Princeton Ky. Dec. 28th, 1847
Mr. John E. Mercer
My Dear Son,
We received your letter from Memphis, since then received nothing from you. This in charity, we blame Conn Johnson, for you surely have not treated us with such want of respect. Many of the volunteer have wrote home, whose fathers never took more pains to qualify them for writing intelligibly than I have with you. None of them , so far as I know, have said one word about you. We are therefore left to presume that you are in the land of the living,, as they have not said you were dead. I know not what to say to make you more mindfull of your duty. If the full knowledge of a Fathers desires, with the deep anguish your negligence makes a Mother feel, will not prompt you, I know not what inducement to offer. Deep are our feelings for your welfare. We have no earthly inducements to action beyond you. We do most fervently hope that you will so deport yourself, that we will have no cause to think of you but with pleasure. You are exposed to many dangers, but I pray you to guard well your moral character. Don't let the temptations of a camp life lure you from the path of virtue. I have seen that infamous document 'Polks message'. It unscrupulously recommends to congress to pass laws legalizing the murder and robbery of the Mexican people. But thanks to a kind providence, we have a Whig house of representative. I very much doubt if we will have peace until we have a Whig in the White House. Polk asks for $20,000,000 to carry on the war until the 1st of June. If not settled by then, he will ask leave to borrow a few million more. He wants 10,000 regulars and an indefinite number of volunteers. Our national debt about $50,000,000, twenty more will make seventy and the Lord only knows how much in June, He will soon have it a 100 million. Winthrop A. Sterling, Whig of Boston ,is speaker of the lower house. Of course, we will have Whig Chairmen on all the committees. Great damage has been done on Cumberland by the overflow. The river is higher than it has been since 1815 by 4 or 5 feet higher than it was last spring. It was in Cobler Warehouse 2 feet or more. The corn and wood on the river has been swept off or overflowed and spoiled. Smith lost 50 to 100 cords of wood, his killing hogs, and most os his corn. Many buildings are swept off. The people of the Ohio fared even worse if possible. The damage is incalculabel. Many boats have stopt running for the want of wood, and winter has been warm and wet until about 10 days ago, when it set in quite cold. Yesterday it rained all day. Now its warm and cloudy. Chas (Charles ?) B. Dallam died on the 20th after a few days confinement from inflamitory sore throat. There is now a struggle for the clerkship. Miller will get it I think, Harvey is, I think, in the last stages of consumption. All the rest of the friends are well, so far as I know. I heard from Crittenden a few days ago. All well. You may say to William Stephens, his brother Milton has been very ill, but is now mending. Thomas Satterfields wife died a few weeks since. He is living at William Cashes. Mary Jane is living at Osborns. Hellen Prince and Burel Cash are lawfully sleeping together. Leroy is hard up at your Uncle Sams. They say he can't ? it. Baylors people are all well. M. J. got his letter. I have put myself to some trouble to inquire, and the friends of the company are well, so far as I know. Jim Freeman and Sarah are not married. Doubtful if they do. A. Harpending started to N. Orleans 1st of this month with a boat load of corn and one of hogs. Mortons Rucker has rented the Day house and ? family board with him. The Parkers are living at the old factory. Old man Read died yesterday. I got a letter from Moseby (Mercer) yesterday, dated 13th. He is attending law lectures in N. Orleans. Raney was better. He received your letter from Baton Rouge and wrote you forthwith at Vera Cruz. Your mother is well and sends her love to you. She charges me to say to you to be careful of yourself, don't unnecessarly expose yourself to the enemy and remember, the Mexicans are human beings who never injured you. And unless in defence of your own life, treat them with humanity. They are treacherous and hate the Americans. You should be on your guard. Don't ramble from camp. On the 15th, Mr. Calhoun introduced the following resolution, ' Resolved that to conquer Mexico and hold it either as a province or incorporate it in our Union would be inconsistent with the avowed objects for which the war has been prosecuted, with a departure for the settled policy of the Government, in conflicts with it's character and in the end subversve of our free institution. Resolved that no line of policy in the future prosecution of the war should be adopted, which would lead to consequences so disastrous (unreadable). The above contains the true doctrine and coming from the greatest man in the Democrats ranks, will prove a firebrand in their midst. Give my kindest respects to all my acquaintances and receive for yourself our sincere love. William Mercer
PS Say to Mr. Shipley, his family stayed here last night. All well. Mrs. S was very sick for a week. She had Mary with her. She is now as hearty as I ever saw her. She got his letter from Vera Cruz. She is exceedingly anxious to hear from him and also to see him. Polly is very much disatisfied, and says she will go home. If she does, Mrs. Shipley talks of going to Hawkes. I have tryed to make her as comfortable as possible and she would be willing to stay if she had company. Her and the children send their love to him and say he must write. Cut his off and give it to Mr. Shipley. Wm. Mercer
Your mother is very hearty.