Near Hampton, [va.], January 12, 1840.
Dear Hunter: For
some months past I had almost given over talking or reading of politics and my
papers by the dozens were filed on my table unopened. So that your election
might for a season have escaped my observation, so seldom is it that I leave
home except to officiate occasionally in the humble capacity of an attendant on
human misery. Indeed I am utterly secluded from the gay world and its noisy
concerns. While in this state of existence an afternoons chat with a neighbor,
both of us mounted on a rail, was broken in upon by a horseman in full gallop
who had sought me out to communicate your good fortune. It proved to be our
friend Booker and most happily did we converse over your distinguished person.
To congratulate you at this late season would perhaps be out of place. I have
for several days intended dropping you a Line but my old enemy, procrastination
hovers around me closer than ever. Most heartily I rejoice at this unexpected
tho’ not undeserved honor. You have nothing to fear, but act out your part and
the “just of all parties will sustain you.” To speak on this occasion as I feel
and think would, to one of your modesty, savor somewhat of deceit or flattery;
and I can only repeat that I rejoice in your elevation and trust it is only the
promise of still better fortune and more distinguished honors. Altho’ I can
understand by what means your election was effected I cannot at this distance
from the centre of action account for some few votes, such for instance as that
of Rhett and more especially Dixon Lewis on the last ballot.1 The
former you know is no favorite of mine. I have no faith in the soundness of his
head or the honesty of his heart. Like most reforming gentlemen he is a selfish
changeling. As sure as you live he will deceive some of those who now
confidently calculate on his services. B. H. Rhett aspires to be a leader and
will some day or other set up for himself. So soon as the weather breaks, for
we have had a most severe winter, I will send you up some good oysters. By the
way who brews your punch now that I am no longer an honourable? Does Mr.
Speaker heat his water in a shaving can as of yore to fabricate this divine
distillation and regale himself with an air bath in a sitting posture by the
round table as was the case on a certain occasion which now shall be nameless.
I like not Calhoun's reconciliation (so far as I understand
it) with V[an] B[uren]. He has reversed his position. The Whigs on whom at
least he depended for support he has in a measure driven off. His recent
quarrel with Clay, altho I think not at first the aggressor, was ill timed and
will prove ruinous. If he leans alone on Locofoism he will find it a broken
reed. The bulk of the Whigs begin already to look up to him as their man
against Benton, and Clay's friends are true to him to the last. Besides Clay is
broken down as a Pre[sidential] candidate and by some little management his
party in the South might have been secured. But I pretend to no knowledge of
these things and let them pass. As regards myself politically speaking I have
no hopes or fears. Mr. Loyall, the Navy agent, is about resigning his office to
become Pres[iden]t of a Bank in Norfolk. My friend Robertson would like to
obtain it on acc[oun]t of a poor brother-in-Law who could fill the station of
club and thus provide for a large family. He is every way fit for this or any
other station. His politics too are right—that is he is with us on any
subject. Holleman will strive to sustain a Betonian in the person of his friend
Dr. Batten of Smithfield. Robertson is the Leading Whig in the district and on
the score of policy the adm[inistration] would gain. He is an honest fellow—a
perfect gentleman and my best friend. Can you withoutt [sic] prejudice to your position without violence to your personal
feelings assist him? Trust me in the matter as a friend. Be candid for from the
circumstances surrounding, you ought only to be governed. Be not guided by
ordinary rules on such occasions, for I know, and I hope, I appreciate the
delicacy of your position. I would not call you friend if I thought you could
not act with the utmost freedom toward me. If you can properly act, consult
with Pickens and my late associates and do what you can for me, but decide and
act at once. Send T G Broughton and son and S. T. Hill of Portsm[outh], Va., a
document now and then. They will be pleased. If you see or write to Mason
tender him my best salutations. If Mrs. Hunter is in the city and young Mr.
Speaker be pleased to present me to them with my best respects. Wishing you,
Hunter, every honor to which your heart aspires and every happiness which a
virtuous and independent mind can here enjoy
I remain
[Dr. Francis Mallory.]
[P. S.]—Sewart is in Washington. Poor fellow he has become a
vagabond—one of the last acts of his political life was a deliberate and I fear
a mercenary conspiracy against my election. I pity him and still more his
destitute family. My friends name is Geo. H. Robertson.
_______________
* A Whig Representative in Congress from Virginia,
1837-1843.
1 Robert B. Rhett voted for Francis W. Pickens of
South Carolina; Dixon H. Lewis for George M. Keim of Pennsylvania. Benton,
Abridgement of Debates of Congress, XIV, 8.
SOURCE: Charles Henry Ambler, Editor, Annual Report
of the American Historical Association for the Year 1916 in Two Volumes, Volume
II, Correspondence of Robert M. T. Hunter 1826-1876, p. 31-3
