Montgomery [Ala.], April 6, 1861.
Dear Stephens, . . . We have very urgent requests from our friends at Little Rock for you to come to Arkansas and make some speeches for them at such time as will suit you before their election in August. They would prefer it soon. Dr. Blackburn, a very intelligent gentleman, came here for you, and says he will meet you in Memphis with every provision for your comfort in the canvass. I think it would certainly secure Arkansas and is every way very desirable. Write me at once on this subject that I may let him know that he may make the necessary appointments and provision for you.
We have assurances from our officials at Washington that the govt. is pledged to no hostile movement (re-inforcement, etc.) without notice; but their activity in naval and army preparations for the last few days indicate a hostile purpose, which a few days will develop. Until I can see the end of it I cannot leave here. The events in Virginia are exciting and promising but I do not think there can be any results until after their May elections. The present movement of the legislature is in antagonism to the convention, and it is possible that the legislature may submit the question of North or South to the people. The prospect of our loan is good, and unless the military indications at Washington injure us in this matter we hope to be in a very good financial condition within a fortnight. The “lame ducks” (suspended banks) in Geo. and South Carolina will injure us there, and more elsewhere. I have made no arrangements about other questions since you left. I have been on the eve of it once or twice and missed. One good lady who had offered me her house for two thousand dollars a year suddenly raised up to five and gave the naive reason that she had a charitable object in view for which to use the money. It reminded me of the Italian robber, “in the name of the Virgin, give me your purse.” I am wearing out my cold slowly but it still annoys my head. Things generally here are working smoothly. Give my best regards to Linton and Judge Jas. Thomas. I should like much to be with you all this week.
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. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives, the US house of Representatives, and the US Senate. In the Confederacy, he served in Jefferson Davis’ cabinet as well as in the Confederate States Army, but later became one of Davis’ critics.
Alexander Hamilton Stephens was an American politician who served as the vice president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. After serving in both houses of the Georgia General Assembly, he won election to Congress, taking his seat in 1843. After the Civil War, he returned to Congress in 1873, serving to 1882 when he was elected as the 50th Governor of Georgia, serving there from late 1882 until his death in 1883.