The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-10-14
Prom The Charleston Mercury
LETTER OF GEN. HAMILTON.
10 he Editors d he Charleston Mercury

An esteemed friend in the interior of the State has
called upon declare publicly whether IL elected 10
the Senate Of the United States would serve. The
terms of this call kind and complimentary that del
icacy forbids my being instrumental in making it public
The patiaity of other friends has also brought my
before the good people of South Carolina in the columns
of your paper and the Charleston Courier 1T success
or the larnented Butlera vacancy easily filled
than his place be adequately supplied.
Believing that the Kansas complication may precpitate
ON the country momentous issue, conuncture of cir
may arise which, in the service of the State
would involve obligation equally imperative her de-
fence in of public To avoid all msconstrue
ton Of my position, if the State thinks proper to elect
to the high and honorable post in question, shall
feel 1t my duty to obey her mandate.
beg leave, however to that, regarding the Of
flee that may be declined, but solicited,
will under circumstances make myself candidate
will solicit mans vote will oppose no mans cleo
ton. enter into canvass, combination, no con-
federation with others simply stand in position OF
entire quiescence and neutrality ready to obey the
cited wishes of the legislature, if it calls upon to
represent the sovereignty of South Carolina in the great
council of conederated sovereigns in which event viii
repair to my post with all possible despatch prepared
with Incorporating zeal and fidelity to promote her In
erests and sustain her honor II my past history in con-
nexion with the public affairs of South Carolina, at
crisis of intense interest and public peril gives no
claim to be trusted then must submit to the verdict of
public sentiment and remain in retirement in which
have many private duties to perform. and many sources
of contentmcnt to cultivate think it due to candor,
however to declare that have desire to serve beyond
the remaining term of the late incumbent should go
into the representation of the State under belief that The
issue must come up within the next three years whether
the South cam consistently with her interest and honor
remain in the Union.
This question being practically solved, would then
seek retirement so well suited to my own ncnations,
penetrated with deep and nexprcssibe feeling of graft
tude to my native State which, in times past has Law
ished upon many Of her PUBLIC honors and what
is of far more inapprecabe value much of her public
confidence.
belong to past generationto confederation of men
who have passed from the es and contentious Of this
tful and fevcsh world to Immortality of happiness
When think of those companions Of my then compare
tive youth and associates in glorious struggle, my
heart grows liquid as I write, and could pour it out
like water hope that l. the humblest of the throng,
may be permitted place poor garland their graves
They rise unbidden my memory in all the strong lin
Garments of life
There stands Calhoun in all the grandeur of his ge-
MUS and the sodity of his mmovable integrity What
inscription of praise does he need beyond the uerance
of his name?
There stands Hayne, in all the mild radiance Of his
character-with an ability of the highest possible com
pass with all his transccndant powers for government
and administration spotless, and undismayed.
There stands McDufie, with his robust intellect and
stern honesty exertng powers of analysis and argument
which made him Of the first alecticians Of his time
and with Roman patriotism which burned even in the
portal caverns of the tomb.
There stands TlrnbulI, whose head gigantic
his heart was ncorruptible with his fine Grccian
face disclosed the great qualities Of the from which
he sprung burning enthusiasm, intense genius and
conquerable courage.
There stands Harper bright emanation of that intel
igence which God confers the most gifted of His
lures simple artless and with subjugated seove be-
yond all praise
of the leaders of .'thc Old Guard but two of
left Preston and the humble individual who addresses
YOU Preston, who having been sorely smitten by the
hand of nfrmity survives, thank God, in renovated
health and usefulness. 1t said by distinguished
contemporary that association contained great and
extraordinary variety Of talent place for every man,
and every suited to his place and that country
was ever better prepared for revolution than South Caro-
lima in the efficiency of her public agents Preston
cmphacally orator. and the first orator of
his time The variegated richness of his imagination,
the purity Of his TASTE his power Of argument, if he
had never cultivated augh but the faculty Of a
ocinaton whilst all he flung the drapery of most
attractive modesty and private character without
proach An association with such men, however humble
my station each of whom fitted for empire, is full
Of honor without my looking further for dis
tncon If South Carolina is destined for another revo
luton may she find such ready for her service
j shall say but little Of the present crisis of the duty
it will impose upon members to Congress, because 1t
might be regarded covert artce of electonecring for
an Office which, if it ut all, must without So
licitation but must be permitted to make one declara
ton If aggression does not cease, revolution must en-
sue and for one must be permitted to declare we
must have the constitution and, its best commentary,
the of the Union for the first thirty years a
ter it went into operation, and we are content
The South should ask for nothing and take moth
ing less without indeed she is basey recrcant to herself
and her posterity
There is sentence in Junius full Of beauty and wis
DOM adapted to the present crisis No measures are
likely to be sustained with much frmness those
which are commenced in moderation" We this mod
Grafton to our allies in the free States Think of the
earthquake shout of that majority of twenty thousand
reemen in the city of New York at the last auumna
election who declared that institutions not to
be invaded and what to their gallant leaders,
who conducted the people to such victory! have as
entire confidence in the administration of Mr. Buchanan
as have in his spotess integrity and fine talents and de-
voted loyalty to the best interests Of his country but
STILL he and his cabinet may be overruled and oyerrun by
an ncenary horde bent the ruin of their country
Then the great must up. We have no alterna-
t.. ,taJ1a fhar Tn