Washington 26th May 1848
MY DEAR SIR, Since
my last I have received your's of the 26th April, with letters from Anna for
her Mother and Cornelia.
I see by our last
arrival, that France and Germany are begining the work of reconstruction. That
is the task; not but that they may form new Governments for that is not
difficult; but can they form such, as will stand and put an end to revolution?
Germany, if wise, may; for she has the materials, but, I fear, that in France
it will, at least for the present, prove impossible. She has it is evidently
made great progress, since her first revolution, in political knowledge, which
has thus far guarded her against those scenes of violence and blood shed which
marked the first, but there are great difficulties before her. She is entering
on an untrodden path; to reconstruct Society, as well as Government; with
materials not well suited to either purpose. I shall watch the attempt with
profound interest, but with little expectation of its success. I hope she will
be permitted to have a fair opportunity, so that if she fails, it will be
attributed to the intrinsic difficulty of the task, and not to interference and
difficulties from without. If, under such circumstances, she should fail, I see
no alternative for her, but an imperial Government.
Since I last wrote
you, the prospect of the ratification of the treaty by Mexico is more doubtful.
The impression now is, that it will not be. In the meane time, we are
threatened with a very troublesome question about Yucatan. I enclose herewith
my remarks on the subject. It is not satisfactorily reported, although it
passed under my revision.' I simply corrected the report of the Stenographer,
without writing out my speech. It will, however, give you a pretty correct and
full view of my argument.
The Baltimore
convention is now in session, but has not yet made a nomination. I will keep my
letter open until I hear the result. Among its proceedings, it has admitted a
man of the name of Commander, to cast the 9 votes of S. Carolina, although his
authority to act was derived solely from a small meeting in Georgetown of 54
persons, of whom the greater part were Yankee merchants and Jews doing business
there, without having permanent residence. What a farce! And yet, as far as the
party is concerned, the nomination of the body is the election of the
President. . .
28th May
The Baltimore
convention nominated Gen' Cass for the Presidency and Gen' Butler of Kentucky
for the V Presidency, after much distraction and difficulty. I do not think the
ticket will succeed. . . .
SOURCE: J. Franklin
Jameson, Editor, Annual Report of the American Historical Association
for the Year 1899, Volume II, Calhoun’s Correspondence: Fourth Annual Report of
the Historical Manuscripts Commission, Correspondence of John C. Calhoun,
p. 756-7
No comments:
Post a Comment