Papers, 1792-1868 | WorldCat.org (original) (raw)

Summary:Consists primarily of correspondence concerning political matters. Three lengthy letters from James Hammond to Pickens in 1839-1840 detail extensively the state of South Carolina politics, including the Unionist-Nullificationist controversy and illustrate the complexity of personal and political interactions. Also included are some of Pickens' rough drafts of letters sent to his fiancee. One such letter documents at length Pickens' feelings about his political actions and positions. Several letters from Pickens' early Civil War governorship (1860-1862) report events and observations of the conflict. Of particular interest is a letter of 1868 from the Democratic Club of Liberty Hill to Pickens as Chairman of the Democratic Central Executive Committee, which discusses the decision not to employ any Negro or member of his family who fails to bring a note from his former "employer" stating that he is a Democrat