Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-31
letter from senator Hammond.

We find the following letter in the Anderson
South Carolina papers. 1t is in response 10
an invitation to the dinner at WILLIAMSON
Springs. Coming from the source II uoes t
will BE- read with interest:
REpcL1rrE, August G, 1860.
Dear Sir: | have just received your podite
invitation to a dinner to be given on the 9tn
inst. at Williamson, to my esteemed friend and
rour able Representative, Col. Ashinore. II
the weather was not so unusually not my ell
oaccments would not permit Inc, on so short 4
notice, to do more than thank ,you very SIN
ccrely for vour kind remembrance. The short
ness of the notice, however, Is not due to you,
for your letter is dated II week ago, and might
have reached Inc in twenty.tour hours, but
this humbug Of "cheap postage" so gratifying
to those VINO live OH railroads. and arc not
aware that by other methods Of taxation they
nav twice the nominal charge in the South
four timcs--haS, under 4 system OF economy
which strikes down the weak rural routes, re-
auced this route, once a daily, to q weekly
one.
The political! exigency of the day Is tue cleo,
ton Of the next President. 1t gives me gleae
pleasure TO find that South Carolina, having
with her usual rromptness and unanlmitY made
| her choice, is properly and consistently puI,
suing the sam quiet course in reference TO II
| that she has so long followed. II never was 4
! sounder policy than at this time. Every mar
in America knows where she stands, ana the
whole influence Of her undivided support OF
Nossrs, breckenridge and Lane is as fully felt,
thonoh she soys nothing, rs it would be we're
che ever so vociferous; while any departure
from the course she has so long followed, and
,nv unusual expression Of interest would be
doInarinr TO the candidates Of her choice
South Carolina is VIGOROUSLY charged with dis
union proclivities, and the charge cannot be
well denied, though really it is not true III re-
card TO n Constitutional Union. 1t is loudly
proclaimed that the ticket she supports is there
fore n disuuion ticket, and any uncommon effort
in its behalf on her part will have the effect oil
sustaining this charge. | have had the plea
sure of 4 somewhat intimate acquaintance
with the Vice-Presidcnt and General Lane
during the last three sessions OF Congress,
and while | deem them eminently qualified
for the exalted positions for which they have
been named, I DO not believe that any Two
men could be found in America, who
would so promptly, and without a second
thought. Law down their lives, if needed. for
the preservation Of the Union. l~eontess am
myself very fur behind them in that particular.
In my humble judgment every vote given no, I"
them is q vote for the Union, and every To'c
given to any other candidate in the tied Is,
whether intended or not, n vote dgHt"St 'tle
Union. And it is to me passing strange tnat,
while every sensible man in the country must
tnow that the election of Mr.. Lincoln will put
the Union at imminent and instant hazard, ard
that neither Mr.. Bell nor Mr.. Douglos can lay,
Claim to one single authenticated and assured
electoral vote, any Southern man, or any North
ern. Eastern or Western patrtot, should, IN.
der any p~retence, withhold his ardent support
from the only men who, in this greatest Of all
the c~risises which our country has known since
the adoption of the Constitution, can, under
the circumstances, prolong and perhaps make
permanent this confederacy. ! cannot help
believing that they will be elected. It is the
best next step for the success of which every
thing hut principle should be sacrificed.
Very truly yours, J. II. HAMMOND
~ pDox, ,c Esp