Yours of the 14th of April was received at a late date, a multiplicity of business, an account of the peculiar state of affairs has prevented a reply till now. Your views about the Election nomination of gen[eral] Smith for the presidency are correct. We will gain popularity and external influence, but this is not all, we mean to elect him, and nothing shall be wanting on our part to accomplish it. And why? Because we are satisfied, fully satisfied, that this is the best or only method of saving our free institutions from a total overthrow.