Georgia infantry in the Confederate army, 1861-1862.
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.
105-6
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