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Collection

Abbott and Amos Lawrence collection, 1831-1885

36 items

This collection is made up of letters by Amos Lawrence (1786-1852), his son Amos Adams Lawrence (1814-1886), and his brother Abbott Lawrence (1792-1855). They discussed financial and business matters, politics, and personal news.

This collection is made up of letters by Amos Lawrence (1786-1852), his son Amos Adams Lawrence (1814-1886), and his brother Abbott Lawrence (1792-1855). One engraved portrait of Abbott Lawrence and a letter by S. K. Lothrop acknowledging the death of Abbott Lawrence completes the collection. The Lawrences addressed subjects such as Henry Clay, the National Republican Party, education and schools, cotton mills, and national finance. Later items pertain to Amos Adams Lawrence's business affairs, including the construction of railroads in Massachusetts. A printed obituary for the elder Amos Lawrence is pasted into one letter (January 6, 1836). For more information on each item, see the Detailed Box and Folder Listing.

Collection

Amos Beebe Eaton collection, 1822-1867 (majority within 1822-1836)

59 items

This collection contains letters that United States Army lieutenant (and later general) Amos Beebe Eaton wrote while training at the United States Military Academy and traveling in New York, Connecticut, Ohio, and Michigan. His early letters reflect the daily life of cadets at West Point in the mid-1820s, and his later letters to his wife provide family news, as well as information about the Army and contemporary politics.

This collection (59 items) contains letters that United States Army lieutenant (and later general) Amos Beebe Eaton wrote to his grandmother, Tryphena Cady of Canaan, New York, and to his wife, Elizabeth Selden Eaton.

Eaton wrote 6 letters to his grandmother between September 14, 1822, and March 26, 1826, while attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He described cadets' daily lives at the academy, including their physical regimen, and discussed the possibility of remaining in the military after graduation. Though he considered applying for the marine corps or becoming a doctor, he stayed with the army, and wrote 3 letters to his grandmother between April 16, 1828, and October 21, 1830, while he served at the Hancock Barracks near Houlton, Maine. A group of 5 letters, written to his sister and grandmother from Fort Niagara, New York, between February 21, 1831, and November 8, 1833, concern his movements with the army and his family life, including news of his new wife and young daughters. He also described Fort Niagara and shared some of his opinions on enlisted men. He wrote to his grandmother from Fort Gratiot, Michigan Territory, on July 7, 1834, commenting on his distrust of the pursuit of recognition.

Between 1832 and 1836, Eaton wrote to his wife Elizabeth ("Betsy") while he traveled in New York, Connecticut, Ohio, and Michigan, on military and personal business. He often mentioned family members, religious sentiments, and general details of his daily life. Two letters were written from Detroit during the Black Hawk War, in which he briefly mentioned ill soldiers, his opinion about the mistreatment of Native Americans, and the military's pursuit of Black Hawk (July 24 and 30, 1832). In another he discussed foreign relations with France as well as abolitionism (February 12, 1836). The collection also contains 2 letters that Eaton wrote while serving as Commissary General of Subsistence in 1867.

Several letters are addressed to Amos Eaton. One, written by "Gordon" on August 10, 1832, comments on the public reaction to and possible consequences of a recently published letter of Amos's, wherein he attributes the cholera outbreak in the military during the Black Hawk War to the mistreatment of Native Americans. Also included is a letter that Amos Beebe Eaton's father wrote to his son with extracts of his communication with New York Senators about the motivations behind Eaton's statements, a partial copy of the offending letter, and the impact it had on his military career (September 21, 1838). Other material includes one letter addressed to Elizabeth Eaton from a sibling (July 3, 1836) and a copied document signed by several recruits, stating that they had recently received pay (June 9, 1835).

Collection

Dennis Delany collection, 1832-1840 (majority within 1832-1835)

16 items

This collection contains 15 letters and1 bill of lading related to Dr. Dennis Delany of Great Mills, Maryland, and St. Louis, Missouri. Henry Wells, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland, wrote 11 letters to Delany between 1832 and 1835, describing his life in Baltimore and commenting on local epidemics. The remainder of the collection is made up of 3 additional letters addressed to Delany, a letter that Delany wrote to his wife, and a bill of lading concerning goods shipped from Philadelphia to New Orleans.

This collection contains 15 letters and 1 bill of lading related to Dr. Dennis Delany of Great Mills, Maryland, and St. Louis, Missouri.

Henry S. Wells, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland, and a friend of the Delany family, wrote 11 letters to Dennis Delany between 1832 and 1835. He occasionally commented on ships arriving at Baltimore and shared news of Delany's family, including updates about a brother traveling in France and reports of the death of Delany's father on January 5, 1834. Wells also took interest in the city's health, mentioning the presence of cholera, bilious fever, and smallpox, both locally and in other cities. In two letters, he briefly mentioned political events, such as the Nullification Crisis (April 8, 1833), the failed appointments of Andrew Stevenson and Roger B. Taney (June 24, 1834), and the Baltimore Bank Riot, after which he served in a military guard (August 29, 1835). Delany also received personal correspondence from three other acquaintances. William Ward invited him to a social visit (January 23, 1833), Benedict Millburn wrote of health concerns in Washington, D.C. (April 9, 1833), and Dr. H. Morris wrote an account of the death of Delany's father (January 5, 1834). Two later items are a brief letter that Delany wrote to his wife from Louisville, Kentucky (September 20, 1838), and a partially printed bill of lading from Phineas Janney, a Philadelphia merchant, for a cask of Burgundy wine shipped to Dennis Delany via New Orleans (May 4, 1840).

