LEBANON, March 10, 1854.
DEAR SIR, I received a letter a few days since from Mr. Hodge, of Washington City, in which he requested me to address you on the subject of politics. I thought this absurd, but nevertheless I am about to comply. I know nothing about politics as they now exist. I do not even understand the present position of those with whom I had for twenty years been intimately associated in public life. Do you? Do you really know your own status in regard to some dogmas recently put forward as tests of political orthodoxy? Indeed, this last is all I am requested by Mr. Hodge to ascertain. He, Hodge, insists (and says that he has so written to you) that the next President must of necessity be some Southern man who opposes the expressed or implied repeal of the Missouri Compromise. You have been gazetted as opposed to Douglas's Nebraska bill. I have no right to suppose this to be upon your authority, but had rather inferred from my knowledge of your general opinions on such subjects that you would choose to consider the compromise of 1850 as final and as not having affected in any way the act admitting Missouri into the Union. I have not examined the subject, and therefore do not pretend to any opinion which ought to regulate my own judgment, and I do not intend to examine it or think ten minutes about it. I only wish to say that I should think, if the people of the North do really care about this matter, that any man in your position who might agree with them would be very likely to be their choice for the office of President. You will not infer, my dear sir, from what I have here written that I intend to insult your judgment or sensibilities by the supposition that you desire to be a candidate for that once dignified and really important station. I could not advise any friend whom I love and respect to take such a position, even if he were certain he would succeed without the usual struggle, committals, etc. But other and better men differ with me on this subject, and you know that many—very many—desire you to allow yourself to be made President of this model republic. I should rejoice to see it. For this reason alone I have complied with the request of Hodge to question you on this most vexatious subject. I do not wish your opinion on the Nebraska business to be made known to me; but I suppose Hodge wants you, in some way, to proclaim your opposition to it, with a view to make it subserve the purpose of your election in '56. I cannot advise you on this point, for I have no well-considered opinions concerning it myself. Of one thing only I am certain, that is, whether you are pro or con, candidate or not, I shall always honor myself by claiming to be one among those who are your sincere friends.
SOURCE: Ann Mary Butler Crittenden Coleman, Editor, The Life of John J. Crittenden: With Selections from His Correspondence and Speeches, Vol. 2, pp. 104-5
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