Joel R. Poinsett to Stephen F Austin, 10-14-1832


Summary: Comment on Mexican affairs—Pakenham can not blame him for them now. His disgust with the milliners and efforts to thwart them.


Charleston 14 October 1832

My dear Sir

I yesterday received your letters of the 13 and 29 August and am very much indebted to you for this mark of your kind remem- brance as well as for the intelligence they contain— I am really sorry to find that Mexico should continue to be so convulsed even after the arch fiend has left the country— What will Pakenham say now— I did not raise the insurrection this time nor am I in anyway the cause of the revolt in the States-— It is inconceivable that he and his friend should have been so weak as to attribute to me what is owing to the character of the people and their ignorance of self government— I dare say you will get along very well with Fagoaga, but doubt whether you will have long to get on with him— He has not I think, talents for the place he fills— You seem in the dark as [to] his predilections and the cause of Pakenham's coolness and even dissatisfaction with the appointment and I can account for both and give you a little secret history, which may be of use to you In Alaman's first reign as Secretary of State, he desired to send this very Fagoaga to London-— Victoria objected and Mr. Ward objected; but Alaman who had at heart this nomination addressed himself severally to the President and the british Charge— To the President he said that he ought to overcome his objections because Mr. Ward had expressed an earnest desire to have Fagoaga appointed to his Court—and to Ward that the President desired this so much that he thought the objections he had advanced ought to be withdrawn—

At length an eclaricissiment took place between the parties— The President apologised and expressed his regret that he could not oblige Mr. Ward in this matter, the other was stupefied— They mutually explained, and agreed that the secretary had sought to serve them both a scurvy trick— Ward called at my house on his return from this interview at the palace He was shocked at the duplicity of Alaman— He then told me, that Fagoaga's predelections were altogether french—that he was a Bourbonite and that it was certain the french ambassador in London would be instantly informed of every thing which passed between Mr Canning and the Mexican Envoy He was right—all the Fagoaga's are french in their predilections—Jose Maria desired the ratification of the plan of Iguala and treaties of Cordova and so did this Sor- Dn Francisco— I thank him however for his compliments to our country and sorry I am to say they are not deserved— Ambitious and bad men are exciting the people against the federal governmentCalhoun, Hamilton, McDuffie and Hayne have driven our countrymen stark mad and our once loyal and glorious little state is about to disgrace herself and bring ruin upon her citizens— We have used every exertion to check them in their mad career, but in vain— They have gained almost all the elections and will in all probability have a constitutional majority in favor of conven- tions— In this hope the Governor has called together the Legislature for monday next— The object is to call a convention of the people and nullify the tariff act— If General Jackson is reelected I have no fears of the result— He will I am sure act with vigour and put down these nullifiers, forever— It is a hard case to stand by and see our city ruined by these men, who are guided alone by their personal ambition— We had a most animated contest and the union party put itself under my guidance, but it had been so mismanaged, that I could not restore it to order in the short time I had the command—not three weeks, We will do better in another year if the contest is not decided by the Sword before that period—- In every other part of the United States there reigns the most perfect tranquillity and unparallelled prosperity—Even here if these agitators would let us alone, we are more prosperous than I have ever known Carolina to be— I cannot think of them or write of them with any patience— I will inform you soon of what our assembly of wise men do at Columbia— I cannot doubt of Genl Jackson's reelection—

J. R. Poinsett