I wrote you yesterday a short Letter of sincere congratulation on our success in the Election & as it will be some time before I can be at Washington I wish to detail to you the reasons that will inevitably detain me.—When I was two Years since a candidate for the Senate I pledged myself to the republican Interest of this State to use every Exertion in my power to make a peace with France & place You in the chair & told them that from my belief of their principles & some little knowledge of the American Character & people1 that I believed they only wanted to be properly informed & some Exertions to be used & persevered in to do every thing that was right—In a confidence in my Industry at least & perseverance, the upper Members on this occasion gave up in my favour a rule they had always observed, which was to have one senator from the Upper & one from the lower country, & elected me—You know what has since happened with respect to France & my Exertions on that subject & it only remained at the present time to realize our Expectations respecting your Election.—I clearly foresaw that if Pennsylvania did not vote fully, the Fortune of America depended in a great Measure on the Vote of this state. I also saw that the nomination of General Pinckney was done with a View to divide us & particularly calculated to place me in a difficult & delicate & perhaps dangerous situation—they supposed I had some influence here & thought that family reasons or the number of, otherwise good republicans who would from private & personal attachment support General Pinckney, would draw me off or at least neutralize me—You must remember I mentioned this to You in Philadelphia & the Event has fully justified the opinion I had at that time formed—I returned in June & immediately commenced my Writings & operations for the Elections that were to take place in October throughout every part of the state.—The particulars of the Charleston Election I transmitted & from the Loss of that (they have 17 Members) I found it was indispensable to redouble my Exertions—the Weight of Talent, Wealth, & personal & family influence Brought against us were so great, that after the Charleston Election was lost many of our most decided friends began to despair—the federal party acquired immense confidence & it was under these circumstances I found it indispensable to come to Columbia myself & remain there until the Election was over.—Most of our friends believe that my Exertions & influence owing to the information of federal affairs I gave them, has in a great measure contributed to the decision & firmly believing myself that they were indispensable to Your Success I did not suppose myself at Liberty to quit Columbia until it was over— —they have insured to me the hatred & persecution of the federal party for ever & the Loss of even the acquaintance or personal civility of many of my relatives, but I rejoice I have done my duty to my country & shall ever consider it as among the most fortunate Events of my Life—. If as Governour Monroe writes me Pennsylvania is uncertain, & South Carolina has decided the Point, I shall doubly rejoice at the honour she has done herself & “that she is South Carolina still”— —I am uncertain Yet when I shall, from important public reasons, be able to set out or whether by sea or Land.—I am at present better employed here in fixing the republican Interest in this state like a rock against which future federal storms may beat with less probability of success & when this is finished & the Election of a Senator over I mean to set out.—In the interim believe me with affectionate attachment & great respect

Dear Sir Yours Truly