ANOTHER CAROLINA CONNECTION

James Hamilton, Jr. is remembered (see Handbook of Texas Online) as an early supporter of independence for Texas. Although he lived most of his life in South Carolina, he became a financial agent for the new Republic of Texas and played a key role in financial affairs of the new Republic, traveling the world on its behalf. He died in 1857 when - en route to Galveston from Washington - the ship in which he was traveling was wrecked off Avery Island, Louisiana. He gave up his life preserver to a woman and her young daughter, and was last seen sinking below the waves ... a hero.

In a way, Hamilton's connection with Texas had begun before the days of the Republic ... even before the crucial battles for independence. In 1830 he had been elected governor of South Carolina, where _ along with the then vice-president, John Calhoun _ he led the states rights forces in the battle to resist federal tariffs which threatened the well-being of the cotton-producing states. The situation had brought the state of South Carolina to the brink of armed resistance as they figuratively drew a line in the sand ... as they sought to nullify the tariffs ... and challenging President Andrew Jackson to collect them. In leading this struggle, James Hamilton demonstrated himself to be a man strong in his convictions, energetic, and able. He was also considered to be a man of honor - a perfect example of southern chivalry - and it is not surprising that in the course of his tempestuous life he became the most successful duelist in South Carolina, perhaps the entire South. This reputation was founded not just on his having won fourteen duels, but in never having actually slain an opponent!

Near the end of his term as governor, the conflict over nullification reached the level of crisis, and as the state began mobilizing the militia in anticipation of armed conflict, Hamilton named as his military aide, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, a young lawyer he had met through mutual friends in Pendleton. The young lawyer was James Butler Bonham, who was also placed in command of an artillery battery in Charleston* Harbor. It is likely that Bonham regarded Hamilton as a mentor as well as a friend, and while it may be assumed that he agreed with Hamilton's position on the political issues which underlay the confrontation - most notably states rights - it was probably Hamilton's personal traits which had the greater influence on him.

But there may have been other consequences of the relationship. Despite their differences on tariffs, Hamilton had been helpful in Andrew Jackson's successful run for the presidency, and he had known Sam Houston in the Congress. Whether the Hamilton connection served in some way to enhance the confidence apparently placed in Bonham by Jackson's friend, Sam Houston, is an interesting speculation. And it is also difficult not to wonder whether his former aide's death at the Alamo in 1836 was a factor leading to Hamilton's interest in Texas. The answer is not known, but it was only shortly after the fall of the Alamo that Hamilton began active work on behalf of the new republic. And it is known that Hamilton remained in touch with James Bonham's brother, Milledge Luke, in later years. Moreover, during mobilization of the United States army for the war with Mexico, Hamilton's son, Oliver, was a captain and initially assigned to the regiment which Milledge Luke commanded.

* It is interesting to note that if Bonham ever knew James Fannin before the two met in Texas in late November of 1835, it could only have been during the period when Bonham was serving in Charleston - perhaps as a result of meeting at a social function - during Fannin's passage through Charleston (in April of 1832) en route to Havana.

1 August 2000 - Wm. N. Bonham