Hunt, Henry Jackson (1819-1889) to Henry Knox Craig
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02382.044 Author/Creator: Hunt, Henry Jackson (1819-1889) Place Written: Eastport, Maine Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 October 1868 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.3 x 25.2 cm. Order a Copy
Hopes Craig will consider spending future summers in Eastport, if he (Hunt) remains stationed there. Discusses the upcoming presidential election (won by Ulysses S. Grant). "So the October Elections are over and we are beaten on all the fields - This settles the November Election beyond doubt; they may cry fraud as much as they please and I have no doubt that the states all three were carried by fraud - but the result will be to send a host of those who worship success - the great Wobble party in a Mass into the radical ranks. We are only demonstrating the truth of an old American theory. 'Republican government is founded on the virtue and intelligence of the people - and is incompatible with a [great ?] debt and [illegible] public establishment which corrupt a people.'"
Declares "not only are our public men corrupt but the public mind is debauched and demoralized. The democratic party has made a tremendous fight considering its disadvantages- but the reaction had not quite reached the point necessary to success. And now it will be checked if not turned back. Radicalism will have a new Carnival, and Grant is in a bad scrape. He will be humbled and disgraced if he plays King Dog He will not have the power to play King Stork - except by a shameful act of political party treachery…for he has bound himself to any course the radical leaders choose to pursue." Remarks that 'The Intelligencer' is coming to Craig's address in Maine. Writes about his son Conway's impressive progress in math.
Among various other military posts, Hunt served as Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. Craig was Chief of Ordnance 1851-1861.
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