Collection

Ezra T. Doughty journal, 1832-1833, 1859

1 volume

Ezra T. Doughty's diary entries pertain to his experiences onboard the USS St. Louis and USS Grampus during the ships' voyages in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in 1832 and 1833. Doughty, a midshipman who became sailing master of the Grampus in December 1832, recorded detailed descriptions of Haiti; Veracruz, Mexico; and Havana, Cuba, and reflected on several aspects of navy life.

Ezra T. Doughty's diary entries (63 pages) pertain to his experiences onboard the USS St. Louis and USS Grampus during the ships' voyages in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in 1832 and 1833. Doughty, a midshipman who became sailing master of the Grampus in December 1832, recorded detailed descriptions of Haiti; Veracruz, Mexico; and Havana, Cuba. The first page of the volume contains an incomplete description of the Grampus, including measurements of the schooner's masts, decks, hold, and ballast.

Doughty began his diary on October 9, 1832, while in port at New York onboard the St. Louis. He anticipated the ship's upcoming journey to the West Indies and complained that the ship would be carrying a significant number of officers bound for other vessels. He wrote semi-regular entries about his experiences on the St. Louis until December 3, 1832, in which he commented on party politics and the Andrew Jackson administration, scenery and nautical animals, his personal history, women, Commodore John D. Henley, and a theological discussion with a shipmate. On October 11, 1832, he quoted lines from a poem by Thomas Moore, "As Slow Our Ship." Two entries have descriptions of deaths at sea: a sea burial (October 13, 1832) and a failed attempt to rescue a crewman who had fallen overboard (November 13, 1832). In these entries, Doughty also reflected upon death in general and upon his feelings after watching a man drown. While traveling off the coast of Hispaniola, he composed an extensive description of Haiti, including notes on its history, governance, people (particularly with regard to slavery and race), customs, and coastline (November 13, 1832; November 23, 1832). Along the southern coast of Cuba, Doughty noticed the contrast between Spanish planters' villas and their slaves' huts (December 1, 1832).

The St. Louis arrived at Pensacola in early December 1832, and Doughty accompanied a fowl-hunting party on at least one occasion while in port. On December 11, 1832, he accepted a transfer to the schooner Grampus, on which he served as sailing master. Doughty also noted recent animosity between the United States Navy and the Mexican government, prompted by the ship's previous capture of suspected pirates sailing under the Mexican flag (December 11, 1832). On one occasion, Doughty was a member of a party that unsuccessfully attempted to recover a man who had gone overboard (December 24, 1832). He composed lengthy descriptions of Veracruz, Mexico (December 27, 1832, and January 1, 1833), and Havana, Cuba (January 11, 1833, and January 20, 1833). In Mexico, he recorded the effects of recent military operations, his opinions about Mexicans, and the history of Spanish rule. In Havana, he mentioned the local inhabitants and markets, and the United States's possible interest in owning Cuba, Havana Harbor, and Morro Castle. Later, he commented on workers on "Thompson's Island" (now Key West, Florida), the efforts of "wreckers" to assist ships stranded on nearby reefs, and the work of naturalist John James Audubon (January 20, 1833). By January 14, the Grampus had embarked for Norfolk, Virginia, and Doughty's entries of mid- to late February 1833 and March 1833 pertain to his social activities in Norfolk and his thoughts on nautical careers. His final entry is dated March 14, 1833.

An unattributed journal entry (3 pages) is dated December 20, 1859, with an additional heading made for the following day. The entry pertains to the first day of a transatlantic voyage on the Fortunata, commenting on encounters with fellow passengers (often British) and expressing anticipation for exploring tombs in "Nubia." A piece of heavy linen is tied over the book's covers, and the front cover bears the ink title "Amphibiology."

Collection

Gideon Lee correspondence, 1807-1839 (majority within 1823, 1832-1839)

0.75 linear feet

This collection is comprised of letters to Gideon Lee, a New York City politician, during his service in the New York State Assembly (1822-1823), as New York City mayor (1833), and in the United States House of Representatives (1835-1837). Lee's correspondents discussed local and national political issues, particularly during the Jackson administration.

This collection (0.75 linear feet) is comprised of letters to Gideon Lee, a New York City politician, during his service in the New York State Assembly (1822-1823), as New York City mayor (1833), and in the United States House of Representatives (1835-1837). Lee's correspondents discussed local and national political issues, particularly during the Jackson administration.

