CHAPTER XXVI. 1849. Letters-J. Collamer to Crittenden-Jefferson Davis to Crittenden-Crittenden to O. Brown-John M. Clayton to Crittenden. (J. Collamer to J. J. Crittenden.) WASHINGTON CITY, January 30, 1849. EAR SIR,-I have summoned resolution to write to you, and you know it will be done with confidence and frankness; so forgive my presumption. First, then, the great topic here is the cabinet of General Taylor. Now, sir, among the very few things generally conceded on this subject is this: that you will be and ought to be consulted on this point by General Taylor. I trust this may be so, and that he and the country may have the advantage of your judgment and knowledge of men on this occasion. Next, sir, I desire to say distinctly that the Whigs of Vermont have desired and expected that you would be Secretary of State, and I think the Whigs of the Union, or at least a large majority of them, participate in this desire. I would add that if in the cabinet you should be at the head of it, to sustain your public and political position. I regard this as a national demand, more imperious than any local claims Kentucky can have upon you and paramount thereto. Such are my views, but I never volunteer my unasked advice; nor do I regard my views of any great value; but in this case I express them because I think the public opinion coincides with mine. I, however, frankly acknowledge that I should not have written this letter but for another matter, which relates to myself. You know, sir, I am utterly incapable of soliciting any man, even yourself, to sustain me for an office; but I have a favor to ask which comes so near it that I have great reluctance to state it. Last summer and autumn the very decisive and active course I thought it necessary to take in Vermont in relation to the election of General Taylor exceedingly exasperated the Free-Soil party, and they, holding the balance of power in the House of Representatives in the State, prevented my election to the United States Senate. Before the adjournment in November, at a convention of the Whig members of the two Houses, they unanimously recommended me to General VOL. 1.-22 (337) Taylor for the office of Attorney-General. This was without my knowledge. That recommendation has been sent to General Taylor. Now, sir, I do not mention this matter with any view to press such appointment or to expect it; for though I think the claim of Vermont as the only uniform Whig State in the Union, and in which no cabinet appointment was ever made, is very great, yet I suppose no such appointment will be made, especially as the State presents such a candidate. I have, however, a favor to ask. You perceive my situation. I desire that my recommendation by the State may not be to my disparagement and injury. It seems to me that if both this recommendation and myself are disregarded, myself entirely overlooked and the claims of Vermont are attempted to be met by the appointment of other men to other places by private influence, it will, undoubtedly, be to me a matter of direct personal injury and reproach. Now, sir, I solicit the exercise of the influence which all ascribe to you to save me from this. In short, sir, if anything of value is to be offered to Vermont, should it not be offered to me? I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, (J. J. Crittenden to A. T. Burnley.) DEAR BURNLEY,-Your letter by Swigert reached me yesterday at Mrs. Innes's, where I now am, and you will receive this to-morrow after due consultation with Letcher, who is embraced in your invitation to the Mammoth Cave. As to the cigars, you have acquitted yourself well! Letcher would have taken them all if you had not assigned him a part. I do not know what Letcher may think of it, but he is reputed a wise man, and I must, therefore, believe he will concur with me in regarding your proposition to go to the Mammoth Cave as a most strange and wild fancy. Go to the cave! travel three long summer days to get there, and as many to get back, and for what? There is no medical water to restore or invigorate health. Thomas tells me that you promise venison and salmon every day for dinner. That's a "fish story." I know better. You are more likely to get both at the Blue Licks; but the cave,— the cave itself, the Mammoth Cave is the attraction. There is a deathlike coldness in the idea that may have some charm for people who come panting from the tropics, and who have lately felt that it was better to be buried alive than to endure the burning sun. It must be some disorder of the mind that thus misleads you, and from which I trust the temperate climate you are now in will soon relieve you. For my single self, if I was standing at its mouth, I would not again enter its infernal jaws. I had rather make my explorations on the surface of the earth, in the free air and open light of heaven; I have neither ambition nor curiosity to be thrusting myself into places that were never intended for living men, nor anything better than dragons or reptiles. My seven senses altogether can't comprehend the pleasure of leaving "the warm precincts of the cheerful day" to stumble and grope about in the Mammoth Cave, making its everlasting darkness hideous with miserable glimmering, smoky torches. I would greatly rather have descended with Æneas into the infernal regions. There a man might indeed see sights; here the utmost of his achievements would be to see, perhaps catch, a poor, little blind fish that says to him as plain as a fish can speak, "What a foolish thing it was to come so far for such an object." No-no-no, sir, you will not get Letcher and myself into that cave, but if like sensible men you would rather live in society than be buried in a cave, and will go to Harrodsburg or Blue Licks, we are your men. Don't let Dr. Croghan hear one word I have said against caves. If I could fancy any cave it should be his, because it is his. P.S.