MOUNT HOPE, Baltimore,
[Md.], January 18th, 1852.
MY DEAR SIR: I avail
myself of this occasion, to address you, a few words, from this agreeable, and
romantic portion of the good democratic portion of Baltimore County, and I am
glad to refer you with so much pleasure, and with a high sense of pride to the
message, of the present Chief Magistrate, Gov[ernor] Lowe, and to state, that
much [more] of the present, prosperity of this State, at this period arises,
from facts, and arguments, and by the wise, and liberal policy pursued by those
who are found to be sound on matters of State Rights, than those who are in no
way governed by the true prosperity of the people. Hon. John C. Le Grand will
succeed J. A. Pearce and I presume we will be able to send a good and sound
man, in the place of T. G. Pratt, the people of Maryland endorse the sentiments
of the people, of Virginia, and I hope to see you returned to the Senate, and I
am glad to see the high, and liberal tone, of the message of Gov[ernor] Johnson
of V[irgini]a, on the topics of education, and internal improvements, finance,
though I did not calculate upon his election of Governor. However the old
Dominion must and will take the lead in many matters. We will be able in this
State to send in company with Judge Le Grand, Henry May, Esq. both to the
Senate, at the present time it is not very important, but I will state the
fact, and I think the documents, will prove it, that Gov[ernor] Pratt in 1844
went into office under the popular name of one of the defeated Candidates, for
the Presidency and that his financial statements, have proven not correct, and
consequently, on the subject of slavery his views are, and must be obnoxious,
to many of the people of this state, while at the same time his colleague was
flattering Gen[eral] Jackson by his report as chairman of the Committee, that
voted to refund the fine imposed on him at N[ew] O[rleans] in 1814. This State
has of late years, been more or less, influenced by renegrades from the Jackson
party, such men as these, and their noble companions, Reverdy Johnson, and John
P. Kennedy. I understand their political characters, and intend to show that
they are, unworthy, and the means they have used, to advance themselves to the
pinnacle of political distinction has not been strictly in accordance with the
doctrines, or the tests, of true republican principles, though they have
imagined themselves, secure. You will find before long that they will receive a
rebuke from the people. Johnson is popular with some, but there is a strong,
and lasting impression, on the minds of many of prejudice and I do not believe
he can be elected, while Judge Le Grand is a candidate. He is a gentleman of
very high qualifications, and for learning and integrity of character is
regarded with much affection by the people.
I have much pleasure
in being able, to speak of the many improvements of the day, and the great and
rapid strides this section of the state has given and encouraged both in the
higher branches of commerce, navigation, manufactures and agriculture, and the
improvement in her historical pages. She has given new, and an increased
attraction. They have a very large, and interesting library both in Baltimore]
and Annapolis and there is a gentleman of some celebrity as a writer, who is about
to give us a sketch of the earlier history of Chestertown, when things under
the reign of Carroll I believe if not Lord Calvert, have some what changed
their nature, to the present day. Carroll was born in 1737, at Annapolis, at
eight years of age sent to France to be educated, and at the age of twenty he
commenced the study of law in London, and returned here in 1764. This is the
land of a Wirt, and the home of that eminent man Pinkney, and the plain cabin,
of that pure, and gifted genius and one of the men that, in mind and oratory,
was the theme of wonder, and admiration, whose eloquence in the Senate house
was such only as in the days of a Patrick Henry, have witnessed, for Wirt was a
self made man, and was by nature destined to be a great and mighty orator, his
style was melodious, sweet, argumentative and at times irresistible,
fascinating beyond conception or the powers of a description. I hope you will
pay me a visit, and in company with your friends, Judge Butler of S[outh]
C[arolina], or Holmes, if you come to the City of Baltimore. I will give you a
real Maryland and Virginia welcome, bring Mr. Rhett also. When you see my
friends in Georgetown Ould and Caperton bring them along. You cannot help
finding M[ount] Hope if you start from the Eutaw House in Baltimore that street
will bring you out here. I shall trouble you to send me a copy of the reports
of Committees of Commerce, Navy, Finance, Manufactures, and a copy of the
report of Patents, for 1851, and a copy of the Constitutions and a copy of such
documents as you may think instructive and of interest to me, which I shall
preserve and keep for future reference, shall take very little or no part, at
present in the active strife of a political campaign, but to an old
acquaintance and a friend of the Carolina patriot and statesman, I have been
induced to make these requests.
What are the
prospects for appointments in the Navy? I shall be glad if you would take sides
with Mr. Geyers and advocate the retrocession of G[eorge] town to M[arylan]d
soon after the discussion on the Navy reform, and fix on a day and make it the
special order. Ould and Caperton can impart to you all the details, give to
Geo[rge]town, a district and seperate county of itself not as an appendage to
Montgomery. Col[onel] Joseph N. Fearson, the great and disinterested champion
of democracy, and whose ancestors in Baltimore in 1812, at Balti[more] proved
themselves, worthy sons of a good and glorious cause, is to be the Candidate
for the office of Mayor of Georgetown in February, when I hope the salary will
be raised to $2,500 per annum, and that you will introduce a bill in the Senate
for lighting our town, with gas, and improving the streets. We have had a fine
and deep snow. And we are likely to have a long winter, the sleighing is very fine,
we have a great deal of beauty here, the theatre bills announce a new star in
the person of Lola Martz &c. Should you want any good and accurate scribes
for Committee clerks, we can furnish you with two. You will be welcomed, and I
shall be much pleased to see you in this good and hospitable state when you can
find leisure to pay us a visit. Excuse all mistakes, and all or what may be
errors.
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. 132-4
