Franklin County: James Wilson to Edward McPherson,
January 16, 1860
Summary:
Edward McPherson's eighty-one year old friend, James Wilson, writes about the
problem of electing the Speaker of the House. He includes a mocking discussion
of the Democrats and other politicians.
Honorable Edward McPherson
16th January 1860
Fairfield Adams County
Dear Sir,
You have been exceeding [deleted: in] kind in sending papers &
documents since the commencement of the present Session of Congress. I should be
greatly wanting in common courteousness if I failed in making due
acknowledgments -- You have a [unclear: bousterous] time of it. Your
body can hardly be called a deliberative Assembly. I am greatly pleased with the
forbearance of our Republican friends. the vituperation of the Southern fire
eaters is uncalled for and beyond endurance and too much for human nature to
bear patiently with. Yet I think great good will result to the Republican cause
growing out of it. Iverson of Georgia [unclear: Vanlandinghouse] of
Ohio, and John B. Clark of Missouri and some Northern
Democrats, will, if they continue in their violent course, do more to put down
modern Democracy than the Republicans can do of themselves -- I wonder some fun
Loving wag don't take it into their head to get up a
caricature of Bigler and other Northern Democrats representing Iverson and some
other Southern Democrats putting coals of fire on their Backs like the Tarapins, to make them
[unclear: creep]. I say stick to Sherman, better by far to be beat,
than change at the period of the fight. your patience be like to fail you read
the Book of Job and persevere, your Constituents will see you out-- Without any
view to flatter, you have respectable talents for debate, do not attempt [deleted: and] to make share after small game, for no [deleted: sacrifice] laurels can be won in this Negro fight let our enemies have
the glory, but let us have the Speaker; it is of immeasurable importance for us
to have the Speaker at this juncture. I wish you and
all our Republican friends to be more than usually courteous to John Hickman, he
is worth his weight in Gold for his manly bearing in this contest, but all our
Delegation from Pennsylvania
have a hand ready
[page 2]
when they meet John Hickman. I had the honor of a
personal acquaintance & would address him a letter to help to cheer him
on in his manly course.
I should have written to you sooner, but for a severe spell of putrid sore throat, and epidemic that has afflicted our neighbourhood much. this with a fast down hill life, being now 81 years old, almost disables me from writing intelligibly the mechanical part and you will perceive the mental part is alike deficient-- Your generous nature will know how to excuse the imperfections of this epistle- You are aware I lost the partner of my life in May last which nearly cost me my life, this with my late spell of sickness has greatly shattered my nerves. I feel now like a ship at sea without a rudder The Bark of my life is fast drifting down the tide of time and will reach that Haven which a merciful God has already indicated. I will naturally cast a lingering look upon the Country I am about to leave to freedom and to the world.
Adieu Your old friend
James Wilson
