RICHMOND, [VA.], January 18th, 1852.
MY DEAR SIR: On my return
last night from a visit of some days to the country, I was gratified by the
receipt of your cordial letter. It has given a spur to the resolution I had
entertained for some two weeks, ever since from my return from the South, to
write you, and which I have been prevented from executing partly by my shameful
habit of procrastination, and partly by the wish to give more satisfactory
intelligence than I then possessed of the prospect of your reelection. I am
personally pretty completely removed from politics, and have moreover, but one
object of keen lively interest, and that is your reelection. That I have told
all my friends in the Legislature from my return could and must be effected. At
first there were much doubt and distrust on the part of your friends. They did
not know whether to press a speedy election, whether to go into Caucus or not.
My opinions and advice were decided, have the election at the earliest day and
go into Caucus too, even if you risk something. I did not however believe they
would. On my return last night, I was much gratified to learn, the day of
election had been fixed without any appearance of overpressing on the part of
your friends for Thursday next. I have been all the morning circulating with
your friends among the members. I find them I rejoice to say all hopeful, most
confident and some absolutely certain of the result. You know I am not sanguine
in disposition and would not on any account form hopes to give a keener edge to
coming disappointment. Yet I think I can do more, than bid you be of good
cheer. I believe you may feel almost safe. Our friends have concluded they are
strong enough to risk a Caucus without danger. I advise it by all means and the
sooner the better. It will probably be held to-morrow night. The only
competitor seriously talked of is Wise and really he is not proposed by most of
those who urge him. They want to reward him for his course in the Convention
and get him out of the way for Western Competitors for other Honor. They have
no thot save for the man. Wise makes a great mistake in not being more generous
and true to his ancient friendships. He ought not to oppose you and I can't
help hoping, if he knew how affairs really stand, he would not. At least, I
hope such is the fact and advise all our friends to take that for granted and
urge it on his Western supporters. In that way, I hope bitterness toward him
will be avoided and yet good done in inducing his friends to come to your
support. I want you elected, by a Caucus to purge all past objections, by a
vote so nearly unanimous as to give to your past course the fullest
indorsement, to your future prospects the most auspicious impulse. All this I
believe and trust will be effected.
It may be well for
some friend in the Legislature to have the authority to express your opinion
ab[ou]t the Compromise as a fact accomplished, but let him be perfectly trusty
and be even then cautious. Concurrence in Mason's late speech, or in Johnson's
late message on this point might be ventured. Beyond I should be careful to go.
The Compromise, curse on it, both in inception and accomplishment is perilous
ground to every true Southern man. I eschew the thing in thought heart and deed
as much as an honest man may.
Your friends in
Congress from V[irgini]a may do some good by writing doubtful persons in their
delegations, but I do not think much remains to be effected that way. I am
rejoiced to hear they so generally approve and sustain you. It is a just reward
and honors both you and them. Remember me cordially to my old friends among
them and altho' I don't enq[uire] after them I warmly sympathize with them.
SOURCE: Charles
Henry Ambler, Editor, Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1916, in Two Volumes, Vol. II, Correspondence of
Robert M. T. Hunter (1826-1876), p. 131-2
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