1860 New York Letter on the Rhode Island Election as a Democratic Triumph and a Blow to Republican “Non-Extension of Slavery.”
New York City: April 7, 1860. Autograph letter signed “W.,” to “Dear John,” written on the printed letterhead of Thomas Vernon, attorney, Nassau Street, New York. 4 pp., on a single 8 x 10 inch sheet folded to make four pages of approximately 8 x 5 inches. Fine condition. Item #List38104 An April 1860 political letter, written in the months before the presidential election, with the writer discussing the recent Rhode Island election and the way it was being read in New York. The letter refers to the April 4, 1860 Rhode Island gubernatorial election, in which William Sprague IV, running as a Democratic/Conservative fusion candidate, defeated Republican Seth Padelford. Outside Rhode Island, the result was read by many as a meaningful Republican setback in the tense months before the presidential election. The author describes the result as producing “a profound sensation” among Democrats and Republicans, and worries that outside Rhode Island it appeared as though “New England sentiment was faltering” on the “non-extension of Slavery.” The letter also includes family news, travel to Providence and Perth Amboy, and legal/business matters relating to Ohio notes and accounts. Full text follows. “New York, April 7th, 1860 “Yours of the 5th is before me, as well as your letter to Aunt Addie and the papers giving an a/c of the deplorable result in R.I. Your despatch came duly to hand at 12-1/2 yesterday P.M. It saved Ellery the benefit of the bracing air of the early dawn of this glorious April morning. The Deacon & his amiable lady arrived this morning in fine spirits. It does me good to see Miss. Blanding so bright and rollicking. Ma is going down this P. M. with a view of hurrying your Ma off to Providence. Your Ma is at P. Amboy and I do hope she will go on to Prov. She has been subjected to too much wear and tear and anxiety, & looks very much worn and depressed. She needs some cheerful faces and absence from constant and present trouble. I wish I could see some opening in the clouds. When I reflect upon the sorrows and exalted natures of Uncle Thomas and Aunt Addie, it confers upon me the truth of another state, where worth and purity will find reward. I do not think that Aunt Addie carries out, however, her favorite idea of the claims of parents as paramount to those of children. I think that she practically ignores her own claims or regards them as altogether subordinate. She has never given herself a chance and acts with a single view to the views of her children. “The news of the R.I. Election, created a profound sensation here, on Thursday morn’g. The joy of the Democrats was unbounded, while the Republicans regarded it as the severest blow that their party has rec’d, more disastrous than the national defeat of /56; for it looks to the County at large, who do not understand the local issues upon which the contest went off as the New England sentiment was faltering in its devotion to the cause of non-extension of Slavery. “It is everywhere, out of R.I., heralded as a Democratic triumph, & hence inspires the Democrats while it depresses the Republicans. I hope that those deluded Republicans who voted for Sprague under the apprehension that they were not voting practically for the Democracy may be, at some time, able to forgive themselves, and also receive the forgiveness of their country, after due penance and probation. I am much obliged to you for the papers. “We are about foreclosing some of those Ohio notes, and the delay is now caused by my inability to discover whether James Gregory’s, Thos. Bowen’s & Anthony R. Jenkins’ notes to your Father are paid, or how much is paid on a/c of said notes. Do write me at once all you know. Uncle T. knows nothing about it. I have just rec’d the expected remittance from Brown on ac of the new sale of the 80 acre lot, but have not yet Ex’d B’s a/c. He says it took him all day to make it out and he hopes it is satisfactory. An a/c from Brown is a wonder indeed worth remarking. Do keep Aunt Addie a month. My love to Addie, whom I hope to see soon. G.T.O. has gone to Newport ‘via’ Boston today. I saw Slater at the 5th Ave. Hotel on Thursday. Ma has just gone to P. Amboy. Aff’y A useful prewar political letter, strongest for the writer’s immediate reaction to the Rhode Island election of 1860 as understood from New York. Its interest lies less in the local election itself than in the way the result was taken as a national sign, encouraging Democrats and discouraging Republicans over the issue of slavery’s extension.
Dear John:
W.”
Price: $125.00