-Well, I have consulted with Letcher. I find to my surprise that he does not agree with me altogether as to caves. Indeed, he says "he has a passion for caves," and has constrained me to consent to suspend a final determination, and to hear an argument from you on the subject. Letcher desires an argument, and if you can remove the objections we will change our decision and go to the Mammoth Cave. Bring Alex. Bullitt along to the argument. Your friend, J. J. CRITTENDEN. (Jefferson Davis to J. J. Crittenden.) SENATE-CHAMBER, January 30, 1849. MY DEAR GOVERNOR,-I have been long intending to avail myself of your kindness by writing to you; but you know the condition of a senator during the session of Congress, and may be able to estimate the condition of a lazy man thus situated. It is, I hope, unnecessary for me to say that my sympathies have been deeply enlisted in the case of Major Crittenden, and, what is more important, my conviction is complete that he has been unjustly treated. You know Mr. Polk, and your view of the manner in which he should be dealt with, as shown by your letters, has very closely agreed with my own. Worried by his hesitation, I have called for the proceedings in the case, and if he holds out, it is a case in which the weaker goes to the wall. I think I will beat him, and so you may say in confidence to your gallant son. My boy Tom, in which style I hope you will recognize Colonel Crittenden, has been discreet and, I think, efficient in a cause where feeling might have warped the judgment of an older man. I regret exceedingly to see that Mr. Clay is to return to the Senate. Among many reasons is one in which I know you will sympathize-the evil influence he will have on the friends of General Taylor in the two houses of Congress. Many who would have done very well in his absence will give way in his presence. This will also introduce a new element in the selection of the general's cabinet. It must be composed of men of nerve and of no Clay affinities. One instance to illustrate my meaning: Berrien, of Georgia, though well enough without Clay's shadow, would not do under it. You see that I disregard Mr. Clay's pledge to support the administration; he may wish to do so, but can his nature reach so much? The Englishman, Baker, who came from the Rio Grande to draw pay, mileage, and a year's stationery, as a member of Congress, is here, with recommendations from legislatures for the post of Secretary of War. What would General Taylor say to such impudent dictation and indelicate solicitation? T. Butler King wants to be Secretary of Navy. You know the little Yankee, Andrew Stuart, wants to be Secretary of Treasury-the man who proved wool to be a vegetable. I hope you will talk fully with General Taylor; he knows very little of our public men personally, and will have very little opportunity to observe them after his arrival. Clayton is true, and talks right. Has he the necessary nerve? How would Binney, of Philadelphia, do for the Treasury? As Lawrence is not a lawyer, and is a manufacturer, how would Mr. Lawrence do for Navy? How would Gadsden do for War? How will a Postmaster-General be selected? The general will need you, and I hope to see you here. Loose and hurried as my remarks are, written in the midst of much "noise and confusion," you may, from intimate knowledge of all I have treated of, unravel what would be unintelligible to one less informed. Your friend, (J. J. Crittenden to O. Brown.) JEFFERSON Davis. FRANKFORT, July 3, 1849. MY DEAR SIR,-Your letters of the 23d and 27th of the last month were anxiously expected, and read with great interest; and yesterday your telegraphic dispatch was received, announcing your acceptance of your new office. You have now become the great sachem, and I have no doubt will demean yourself like a proper chief. You have but to take hold of your office earnestly, and all its exaggerated difficulties will vanish before you. It can be no great matter for you, and to comprehend all your official duties, you will then feel at ease. And master of your house, you can order and execute as you please, and with but little trouble, if you have such subordinates as you ought to have. Knowing your capacity, I desire to see you do justice to yourself in your present office, so as to show yourself capable of higher and greater things. And these I anticipate for you without the least pretension to prophecy. Without anything the least personal or selfish in the wish, I hope you will avail yourself of all opportunities of cultivating the acquaintance, the friendship, and the confidence of General Taylor. I desire this for your own sake, for his sake, and for the sake of the country. Such relations with him will be honorable to you, and will, I am certain, be useful to him. His prepossessions are all in your favor, you stand with him as the representative of his great bulwark, Old Kentucky, and he will be glad to have some one with whom he may talk outside of the cold, formal limits of the cabinet. That's as natural as the desire to break out of prison. You are exactly the man to occupy that relation with him, all circumstances favor it, and nothing but negligence, or something worse, will prevent your falling into that position, He is a noble old patriot who deserves to have disinterested and faithful friends to soothe and assist him, and I know that you will be such a friend. Indeed, I have had a sad time since you and the boys left me. It seemed as if all my light had gone out. But yet there was a ray from within that was constantly breaking from the clouds to cheer me and to brighten my thoughts. I had advised you all to go. It was good for you to go. And the brightness of your prospects, and of the skies above you, reflect a sunshine upon me. I shall flatter you by telling you how much we all miss you; how much the town misses you; and how much we inquire, and speculate, and talk about you. Letcher seems to be widowed by your departure. In walking together by your house, a few evenings past, he, the practical man, grew poetic, and insisted that your vines, plants, and trees seemed to droop and mourn your absence. Your absence has been an actual grief to me. Missing you in the office day by day, I feel as if my office, "my vocation," was gone. I am glad that you are where you are, and yet grieved that we cannot have you here. There are many peculiar reasons why none of your friends here can lose so much, or miss you so much, as I—but I will not grow too serious or gree-vi-ous on the subject. The emigrants deducted, our little town remains just as you |