The late election of Clingman2 to the U. S.
Senate awakens painful reflections in every lover of Union, whose patriotism
raises him above the influences of party. He has been long known as a
sympathizer with the Disunionists of S. C.—originally a Henry Clay
Whig–reviling Democracy more than his leader, of late years he got his eye on
his present position, abandoning all his early principles and became a Democrat
of the straightest order. At the opening of this Congress, upon the reading of President
Buchanan's message, he was the first to condemn it on account of its
pacific tone. He has long been known as favoring Disunion.
In the election for members of the present Legislature, it
has often been asserted in debate here and in no instance denied, so far as I
have heard, that every member, while a Candidate, professed devotion to the
Union and declared the election of Lincoln, which we all expected would happen,
would not justify breaking up the Union. Since then no one pretends that any
new cause of offense to the South has occurred. It is well known that nearly
all the unpretending Democratic members were at heart what they had professed
to be before their constituents— Union men. But their leaders had doubtless joined
the Southern league. Avery,3 Hall,4 Erwin,5
Street,6 Person,7 Hoke,8 Bachelor,9
Bridgers,10 in the first caucus, assumed the lead and demanded the
decapitation of Holden, because he was known to be for Union. The rank and file
were astounded. When required to abandon their old and approved leader, one who
was known to have been the very heart of Democracy for long years past, the
most talented and hitherto the most influential of their party, plain, honest
members, gaped in wonder; and very many of them had the moral courage, at
first, to oppose their leaders. Many honest Democrats, largely interested in
slave property, could not at first understand why a native North Carolinian,
himself a slave owner, lately deemed worthy to be Governor and United States
Senator and a Union man, was to be superseded by a man lately from England,
naturalized last April, without interest in slaves, an avowed Disunionist, a
man without social position in Raleigh, where he was best known. The most
prositable office in the gift of the General Assembly was the public printing.
This first important move of the leaders was carried by a bare majority in
Caucus; but being carried the rank and file, true to discipline, came in the
next day and voted unanimously for John Spelman for public printer. The
leaders next demanded that they should vote for Clingman. Many of the more
worthy members
_______________
* This fragment of a letter in Worth's writing was probably
to J. J. Jackson.
2 Thomas L. Clingman, b. 1812. Whig member of
Commons 1835 and 1841. Member of Congress 1843-45, 1847-58. United States
Senator 1858-61. In 1850 he became a Democrat. He was a Consederate Brigadier
General during the war. In 1875 he was a member of the State Convention.
3 W. W. Avery of Burke.
4 Eli W. Hall of New Hanover.
5 Marcus Erwin of Buncombe
6 Nathaniel H. Street of Craven.
7 Saml. J. Person of New Hanover.
8 John F. Hoke of Lincoln.
9 Jos. B. Batchelor of Warren.
10 Robt. R. Bridgers of Edgecombe
SOURCE: J. G. de Roulhac Hamilton, Editor, The Correspondence of
Jonathan Worth, Volume 1, p. 125-6
