WARRENTON, [VA.], September 14, 1857.
DEAR SIR: I have just returned from a trip through nearly all of the
Western Countries and made it my business, as I passed through, in a quiet way,
to ascertain who the Delegates would vote for, provided Wise was a candidate
for a seat in the United] S[tates] S[enate]. They may do their best between
this and the election and you will get three Dem[ocratic] votes to his one, and
all the Whig vote. To some extent I found opposition to your reelection among
some of the people in most every county, but it will not amount to much. He is
rather stronger in the State, than some of your friends put it at twenty.
In the North West you will get nearly all the vote. In the Valley you
will lose but one, unless Gatewood of the Tenth Legion goes over. He says he is
for you, but at the same time, thinks you will have to come out and show your
hand on Kansas. He is risky. South West is for Wise. In this section, from here
to Lynchburg, I do not know but one vote you will lose (Kemper of Madison).
Col. Phillips, I understand, will be removed the last of this month to
make room for Dr. Tait from the South West, which will make a vacancy in the
Senate, to be filled by ——— I had a conversation with Smith, my partner, a few
days since, and find I will have no difficulty in getting him to agree to come
out, at the proper time, for you against Wise.
I have to be very prudent and must ask the
favor of you not to mention to a human being, that you received a letter from
me on this subject. If you do I am a goner.
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. 225
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