NEAR HAMPTON, [VA.], 16th November, 1856.
MY DEAR HUNTER: I
have been thinking about this Southern Convention which is to meet at Savannah
on the 8th [of] next month and it occurs to me and I suggest to you the
importance of your going there, which may influence the action of the next
administration of great importance to the south.
If we can succeed in
Kansas, keep down the Tariff, shake off our Commercial dependence upon the
North and add a little more slave territory, we may yet live free men under the
Stars and Strip[e]s. Mr. Buchanan, if not committed to the "balance
idea" is to the acquisition of more southern territory.
The next few years
must be eventful ones in our history, may, probably will, decide the fate of
the Union, at all events the destines of our section. Mr. Buchanan and the
Northern Democracy are dependent upon the South, an extraordinary course of
things here placed them and us in this attitude towards each other. Shall we use
our power? or suffer things of such magnitudes to be controlled by our enemies,
by accident, or any other causes? I repeat I want you to go to Savannah. Please
tell me what you know of Dudley Mann and his line of steamers from the
Chesapeake bay to Millford, is he a practical man and is his enterprise likely
to be successful?
Who is to be in the
Cabinet from V[irgini]a? Kindest regards to Garnett. Tell him I want him to
examine and consider our Naturalization laws, as soon as he can. It does seem
to me time to check this flood of emigration, the chief
element of Northern power and ascendency. Tell him I would not only have him
use K[now] N[othing] thunder but the thunder bolts of Heaven to crush the
enemies of the South.
Ask him to tell me
hereafter at his leisure why it was he ran ahead of Mr. Buchanan in every
county at every precinct. Was it his eloquence? Was it Mr. Saunder's position?
Was it Buchanan's position? Fillmore's position? What cause? What combination
produced that striking result?
Tell him his
district is proud of him and wishes him to grow in influence, in importance, in
power fast as possible, but when he begins to grow "National” we
shall begin to grow cold.
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), pp. 200-1
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