NORFOLK, [VA.], April 21, 1857.
DEAR HUNTER: I have
just received your letter of the 15[th] and expecting to leave town in the
morning I thought I would drop you a line before doing so to keep you
advised of the state of things down here. And perhaps advices from this quarter
may not be altogether without value being, as it is, one
of the strongest outposts of your enemies. Their strength induces less of
caution than may be observed elsewhere, and I know as well the condition of
things at head quarters as if I were in communication by electro magnetism. Not
that names are mentioned but from the tone of remarks indulged in by the
initiated. You may prepare for War next winter.
It will I fear be fastened on you and a few silly speeches of honest, but
imprudent friends, will be the pretext, not the excuse but the justification. I
cannot repeat all that I hear because of my peculiar relation to the two
parties nor would I make mischief or widen the breach between those who stand
towards me in the attitude of personal friendship. I am a well wisher of both
and would hate myself could I be guilty of injustice to either. No selfish
purpose have I to promote for declining health and energy forbid all
aspirations. I aided somewhat in putting you in the way of going to the Senate
and I am unwilling to see you "crushed out" without cause and
guiltless of offence. Booker, who is really your friend, paid a visit to
Richmond and when he returned I was on a visit to my farm. He rode over to see
me and as I learned after he went away, for the purpose of consulting with me
in order to try (if possible) if we could not bring about a reconciliation and
better understanding between you and W[ise]. But several gentlemen were present
and he left without the opportunity. This occurrence caused me to fear that
hostilities which I had hoped were at an end, were about to be placed on a
serious and enduring footing. Since then the weather together with my railroad
engagements have prevented me from visiting the County.
Booker I suspect
heard in person remarks which have been used in my presence here by W[ise]'s
particular friends. Some of them speak freely before me and some half
confidentially which embarrasses me much because while I am at liberty to speak
or write of the first the last I would not communicate; and yet I may blend and
mix them up together so as to be suspected of treachery where I am acting or
mean to act in good faith. I have sought no mans confidence but sometimes it is
thrust upon me, as if it were meant to commit me in a direction the very
opposite of that I desire. To W[ise]'s more confidential friends my preferences
are known, and his most intimate one in this town remarked to me the other
night that I was the only man in Norfolk who could go to the Legislature by his
consent who would not be required to pledge himself to go for W[ise] for the
Senate if his name was brought forward. "His obligations to me personally
would induce him to let me of all men in the city be a candidate of the
Democracy without committing myself." They talk, freely in this way:
"If H[unter]'s friends keep up their war on W[ise] we must carry it
into Africa." "W[ise] is not to be driven off by threat." W[ise]
says he dont want the place but, "by God, he will not yield an inch
now." They (Hunters friends) will not let him (W[ise]) alone but force the
issue on W[ise] and he and his party are ready to meet it. In other words they
are determined not to be satisfied and will act over if they can the fable of
the Lamb and the muddy water below the drinking place of the monarch of the
forest. I write you about the imprudent speeches of your friends in Richmond I
might have added Washington too. There is a constant fire kept up on Wise by
certain parties in both places who chase him to madness and I do not blame him
as much as I do them. I do not allude to Floyd for of his movements I know
nothing. But maybe those whose peculiar relations to both parties should make
them ministers of peace and not stirers up of stife and jealousy. A remark of
Bocock in [the] presence of an M. D. in Washington reached Wise's ears and was
repeated here in my hearing. This is a delicate subject to write about for I
know not your feelings or relationship to the party and what I say is
strictly confidential for I do not desire to be connected with
that affair. I do not want to make mischief but to put you on your guard and
thus checkmate those who would. How to remedy this state of things I cannot
see. Peace could be restored if there was a desire for peace really
entertained. When one is bent on insulting another it may be postponed but will
come sooner or later.
How far an organized
effort has been made to secure the Legislature I am totally in the dark but
when men of a certain stamp could be secured without noise it has been done.
Your opponents however feel secure and speak as if your destiny was in their
keeping. Their forbearance alone, they think, can save you from annihilation,
and if you go into the contest, you rush on certain defeat. They "cant
sacrifice W[ise] for you." I know not what advice to give for I am not
master of the ground but if I can in any manner be instrumental in bringing
about a good understanding between you I should be most happy to do so. I hope
the bitter cup of choosing between you and him will never be presented to my
lips. I held no familiar or intimate correspondence with him. He understands me
well and I do not know that he takes it unkindly. He has never sought to
advance me, holding my abilities in low esteem but he is not I think
unfriendly. I am not in his way and would not if I could harm him. If your
positions were reversed I would vote against you to keep him in
the Senate. I will see Booker and will write to you on my return. If not too
late we may, if any party can, reconcile the difficulty. For
the present you can only remain perfectly silent but if hostilities continue
you and your friends have to enter on an active campaign. Mix about among the
people in different portions of the state, accept all invitations to make
public addresses. You have hitherto kept too much aloof from the masses relying
on the leaders. The people dont know you. Your love for retirement has caused
you to neglect those small attentions which tell among them. Travel to the
springs, come down to Old Point and make yourself busy for you have work before
you if these complaints of the other party break out into open war. There is
something going on here about office. Loyall and Sawyer are in imminent danger. You have done
enough for them. Let things take their course. They would not risk any thing
for you, one because it is his nature, the other because he is afraid. Their
removal will do you no harm and you could not prevent it. There are influences
working against them at Washington which you cannot counteract. I should not be
surprised if the next mail brought Simkins app[ointment]t as Navy Agent. W[ise]
is in Washington and the first roll of Floyd's thunder has been heard. I mean
to take no action on the subject and you as I said have acted your part.
Strange to say the K[now] N[othings], if opportunity comes, will sustain W[ise]
against you on the principle that the Dog licks the hand that flays him. Dr.
Robinson an old tool of Floyds and a dirty one at that will be supported here
for the Senate by Wise men, tho' master and men have scorned him as the vilest
scoundrel in the land. He will vote for W[ise] against H[unter]. Robinson after
being refused admittance time after time into the K[now] N[othing] Camp as too
mean for their association crept in thro' a North Carolina lodge, was ruled off
in all his attempts to obtain position, voted for Flournoy &c, apostalized
and is now to be a candidate of the Democracy of Norfolk and gentlemen have
publickly vowed to vote for him in the issue between Wise and Hunter. But let
him alone. I dont think he can be elected and if he could his vote will go with
his interest and no where else. His opponent McKenny is at least doubtful tho'
I think I could control him. Segar will go from Elizabeth City County. But on
him no sort of reliance can be placed. He speaks against you. I hear nothing
from Muscoe or of him. I think his election very safe. He will get the vote of
the W[ise] party but not their hearty support. They never speak of him and seem
indifferent about his success. I have written you Hunter a long rigma role
letter which when read burn. It is for no eye but for your own. I
have written freely and perhaps my letter may prove an unwelcome messenger. It
is kindly meant however and I thought it due to our former relations. My own
career has been unfortunate as a politician. I never had the education or
industry to entitle me to a high position and I never aspired to one. As Wise
remarked of me "I have had quite as much as I could expect." But if
in quitting the field for ever I can be the means of contributing but a mite
towards rescuing an old friend from a conspiracy I shall at least have
accomplished one good act.
[P. S.] Pardon this
long letter. I will not soon repeat the dose. Of McClean I know nothing. Sawyer
wont give him a place. He dare not. His paper could not succeed unless he
bought one of the Demo[cratic] papers now established. Then it might. Both are
for sale.
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. 205-9
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