FRANKFORT, December 3, 1851.
MY DEAR SIR,—I
propose to say a few words to you about the senatorial election. You and your
family and friends are all greatly indebted to Mr. Thomas F. Marshall for his
devotion to your interests during this crisis; he has surpassed himself as an
orator in presenting your claims to the gratitude and love of the people of
Kentucky. I read to Mr. B. Hardin what you said of him, and the old gentleman's
eyes filled with tears; he exclaimed, with vehemence, "My God, sir, it is
all a mistake; I have been for him, am for him, mean to be for him." And
he has been making good his words. Mr. Abraham Caldwell, of the Senate, and
your old fellow-soldier, Cunningham, are the most reliable of your friends.
Captain Hawes is at our head, and is as gallant a leader as we could have. Neither
Bell, nor Helm, nor Brock, nor Davis have come near us. The true policy of your
friends is to refer the whole subject to the people. With the people, thank
God, you are safe. You will probably be approached by some one before long, and
may be induced to say, “Rather than embarrass my friends any longer, take my
name off the list." Let me beg of you to say no such thing. You are not
here; you do not know how things are worked. Dixon's election will be a
Democratic triumph; he and his friends are afraid to go back to the people. If
the election is postponed, you will be the means of bringing the Whig party
again into line, and with you as our standardbearer we will triumph in '53.
SOURCE: Ann Mary
Butler Crittenden Coleman, Editor, The Life of John J. Crittenden: With
Selections from His Correspondence and Speeches, Vol. 2, p. 22
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