CHARLESTON, [S. C.], 17th March, 1856.
MY DEAR BUTLER: I have rec[eive]d y[ou]r letter and speech.
The best speech you have made and y[ou]r notice of Atchinson was admirable. I
shall write a notice of the speech and y[ou]r remarks upon Atchinson, whose
devotion to the Southern cause is above all praise. The South are not awake,
and my own opinion is very decidedly, that the North will carry their point. I
have looked for the success of the Emancipation Party ever since I was in
Congress, and believe that henceforth the Battle will always be in their
favour. The hostility of Rhett to you, flashes out in the Mercury on every
occasion, and even y[ou]r remarks in a letter upon the Convention draws down
his ire. A man is a Prophet save in his own Country, and whilst you are acquiring
a fame and influence wide as the Union, efforts are making to dwarf you in the
State of y[ou]r Nativity. You may look down with scorn upon their efforts, few
men have firmer friends in So[uth] Carolina than yourself. The next
Presidential contest will be severe. My opinion is that the election will fall
upon The House. Events will transpire before this Session closes to bring forth
more decided manifestations of the management of Seward and it will require all
the Tact, and Knowledge of under-currents, on the part of our friend Hunter to
counteract his inclinations. I know little of what is passing in the City, my
time is devoted to Mrs. Holmes and my books and the study of philosophy of
which I stand in great need. I have read more in one year than I have done in
ten previous ones, but I have to submit to fate. I often think of the Mrs. and
the happy days spent with you all. You know that I am a great admirer of Hunter
who I believe has more wisdom than falls to the Lot of even distinguished
Persons, and I regard Mason as a man of sound sense, and an accomplished
Gentleman. Atchinson must be missed by you, but he is well employed at home. We
are in a revolution of which he is the Master Spirit and in the event of
conflict, I doubt not will distinguish himself as the Champion of the South.
Walker at Nicaragua will shortly settle the question of the
Musquitoe Kingdom, and it may well be left to him to battle with England who
will assuredly crush him, and his great Army, whilst they will embrace the
opportunity of settling the vexed question of the Protectorate, with Nicaragua
and leave us free to disentangle ourselves of the Monroe Doctrine. Depend upon
it, France and Britain will unite in any efforts necessary to keep the United
States from possessing the South American States and thus bringing them, as
portions of Mexico, already are brought under the influence of our Domestic
Commerce. Suppose the Philobusteurs were to take Mexico, Central America, and
the other American States South of the Isthmus. They would annex them as Texas
was to this Confederacy, and thus the entire commerce of America with New York
would be in our hands to the exclusion of Foreign shipping. The first cause
which led to the Revolution of the Spanish American provinces, was the jealousy
of G[reat] Britain at this very exclusive trade between Spain and her
possessions. Miranda's, agent [of] Mexico, expedition was sustain[e]d by
England, and it was her apprehension of this evil of exclusive Commerce which
incited Mr. Canning to give us notice of the designs of the Holy Alliance to
restore the Colonies to Spain, and which led to the Monroe Doctrine. I confess, I dreaded at one time the result of the
difficulties about Nicaragua. A War with G[reat] Britain w[oul]d ruin the
Southern States, but enough, regard to the Mrs.
_______________
* Andrew Pickens Butler, a Senator in Congress from South
Carolina, 1846-1857.
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), p. 182-3
