[Letter] 1842 July 29, Washington, [D.C.] to W[illiam] C. Preston, Washington, [D.C.] / J[ohn] H[oward] P[ayne]

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To the Hon: W: [William] C: Preston
United States' Senate
Capitol, Washington
(Confidential.)


Washington, Friday,
July 29. 1842
My dear Sir,
A nomination in my favor for the Consulship at Tunis, is before the Senate. It was hinted to me yesterday, -- though, I own, from rather a questionable quarter, -- that there would be opposition, -- but no intimation could be obtained regarding the pretext. I cannot imagine what even malevolence can devise; -- although, no doubt, reasons can be invented for almost any predetermined injury; -- the wolf's arguments were conclusive enough to destroy the lamb.
If the report I mention should turn out not to be a fable, it may be important that I should have some friend to meet the foe. My life has been one of not a few years already, nor a few troubles. As it is impossible to conjecture what portion of it is intended to be chosen, if any, for attack, I have thought that it might prove serviceable to provide some gentleman in the Senate with a knowledge of its entire course. There was a Biography prepared some years ago


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by Theodore S. Fay, now Secretary of Legation at Berlin. It was condensed in a pamphlet and [deleted text: [illegible text] ] republished in Boston. Believing that you would forgive me for being troublesome in such a matter, I have taken the liberty of enclosing you a copy; and of adding a copy of the prospectus for the periodical work that I undertook immediately after the period when this biography closes and for which work I was seeking materials and patronage when seized by the Georgia Guard. That miserable affair checked and crushed my enterprize; and I received no indemnification excepting the spontaneous legislative apology recorded in the Georgia Laws and in the Assembly Journals of
1835. Much of my time since then has been devoted to Cherokee affairs, and I can safely aver, with equal advantage to the United States and to the Cherokees, though without the slightest to myself. Some months ago, temporary employ on this subject was tendered to me in the Indian Bureau. I enclose the letter making the offer, and another conveying its withdrawal, -- which last will show what sense was entertained in the Department of my labours [labors] . Of these letters I will ask the return when convenient.
Some one suggested that my having been on the stage once, would be brought up against me, although twenty years, or more, have gone by since I quitted it; but this is scarcely possible, for it would be "unconstitutional"; and, indeed, were it


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otherwise, -- ought not objections of that sort to expire by an understood statute of limitations? -- for we all change vastly in twenty years, I apprehend. -- It was also hinted that my having been sometimes in pecuniary trouble might be made a source of attack; but this appears incredible, -- for who is there among us that has not been so at some time, or may not be so even now? Besides, I do not know that Senates look into obsolete personal accounts, and if I was even now prosperous in money matters, surely I would not have accepted the proffer of a place which casts me into exile among remote barbarians. It was likewise conjectured that ill will might come from the Georgia members; but I would sooner expect my best support from Georgia, as the amende honorable for injury through former mistakes.
Once more, let me repeat my apologies for thus intruding on you, and my reliance upon your sense of its proceeding from a proper precaution and a just confidence in your goodness of heart and eloquence and influence. I can only add, that, should any minuter explanations become desireable [desirable], they shall be freely given by

My dear Sir,
Most respectfully and faithfully
Your friend and servant
[Signed] J.H.P. [John Howard Payne] /