Washington, D. C, Jany. 5th, 1860.
Dear Stephens, . . . Gilmer never got a Democratic vote on any ballot. I strongly advised them against it, and so far they have firmly adhered. I think Sherman will certainly be elected. He lacked but three votes yesterday, owing to the absence of Dan Sickles without a pair. I understand he could not pair and was obliged to go home. He is looked for today. Stalworth is still drunk and absent in Alabama. Our Kentucky young friend Brown can’t vote on account of non-age and I suppose as soon as one or two more of them get drunk or sick the Blacks will get in range of Winter Davis, Harris and Reynolds, and they will settle it. One of our great difficulties is that there is no leader in the House. None of our people have any control over the Northern Democrats, and therefore an election outside of the Black Republican party is impossible. . . .
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From Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911.
Robert Augustus Toombs was an American lawyer, planter, and politician from Georgia who became one of the organizers of the Confederacy and served as its first Secretary of State. They are looking ahead to the 1860 general election and the likelihood of a “Black Republican” prevailing.
Alexander H. Stephens would later become Vice President of the Confederated States of America