John Barbour letter to John Calhoun, 11 May 1844

Warrenton [Va.] May 11th 1844

MY DEAR SIR. I send you by this Mail the paper printed at this place which contains the proceedings of this County on the Texas question. The Article in it addressed to Blair (the Editor) is the offspring of the pen of your excellent friend Mr. Edwd Dixon. A young gentleman of good Talents, fine Character, and brave, chivalrous and manly.

It is obvious to every eye that Mr. Van Buren can no longer be upheld. Johnson and Muhlenberg have occurred to me as strong enough to carry the West and the North. With a Strong Man in the South also holding to Muhlenberg for the Vice Presidency success would be sure.

The selection might then devolve on the House of Reps. Evil as this is, it is lesser evil than a surrender to the Whigs, whose success now is probable Success for twenty years to come perhaps to the euthanasia of our System, or the violent disruption of the Confederacy.

Muhlenberg can carry Penna. Who else can ? As to Stewart, it is idle to think of. Tyler cannot be elected. I have not the slightest doubt of your having strength enough in Virginia to carry the State. The talent of the State is with you, its disinterestedness is with you, its principles with you, its virtue and patriotism with you. I will not close my eyes to night until I have written Ritchie. I think his character is not well understood by you. Gen'l. ayley of the H. of Rep has a fairer and truer appreciation of him than any one I know. Ritchie is not selfish he is not base. His character combines in it some of the noblest virtues Steadiness in friendship, elevation in Morals, Stability of patriotism with great simplicity of character and therefore sometimes led astray by those to whom he may unwittingly have given his heart and his confidence. To these qualities he unites no common ability. I told him in 1825 that he was utterly ignorant of you, and last winter he admitted it to me. He is valuable as a friend, from the possession of those virtues, that grow in value (like the books of the Sybil,) because their possessors have so greatly diminished in numbers. I never had his friendship, and have nothing from him to warp my judgment. I have narrowly watched him for thirty years, and the result of my experience is the high estimate I have placed on his head and his heart. Talk with Bajdey of him, and do not allow Ritchie to do you longer injustice, by injustice in your opinion of him.

I write freely to you for that is the province of friendship.

I have refused in several instances to give letters to you, for persons desiring office. I hope it will not be regarded as a departure from the propriety under which I acted in these refusals, to bring to your care the claims of Edward Dixon.

In all haste and with all Respect Yrs faithfully and cordially

J. S. BARBOUR