Athens [ga.], May 20, 1846.
Dear Sir: I
have at length mustered sufficient resolution to commence a letter to you; but
as through approaching age these tasks are becoming arduous, I know not how I
shall get through it. Though for some time silent, I have not been unmindful of
your favors, and most sincerely do I thank you for the letters you have written
me; and I would be especially obliged, whenever any thing of interest occurs in
Congress on a Thursday that you would let me know by that night's mail. It will
enable me sometimes to gain a week in publishing news.
I perceive by your late letters to myself and others that
you are in no very amiable humor with some of us for our want of zeal and
interest in some things which you have much at heart. But you must recollect
that while you are in a whirl of excitement, we are but lookers-on and keep
quite cool. I am not disposed to argue any point connected with the Oregon or
Texas controversy. I am ranked here as a 54° 40' man, though I do not hesitate
to avow that I would yield much for the sake of peace. I would take 49 if
England offered it, to avoid a greater evil than the failure to obtain
possession of our territory north of that line. And in this I, at least, am not
inconsistent with myself; for if while at peace, Mexico had entered into a negotiation
relative to boundary, I would not insist upon the whole country east of the Rio
Grande for the whole length of that river. I would have been gratified at a
compromise with her even, for the sake of peace. But it is too late now, and it
may ere long be too late in regard to Oregon.
You seem to think I have not defended you as I ought. I
certainly have not condemned your course, and I have defended all the positions
you have taken in Congress. This no other editor in Georgia has done. I really
have no fault to find with any of your votes, though I think I should have
given mine for the notice as it finally passed, when I found nothing better
could be gotten. That I have not defended you, is simply because you have not
been attacked so far as I have seen. I have no fancy for making a fuss when
there is no occasion for it.
And now in reference to another subject. Hope Hull showed me
your letter in reply to one from him, and he requests me to give some reasons
for the course which I suppose he suggested. Your friends here have not thought
it best to make any movement towards a nomination at present, for various
reasons. The Whigs are making no public effort to get up opposition to you, but
are evidently waiting to see if some disaffection may not be excited, with a
view to take up any of our men who can get a little Democratic support and who
will consent to be run by them. If we hold a convention they will secretly
operate upon the selection of delegates; they will find agents to present other
names besides yours before the convention; they will endeavor to get up some
feeling, especially on the Oregon question (and a great many Democrats disagree
with you there), and they will strain every nerve to induce one of the defeated
candidates to run against you. By a convention we shall show where our
disaffection is, if there is any. It will concentrate and give vitality to that
disaffection and I fear produce unpleasant results hereafter. We have no doubt
that you are the choice of the district and that you could be triumphantly nominated;
but we think our permanent harmony would be best maintained by considering you
the candidate of course, unless some movement adverse to this view should be
made. If any county holds a meeting and suggests any other name, or calls for a
convention, of course we must hold it; but I think if we can, we had better let
every thing remain quiet. You need feel no delicacy on the subject, or any
doubt as to your position. Any very small opposition to you, having the
faintest hope of success, would make itself known. If such should appear, we
will promptly call a convention to say who is our choice; but if none manifests
itself, you should be flattered at the fact that while you are in the field
your constituents are satisfied and no one disputes your claim.
Mr. Calhoun, I see, is getting farther and farther off. Who
will go with him? Can you tell? I think I shall have to read him out before
long. Please let me hear from you, and I will endeavor to be more punctual
hereafter.
_______________
* Editor of the Southern Banner, Athens, Ga.
SOURCE: Ulrich Bonnell Phillips, Editor, The Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911, Volume 2: The
Correspondence of Robert Toombs, Alexander H. Stephens, and Howell Cobb, p.
77-8
