RICHMOND, [Va.],
13th February 1851.
MY DEAR SIR: Permit
me to introduce to your acquaintance my esteemed friend Col[onel] Fuqua, a
member of the Convention of Virginia from my old county of Buckingham, and a
good and true democrat and southerner. He is one of the signers of the
"Ebony line" letter and to him I refer you for his views with this
only remark that whatever he may say you cannot better satisfy him than by
Strict adherence to the principles that should guide a V[irgini]a Senator. Tell
him what I have said.
I have no doubt that
the signatures procured to that paper are in the main attributable to the
influence and popularity of Beverly Tucker and Kennedy. They were over here and
gave a supper to that end. Besides that a friend of theirs Hon. Mr. Chilton of
Fauquier presented and when necessary pressed it on the members of the
Convention. His good nature, their facility and a general and growing desire in
V[irgini]a for some plan to remove the free negroes accounts for the number of
signatures. While it was in Chilton's hands and after it had been presented to
me I spoke of it in [the] presence of one or two members of [the] Convention.
One of them I remember said he had signed it thoughtlessly and would go and
have his name taken off. I have not had an opportunity to converse extensively
on the subject, but I am decidedly of opinion and will add such is Goode's
opinion, that you and your colleague should act upon the lights before you
without reference to these signatures unless the more deliberate wishes of the
legislature should be communicated.
I hope after 4th
March and when you have paid a short visit home and seen the State of progress
on your farm, unexampled in your experience as a farmer, you will come over to
see your friends here and make yourself very agreeable to members of the
Convention, but ́especially to the members of the Legislature.
A message for T. S.
Bocock if you see him. The Whigs of his district in Convention assembled have,
without any other name being before them, nominated the Rev. John Early D. D.
as the Whig Candidate for the district. Harvey Irving is furious on it, and
opinions are various as to the strength of the nominee. It is rather a
formidable move, but in my opinion not invincible.
Mr. Wise is
attempting to make a platform for the democracy in Virginia. A meeting was called
last night perhaps you saw or heard of the call in the Enquirer. It was well
attended. Mr. Wise moved for a committee, and I understand read resolutions.
The Committee was appointed to report to an adjourned meeting Monday night
next. I learn I am one of the Committee, I did not remain till they were named.
The resolutions which Wise read take the ground of attachment to the Union and
the rights of the States &c, submission to what has been done and
opposition to dissolution for that cause, compliment to Pennsylvania and a
promise, the other democratic states concurring, to sustain such candidate for
the presidency as she may name, with an invitation to her to designate a
candidate. He is of opinion there is a design to put Cass on us again whom he wont
vote for. [He] is I believe for Buchannan, believes a national Convention
Nomination impracticable, and thinks the Whigs will beat us unless we take the
platform of Union from them. What think you all? I wish I could hear from our
friends in Washington on the subject in time. This movement makes little favor
here as far as I can gather, and is not agreeable to my own notions.
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