MHS Collections Online

Ho Reps. Saturday. [6 August 1842]

My Dear Wife,

Ann's letter of Thursday is recd
this morning. Mr. H. must have had
a famous time. I feel much gratified by
the attentions paid to him. He is worthy of
them, for I really think him a man of un-
common merit, and of great excellence of
character. I don't wonder that Anna
feels [hi?] her separation from him, pro-
bably for a long time, for nothing can
exceed his unremitting --generous & most
delicate attentions. He has been always prompt
& in advance to anticipate her wants &
to do every thing which cd contribute to
her comfort. The vote was taken on the
tariff bill yesterday. He will not regret
his absence. He would have been em-
barrassed between his real opposition to
the land distribution & his disgust at
Tyler's course, & his unwillingness to
vote in such a manner as to gra-
tify him. It is divided. The bill has

passed the Senate, just as it went
from the House. Will the Presdt sign it
or will he madly veto it? There are
different opinions. Some think he will --
more -- most think he will not sign.
Should he veto it -- there will come the
"tug of war". I tremble for the result. There
is danger that no bill will pass -- the chan-
ces against it are increasing. If it were
on any subject of less importance, I would
never yield an inch -- but if no revenue
bill shd pass -- in three weeks the Govt. would
be bankrupt, and the effect on the bu-
siness of the Country will be deplorable.
What a fearful responsibility! Will the
Country put it where it shd be placed?
I fear that it would be fatal to the Whig
party & to Clay's prospects. They would
be made to think that it was owing to
Whig obstinacy, -- that they clung to the
land bill, because it was a political
measure, at the expense of the tariff. They have been so accustomed to violence
done to the Constitution, since the reign
of Jackson -- that they are not very sen-
sitive on that subject. But he may
put his name to the bill, & then these
speculations will have been in vain useless.
I have written quite a political letter,
for the sake of yourself & friends. Nothing
else excites any interest here now.

There is a feverish impatience to
bring the Session to a close -- and it rejoices
my heart, to be able to say, that I
believe that I shall have the happi-
ness to be with you again by the 21st or
22d of this month but it is very doubtful.     There is nothing
new here. I have seen no ladies
lately. I called to see Mrs. T't yesterday,
but she was not well. Her youngest
daughter has become a very pretty
girl. I shall call on Mrs. Crittenden &c. &c.

The weather has been very cool untill
today. I am perfectly well --

[Postscript]