Fort Hill August
1849
MY DEAR SIR, I have
read your letter with much interest, and congratulate you and the great cause
on your triumphant success. Under all circumstances, it is a great victory for
both; and shows what can be done by honesty and boldness in a good cause. Had
the other republican members from the state acted with you, the party would
have achieved a decided victory in the state in the election. Even as it is,
much has been done to restore it to power. Your position is now a commanding
one. You are placed by your course and victory at the head of the party in the
state. North Carolina has long stood in need of an able, bold and honest man to
take the lead in bring[ing] the state into her true position. You can do it.
I am glad to learn
your health is good. Mine is as good as I could expect, and I trust
sufficiently so to take me through the next session. It will be an eventful
one. We must force the issue on the North, so as to know where we are to stand.
The sooner it is done, the better for all concerned. I wish to board on Capitol
Hill and near the capitol, and would be glad to have you of the Mess, and hope
your arrangements will be made accordingly. I am busily engaged on my work, and
hope to have it ready for the press before the commencement of the session; so
that I can take it with me to Washington. I hear from Missouri, that Benton's
days are numbered. Atcheson1 and Green say, that he has as good a
chance to be made Pope, as to be elected Senator.
My kind regards to
your Son.
* Original lent by
Rev. S. T. Martin of Dublin, Va. Abraham W. Venable was member of Congress from
North Carolina from 1847 to 1853.
1 David R. Atchison, Senator from Missouri,
1843-1855. Benton was in fact defeated, after forty ballots.
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. 770
