The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-12-30
Bill Arp'S Letter.

MS DOlu uedTl, elOQutnI tongue ana giant
intellect shone brightest when battling
in defense Of his native land.
To form a just conception OF Toombs'
character and attachments, a knowledge
Of the environment OF the times in which
he lived and the circumstances with
which he was surrounded is essential.
This is the best CLEANED from such me-
morabilia as he has left. 1t is perhaps
unfortunate for history that such a prom
inent character has left SO few writings
and such meager memoranda. The very
genius of the man was averse TO it. He
said that a good speech would not be
written and a written speech could not
be spoken.
By the merest chance I was led to the
discovery of many rare old letters and
documents of interest, among which were
a number of Toombs' which throw much
light on the methods of thought and
action.
| learned that in an old deserted and
dilapidated house at Belair, known as the
Ward house, these papers could be found.
When Governor CraWforl's homo burned
years ago, it seems that his secretary was
saved and removed to this house. There
they had lain, scattered over the floor,
the sport Of time and a prey to the
weather. this eloquent leminder Of a past
generation; this rich mine of Information
for the student OF the South's history.
There were letters from William II.
Crawford, Johnson, jenkins, Dawson, Ste
phens, Thomas w. Thomas, Judge Hill,
q letter from Albert Sidney Johnston
seeking his appointment in the army, and a
whole host of worthless now passed into
the great beyond. Several Of Brigadier
General Walkers, of the Walker expedi-
ton to Nicaragua fame, relating to eX-
periences in the wildcat speculation in
Mississippi and Texas and the great OPP
portunities for money making enterprises,
Toombs' letters were largely taken up
with the discussion Of the prospects for
success of the Wing party in state and
national politics. This was in the days
Of
"Tippecanoe
and Tyler, too"
and the famous log-cabin. coon-skin and
cider campaign. Toombs at that time
took great delight in pouring hot shot
into the "Locofocos." A red-shot guber-
material campaign was on between
Towns. Judge Hill and Matthew Hall Nc
Allister, in which Towns, the Democratic
candidate, won out, defeating Hill. the
Wing, by a decisive majority. AS may
have been expected, there is a great con-
trast between he tone of is letters be-
fore ard after the election. He speaks of
having met the candidates at Athens and
having relied confidently upon Judge
Hills carrying the Cherokee country, a
former Wing stronghold, Which he failed
to do.
In one of his letters he writes to Craw-
ford of Daniel Webstcr's contemplated
visit to the South and his prospective
speech in Augusta. Says Webster is q
very companionable sort Of fellow and
doubtless he will be Well received there,
as the New England contingent is pretty
strong in that town. But he felicitatcs
himself that he (Toombs) will have bust
ness Of Importance elsewhere when Web
ster gets to Augusta.
In politics Toombs had the Napoleonic
qualities of massing his strength at the
critical point. He was the man of the
epoch. No one u~nacquainted With his
habits of thought would fail to be i'm
genius. He spoke in epigrams. The two
characters in history that he chose for his
models were Mirabeau and George N.
Troup.
The former he pictured during the up
heaval in the French chamber as he
vithstood the rising storm in the House
of Representatives on the occasion of the
election of Cobb to the speakcrship; the
latter he ofttimes quoted and with great
effect; "thc argument is exhauStlcss, LEI
us stand by our guns