Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-11
South Carolina Senator-Gen. Hamilton.

'0ONN''N OSF'
The Charleston papers publish an interesting
correspondence between Gov Seabrook and Gen.
James Hamilton, from which it appears that the
Governor, on the LIST inst. rendered Gen. Hamil-
ton, then at Savannah, the appointment Of United
States Senator from South Carolina, in the place
of the late Mr.. Calhoun. In letter dated April
Sd, Gen. Hamilton accepted the appointment, with
many expressions acknowledging his inferiority
to the eminent statesman whom he was called upon
to succeed. He finds assurance, however, in the
reflection, that 1--WE have been united together for
the last twentyseven years, not only in the bonds
of the closest friendship, but have likewise been
united in entire sympathy and accord on every
public question which has agitaed the country
during that period"
come, too (he adds0 from the instructions of his
last moments and sick bed For the last five weeks
vious the which has just passed. visited him al
most every evening" with that afectionate solicude
which belonged to the relations of old and cherished
friendship. saw him dying, with the blaze of his in
eect clear, brilliant, and luminous but with the fires of
excitement burning hercely, and with the painful
anxetes which he felt for his beloved State laborng as
profoundly in his noble bosom The last time
took HIM by the hand the awful pulsatons of that circu-
ation which were hurrying with impetuous torrent
the blood to his heart convinced me he about
die in our cause, surely and eecually as if he had
been killed by a musket ball in our battles.
Enjoying, therefore, as cid, his unreserved conf
dence and opinions, cannot believe that occupying
his late seat there will be single voteI may be called
upon to give that will be at variance with that which he
would have given if his valuable life had been spared
Gin accepting your Excellency's appointment, de-
sire it to be distinctly understood that can only serve
during the present session of Congress- shall be no
candidate for election before the Legislature. The du-
ties owe my family, and the obligations l owe to
others, forbid my return to the public service.
with the objects have in view for the residue ofmy
life seat the Senate, Second only to the first
under our form OF Government) has intrinsic at
fractions for me- But for the extrnsic circumstances
connected with the present crisis should unquestiona
bly, have declined your Excellencys appointment The
hope, (however presumpuous and iusoryD that in an
hour OF great public peril may possibly render
beneficial service to the country, has induced to
surmount, rather asde all the ditficu tes that
stand In the way OF my acceptance
alarming extent. There would indeed be none, if the
citizens Of the non-savehoding States could be con-
| WINGED of what know to be true-that uast and
resotDed unalteraby resolved oremainin this Union
| on no other terms than as equals.
shall, therefore, approach the discharge of the du-
ties of the station to which your partially has called
me- with unfaltering loyalty to the State to which
owe paramount allegiance with tervent attachment
to the Constitution of the United States and the Union
OF the States with anxious and rrepressibe desire,
accompanied by exertions the most unwavering and
earnestly to preserve that Union terms of safety and
honor tothe people of that great section to which
belong But the efforts OF their Representatives are
hopeless y unavaing, then, if ! know my own heart
with whatever sorrow it may be penetrated, L think
can look dlsunon tearlessy in the face with all its pc
ris and consequences and tell patriotic and gallant
people, in the language of the Fathers of Revolution
that torbearanee has ceased to be a pirtue.'"
We were scarcely prepared for the statement
OF Gen. Hamilton that his views are in perfect &C.
cordance with those of Mr. Calhoun, who did not
conceal his opinion that q compromise of the
slavery controversy, short of new constitutional
guarantees, would have no other effect than merely
to "patch up the quarrel, or salve over the
sore-these are common expressions of his ad-
mirers Gen. Hamilton, on the contrary in re-
cent letter, expressed his confident hope of just
and satisfactory adjustment by the present Con-
gress.
However this may be, it seems that on the 4th
instant Gov. Seabrook addressed the General Sc
cond letter, intimating doubt of his elgibih-
ty to the Senate, in consequence of his supposed
non-residence in South Carolina Gen. Hamilton
promptly replied, returning the letter of appoint
ment, but justfying his first acceptance, on the
ground, that though he had been messenger
bird,'' his only fixed home on earth was at Bluff.
ton, in St. Luke's Parish. The Governor reioins,
asserting to the correctness of the Generals
course, and declaring that it gives very high evil
dence of his "rigid adherence to the dictates of
high sense of honour
The South Carolina papers give no intimation
who will probably be the Governors second choice