415
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAlIAR
investment in your country for the benefit of the children of an im- provident brother- I fear no provision will be necessary for mine- 1 have postponed marrying so long, I sometimes think I had best abandon it altogether, Those I could probably get, would not suit me those I atlmire I fear I could not get- I have no wish to marry merely to say. I am married-Unless I thought I should increase the amount of happiness it would be a poor business- Could I meet with a fair opportunity I might marry upon Utilitarian principles-merely to set a pattern for other husbands- It would be very kind in me to do so- At some leisure moment, let me hear from you & write fully, how _you are all g-etting on the prospect of your country & your own Others may have been more noisy in their professions of attachment, but I doubt if you left one behind who takes more interests in your welfare & fame- I intended writing you a long letter on your inaugural ad- dress, so much was I pleased with it- your people (in my opinion) would be crazv to wish to annex themselves to us I haYe met" with but one distinguished man in this country who beleived with me (or who beleiving-had the boldness to express it) that it was the worst thing the Southern States ever did; to enter the Confederacy- This was Langdon Cheves of So. Ca We have been ever tributary to the middle & Eastern States- I fear it will be long ere we can shake off the chains- Our government is becoming very corrupt, & our interest will always be sacrificed to promote the am- bitious views of some aspiring chief- I expect to attend a Convention soon to nominate Electors & members of Congress, I shall urge the nomination of Troup not with a hope of electing him, but I cannot vote for either of the others- What a pass have we come to, that with 15 millions of inhabitants we can not elect a man, who has character for honesty & talents- Such however is the case The race of patriots & Statesmen have pretty well run out- We have plenty of Politicians- men who are much . . . [mutilated] power than glory They have just commenced getting up steam & I must cut short this letter & finish some other day- For news (public) you can learn from the newspapers- Prt'.vate news was never much in your line, & if it was I am not a good collector- I hear from Troup occasionally- Cincinnatus, like, he is on his farm- I expect in a few weeks to comply with a promise to spend a week with him, hm1ting & fishing- George is a fine looking young man & has a good mind, combined with fine manners, but he is too indolent. His second daughter is still un- married & a splendid looking woman- Y our Columbus friends are generally well. Some of them ha,e sus- tained serious losses in trade Calhoun, Jones, the Evan's &c Our friend Jeter is married- He is well & doing well- The Boat is nearly off- May length of days & happiness be thine is the fer\"ent wish of your old & devoted friend. MANSFIELD Tonn.\~CE [Addressed:] Genl Mirabeau B. Lamar Austin Texas Mr. W. C. Abercrombie [Endorsed:] l\Iansfield Torrance, Apalachacola April 6th 18-!0.
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