Fort Hill 9th April 1847
DEAR SIR, Regarding
you to be one, entertaining strong political attachment to me, as you state
yourself to be, I answer you as a friend.
If to be devoted to
popular institutions; if to believe in the principles and policy, which brought
the Republican party into power under Mr. Jefferson; if to prefer country to
party, and dare to oppose party, when party deviates from its principles or
policy, is to be a Republican, then am I one, and ever have been, and never
more so than now. I had supposed, I had given too many and trying proofs of my
Republicanism judged by these tests, to have my Republicanism doubted at this
late day. I have often before opposed the party when in power, to save both it
and the country. I have often before been denounced by partisans and party
papers for doing so; but time has ever, as it will now, prove me to be in the
right. It has been my fate to oppose the party, when in power and full
strength, and to come to its rescue, when fallen or out of power. It is again
in a fair way, I apprehend, to lose power, because it has greatly departed from
its original faith, and embraced the principles and policy of its opponents to
a far greater extent, than is supposed, by those, who have not carefully
watched the course of events. The Republican party would ever triumph, and
never be in danger, if true to its principles and policy. I would say to you,
and other political friends, who may have given too hasty an ear to the abuse
of mere partisans and party papers who go with party right or wrong, wait
and see. To time I always appeal against their clamour.
I enclose you a copy
of my address to the citizens of Charleston.2
_______________
1 Of Wilkesborough, N. C. Text derived from a
copy kindly furnished by Mr. F. E Shoup, of Columbia, Tenn.
2 Of March 9, 1847; Works, IV, 382-395.
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, pp. 725-6
