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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
Another object, which in connexion with that just disposed of, hal'! induced the present letter is this. I see from the Charleston So Ca papers of last week, that the son of Gen 'l Hamilton of So Ca, recently appointed Consul for Texas is no more. The vacancy will doubtless be supplied. My brother John C Holcombe has been a citizen of Charleston for several years has been educated for the 1\Iercantile life - has had great experience in Commercial affairs - has extensive connexions in America and Europe and enjoys the confidence of the community as a respectable and intelligent merchant, and a man of probity and usefulness. He would fill the station I doubt not as well .as any individual that could be selected for it. If I could be instrumental in procuring for him the appointment of Consul for Texas for So Ca it would be an exceedingly high gratification to me. He is my Brother - and I dare not speak of him with that freedom to you that I would under other circumstances. But my dear Sir - I ask it, in the freedom and confidence of an ancient friend, that you will consider his pre- tensions for the appointment as presented to yon by me, and what- ever you may determine on the premises I shall never doubt the purity of your motives - or the· enlarged and liberal policy by which you are actuated. I can only remark in concluding this sec- tion of my remarks, that my Brother has been more than a Brother to me, and if the world would judge him with my predilections, he would be loved and honoured indeed! Excuse the open frankness of my style and language. It is the best evidence I could present, of the high estimation in which I hold you. So regard the motive and I shall be grateful. Let things go as they may in the world. 23rd October 1838. Since the foregoing was penned I have had the pleasure of an interview with your relative and my friend G. B. Lamar who on learning from me that I was preparing a letter to your address, informed me that he had addressed you on the subject of the Consulate at Savannah for Texas- I inferred from his conversa- tion that he was desirous of obtaining that appointment. Be assured my dear Sir that the appointment could not be conferred on an indi- vidual more eminently qualified and deserving in every point of view among those public benefactors, now intently engaged in devel- oping the resources of the Southern States, by means of opening all the avenues to extended commercial enterpris~ he stands in the first rank - and has no superior in the extensive knowledge and qualifi- cations requisite for such desiderate. Indeed the whole south seem to have just awakened from the slumber of years upon the subject of internal improvements, and the great advantages which will result from the application of our own resources in affecting a direct trade with all Europe, instead of remaining dependent on our north- ern brethren as heretofore. In my apprehension a wonderful revo- lution in the commerce of the South is at hand - and for the South to regain her natural weight in the scale of the Union, It is only necessary that "she will it." Furnishing as she has done, three fourths of the exports of the Union, it is "passing strange, ["] that her imports have been as a feather in the scale in 'comparison with states North of the Potomac. This state of things must and will be "reformed altogether" - and that at an early period of time. T'he
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