SARATOGA, [VA.], May
8th, 1852.
DEAR HUNTER: I
received your very able and valuable report on “a change in the coinage,” and
was highly delighted with this, and other evidences contained in the
proceedings of the Senate of the manner, as well as distinguished talents with
which you discharge the various duties of your high station. I have often said,
that intellectually as well as in points of character, I thought you more
resembled Mr. Madison than any other person. In some respects I think you will
prove his superior. Madison in the abstract was sound, but he lacked either the
elevation of character or the firmness of purpose to carry out his convictions.
He gave to expediency what was due to principle. Without going beyond my candid
convictions I may add, that I deem you will prove him superior in this respect.
If the health of my Family will permit I wish to attend the Baltimore
Convention.
For various reasons
I decidedly prefer Buchanan. In our section as far as I can learn he is the
choice of more than 40 to 1. In our District Convention we thought it improper
to express our preference or instruct our Delegates. But we adopted a resolution
approving of the two thirds rule in making our presidential nomination. As an
evidence of fairness, delegates were selected without reference to their
personal preferences. All that was desired was that the popular will would be
reflected, let that be as it might. Thos. S. Bocock was appointed and Wm. C.
Flournoy and others not agreeing with a decided majority. I might add not with
one in 20 in the District Convention. We are dead against Genl. Cass. He cannot
be elected. We will take any other Democrat rather than him. He cannot carry
V[irginia. Many leading Democrats declare they will not vote for him if
nominated. He stands in the same relation to our party that Genl. Scott does to
the Whig. He has talents, but with all is deemed more of a demagogue than statesman.
His strong proclivity to ride both sides of a sapling argues unsoundness or
over ambition—either way he is not trust worthy. Besides he has had his day.
The Democrats will settle down in favor both of one Canvass and the one term
principle for the Presidency. Besides I am opposed to taking Senatorial
Candidates and wish the Baltimore Convention to adopt a resolution excluding
all holding office, from the field of selection. We must go to private life
positions for our candidates for President and vice too. If we go to Congress
for our candidates as well as for instructions as to whom to cast our votes,
why Congress will soon absorb all the powers as well as all the honors of our
republic. This policy unless averted will corrupt and revolutionize our
government. The Executive must in inception, election, and action be distinct
from Congress. Let the Congress indicate Candidates, which is tantamount to an
election, the next step will be for the President to humble himself to his real
master. Thus the judiciary will also fall under the influence of Congress. Then
a congressional majority will decide and continue the fate of the country. I am
opposed to all this. I want the President in all respects independent of both
branches of Congress. The country people are daily becoming more disgusted with
Congressional President making. That man will stand highest in the public
estimation who keeps above all such extra official dictation. While the South
held all the high honors, in truth got all the benefits of our government, they
have fattened and grown strong upon the substantials, while we are starving and
growing weak upon honors. Now I am for a change. Give me sound and reliable
Northern or free State men, and so far as I am concerned they may enjoy all the
honors. We want the real solid benefits of government and if they have the
honors, it will be the most powerful motive with their aspirants on both sides to
keep down the slavery agitation and also to so make the machinery of government
as to rebuild the south. I look upon high honors as incompatible with sectional
aggrandizement. We cannot get both at once. When the south held the Posts of
honor, she had to throw all the crumbs of government to conciliate distant
support. Now give the free States the honors and then they will do justice to
gain our confidence and support, for without the slave state vote in Congress
no Executive can honorably or properly administer the government.
I had rather see
Buchanan, Marcy, or Douglas, or Dallas, or R[ichard] Rush by a great deal than
Cass, under the latter [I] look upon our defeat as certain. With either of the
others we may succeed. Cass is too much mixed up with all this Kossuth
movement, and too strongly inclined to elevate himself not only above all our
Diplomats, but above the wise policy upon foreign affairs of Washington and
Jefferson to be trusted at this juncture. I look upon our Foreign relations at
this time, as the most important point to guard in making our selection of
candidates. Democratic measures are in the general to obtain either under a
Whig or Democratic rule. But justice to the slave states, and a wise and
peaceful Foreign policy is what we need. On neither of these points am I
willing to confide in Cass. As for the Union and the upstart constitutional
expounders from Tennessee, they had better put things in the ascendant at home,
before they assume the leadership for the Union. That is either a Whig State,
or else the least sound of any of the Democratic slave states. The Union is a
high toned Federal organ but unlike other Federal papers, it does not seem to
be aware that it is so. Now the Democratic editor from Tennessee is but. little
short of our former Globe editors from Kentucky. What one did for knavery, the
other is doing for folly. I am opposed to being doctrinated by such chaps from
the New States. The Union was clearly for Cass from the start, and all the
time. Genl. Cass on a recent occasion went out of his way to laud Genl. Jackson
and especially his proclamation. He is the advocate of compulsory democracy,
and dead against the voluntary system. He would establish the inquisition, if
the Union would suggest it, or the alien and sedition laws. Should he be
elected the country might look out for the most high handed measures, all
proved by the editor of the Union to be in accordance with the doctrines of
Jefferson, Madison, and Jackson. May the Lord deliver our party from the hands
of the quacks of Tennessee and Michigan.
* Representative in
Congress from Virginia, 1841-1847; resided at Curdsville, Buckingham County.
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. 140-2
