Duplin County, NC - Jesse Grimes Letters ----¤¤¤---- From Anson Jones (Private & Confidential ) Barrington (near Washington) Dec. 20th, 1845 My Dear Judge, The excitements of the State Elections are now over and many of my friends are urging upon me to become a candidate for U.S. Senator. It has always been my principle not to seek office, but in the present instance I am free to confess I should not be disposed to decline it if it were tendered me. You have been among those whose kindness & partiality have induced them to think of me in connection with the Senatorship & therefore I take the liberty to address you on this subject.I believe it is Gen. HOUSTON's wish that I should be associated with him, & my being a candidate I am now satisfied can in no way endanger his election. The recent demonstration of public sentiment in regard to him assures me he will receive from 55 to 65 votes in joint ballot & be elected by a tree fourths majority vote. It has been suggested by those in whose judgement I have confidence that this is the proper time for my name to be brought forward, lest confusion should ensue from other names being brought forward & our friends becoming divided between rival candidates & thus advantage given to the opposition. But I place myself at the disposition of those with whom I have hereto- fore acted & shall most cheerfully abide their determination. Permit me to say there is one respect in which I could be more serviceable to the country than any other person at Washington City. The pledges given this country by Mr. POLK through Gov. Yell in relation to the Rio Grande boundary question and many others connected with the general welfare, it is very important to the country should be, (as I trust they will be) literally redeemed. Those pledges Gov. YELL was specially instructed to give verbally to me alone. Of course they were secret as from their nature they required to be. I only know of them & consequently if I am at Washington there can be no misunderstanding of them, & no failure of a compliance. This I consider a very important matter, & one that it is very proper should be borne in mind. My ultimately being a candidate or not must necessarily depend much upon the demonstration of public sentiment, which will be made between this time and the meeting of the Legislature which will I think be early in March next. Gen. RUSK it appears generally believed is not, & will not be a Candidate. Excuse me for troubling you so much about a matter which has so much of self in it, & make such use of my suggestions as your own good judgement may dictate. I will be very well satisfied if we can keep the country & its political interests out of the hands of a party or rather a clique that once well nigh ruined both. If leisure servers I should be happy to receive a line from you. If you visit Washington pray come and see me. I do not expect to to return to Austin before the 20th prox' & may not before the middle of Feb. in the mean time I am intending to make a trip to Houston & Galveston, on private business. I remain my Dear Sir with the highest respect Your friend & Svt. Anson Jones (rubric) To the Hon. Jesse Grimes P.S. Gen. HENDERSON has recd. A majority of votes in this county. WILLIAMSON is elected to the Senate. __________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Christine Grimes Thacker ___________________________________________________________________