Washington, Aug. 14, 1850.
My Dear Hamlin,
I find your letter of the 11h of July among my unanswered letters but my
impression is very strong that I have answered it. Is it so or not?
I wrote you a day or two since enclosing a recommendation of
Th. K. Smith by Donn Piatt for Collector at Cincinnati. — Smith was a student
in our office, and always did well what I wished him to do. He has good
talents, but was, at one time, rather given to idling away his time. In this I
think he has reformed since his marriage. He is poor & has his father's
family to support. If you can give him the office I feel persuaded he will
discharge its duties well, and do no discredit to your selection. That I shall
be gratified by it I need not add. The only thing I know to Smith's
disadvantage was his association as law partner with Read & Piatt which is
somewhat to his discredit if not damage of his liberty principles.
Well — we have passed in the Senate a
bill
for the admission of California at last. After
organizing
Utah without the
proviso
&, what was ten times more objectionable, a bill giving half New Mexico and
ten millions of dollars to Texas in consideration of her withdrawing her
unfounded pretension to the other half, we were permitted to pass the California
admission bill.
The
Texas Surrender Bill was passed by the influence of the new administration
which is Hunker & Compromise all over.
The
Message of Fillmore asserting the right of the United States and declaring
his purpose to support it
and then begging Congress to relieve him from
the necessity of doing so by a compromise—that message did the work. That
message gave the votes of Davis & Winthrop, of Mass — Clarke & Greene
of R. I. Smith of Conn. & Phelps of Vermont to the Bill.
I hardly know what to wish in regard to the Cleveland
Convention. Luckily this is the less important as my wishes have very little
influence with the Clevelanders. I am persuaded that the Jeffersonian democracy
will be bound to take distinct ground against the Hunkers who are straining
every nerve to put Cass into the field again, and may succeed in nominating
Woodbury, who is more objectionable. We must adhere to our principles, and, so
long as those principles and the course of action which fidelity to them
requires are not recognized by the Old Line Democrats, to our organization
also. Perhaps a nomination for Governor would be useful at this time — especially
if the right kind of a man and upon a reaffirmation of the democratic Platform
of '48. In the National Contest which is impending I think Benton will go with
us against the Hunkers, if they drive us to a separation.
I shall send this to Olmsted, expecting it will find you
there. Wherever it may find you write me soon. There is no prospect of
adjournment before September.
Since writing this letter last night, I have recd your last
this morning. I thank you for it—now you are in my debt — remember.
SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol.
2, p. 216-7
