Page:American Historical Review vol. 6.djvu/748

738 Doc2imcnis II. Robert Y. Hayne to James H. Hammond. Washington, 29'" March 1S30. Dear Sir. D'. Cooper's letter has been well rec? here. Its tone of moderation has secured it a favorable reception. I hope and trust he will be equally temperate in all his writings. We have nothing to gain from violence or shocking even the prejudices of the people at home or abroad. I do not think I have seen the true spirit better illustrated than in the short article in the Carolinian, which I send to you, in place of an expo- sition of my own ideas. I think with you that no attempt ought to be made to produce excitement among our Citizens. Let the sound doctrine be spread abroad, and let them see and feel the actual posture of our af- fairs. There are only two points on which I will venture to give you a hint. Our Presses at home ought to refuse to discuss in any way the (juestion of the next Presidential Election. AVe have questions of our own entirely above that of whether A. or B. is to be our next President. We must not again mix up our complaints with mere party questions. We ought to keep aloof from everything calculated to divide our own citizens. You ought to keep an eye to all the measures looking to the distribution of the nat funds, whether by direct appropriation of money, or for Roads and Canals, Schools, Pension Bills, or m any other way, — and every de- cision in favor of such projects ought to be noticed and condemned. I write /// liasle and can only give you Idnts. I do so in compliance with your request, and have only to add that while I shall be happy to aid you with my advice, I wish of course that my suggestions should be considered as thrown out merely iox your consideration, and intended merely for your own eye. With great respect, yours Rob. Y. Hayne J. H. Hammond Esq. in. James Hamilton, Jr.' to James H. Hammond. Charleston August 24 1830. It has afforded me Dear Sir the sincerest satisfaction to receive your kind favor of the 2if' which gave me the agreeable intelligence that my anxious wishes had been anticipated in a manner so satisfactory and honorable to both parties, through the good offices of the worthy and respectable gentlemen who acted as Mediators between Gen! Blair and yourself. That his life has been spared for useful and honorable service to the State I sincerely hope, nor can I the less distrust the destiny for which your own has been reserved by the early and powerful exhibition which you have made of public spirit and Talent. ' 1 Major James Hamilton, jr., has been a member of Congress from 1S23 to 1829, and was governor of South Carolina from December 1830 to December 1S32. 2 A pamphlet bearing the title The Controversy bet-ueen General James Blair and James H. Hammond, Esq., 1830, furnishes the explanation of this allusion. In a let-