Lee often received letters from New York City residents, who commented on political issues such as commerce, taxation, and the city's infrastructure. Others requested Lee's assistance in securing political appointments or military commissions, and some stated their opinions on proposed bills. Many writers encouraged Lee to support particular pieces of legislation, and some late letters contain the authors' opinions on political patronage. Temperance advocate E.C. Delavan wrote to thank Lee for his donation to the cause (October 11, 1832).

During Lee's term as mayor in 1833, citizens wrote to Lee regarding matters such as gas lighting (January 17, 1833 and February 15, 1833) and public health (January 25, 1833 and June 29, 1833); a correspondent who signed himself "Justice" enclosed a newspaper article alerting Lee, then chief magistrate, to the "very many serious, and shocking abuses" of the city's government (January 10, 1834). Around 15 letters concern the Great Fire of New York City in December 1835, including eyewitness accounts (December 17, 1835 and December 21, 1835); additional letters pertain to federal legislation and financial compensation after the event. During Lee's service in Congress, his letters often focused on national political affairs, such as the Locofocos and foreign relations with countries such as France and Great Britain.

Lee also occasionally received personal letters from his daughters, Lucy Lee Ward and Laura Lee. His son, Samuel Lee, wrote about meeting President Andrew Jackson, whom he deemed an "agreeable pleasant old gentleman" (February 10, 1835). The collection also contains 2 personal letters between Gideon Lee and his first wife, Laura Buffington (June 10, 1807 and January 28, 1818); a letter from his second wife, Isabella Williamson (January 5, 1837); 2 printed letters; a printed address; and a printed invitation.

Collection

Harry M. Horton letters, 1833-1835

81 items

This collection is made up of 76 letters that Harry M. Horton of Terrytown, Pennsylvania, wrote to his brother George while attending Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, between 1833 and 1835. In his densely written letters, Horton described aspects of his medical studies, his social and religious life, and local and national political events, such as the Philadelphia race riots of August 1834. Additional items include two letters George wrote to Harry in 1835, a letter Harry received from William Arms, a letter by Ezra Stiles Ely attesting to Harry's membership in Philadelphia's Third Presbyterian Church, and a retained copy of George's letter to Professor Samuel McClellan describing Harry's death in 1835.

This collection is made up of 76 letters that Harry M. Horton of Terrytown, Pennsylvania, wrote to his brother George while attending Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, between 1833 and 1835. In his densely written letters, Horton described aspects of his medical studies, his social and religious life, and local and national political events, such as the Philadelphia race riots of August 1834. Additional items include 2 letters George wrote to Harry in 1835, a letter Harry received from William Arms, a letter by Ezra Stiles Ely attesting to Harry's membership in Philadelphia's Third Presbyterian Church, and a retained copy of George's letter to Professor Samuel McClellan describing Harry's death in 1835.

Harry corresponded with George during his time at Jefferson Medical College, writing 1- to 4-page letters regularly between October 1833 and February 1835. His letters provide detailed information about contemporary medical practices and medical education, as Horton described his lectures, medical experiments, operations, new theories, his professors, and his fellow students. He frequently commented on the sermons of Eliza Stiles Ely, who preached at Philadelphia's Third Presbyterian Church; on his social life; and on various aspects of student life, such as living with roommates. Horton often mentioned local and national political issues, such as the decline of the Second Bank of the United States, race relations, and abolition. In August 1834, he reflected on recent race riots in Philadelphia (see August 14, 1834, for example). On June 26, 1834, Horton gave his account of a balloon flight over Philadelphia, and on May 6, 1834, he wrote of a boating trip in Liverpool, England. In his later letters, Horton anticipated his upcoming graduation and potential career as a physician, and debated possible future relocations.

The remaining letters include 3 written by Harry's brother, George Firman Horton, a practicing physician in Terrytown, Pennsylvania. George wrote Harry 2 letters (March 9, 1835, and undated) about his upcoming plans to visit Philadelphia and about a recent religious discussion. In his third letter, a retained copy dated May 8, 1835, he informed Professor Samuel McClellan (of Jefferson Medical College) of Harry's death, and included a detailed account of his brother's final illness and attempts to treat it. Also included are a letter in which Ezra Stiles Ely recommended Harry M. Horton as a member of the Third Presbyterian Church and as an upstanding physician (March 24, 1835) and a friendly letter Harry received from William Arms, an acquaintance (April 18, 1835).

Collection

John Cooper papers, 1828-1859 (majority within 1828-1842)

0.5 linear feet

The John Cooper papers contain letters written by John Cooper, Sr., of Easton, Pennsylvania, to his son, John Cooper, Jr., in which he discussed his land and business interests and his political views.

This collection consists almost exclusively of correspondence written by John Cooper, Sr., of Easton, Pennsylvania, to his son, John Cooper, Jr., of Erwin (and later Coopers Plains), New York. Cooper's correspondence often focused on land and on business matters, and he frequently mentioned various crops he grew. Cooper also gave his son business and personal advice; on April 18, 1836, he wrote, "By this time you probably know the fate of your Dam and Saw Mill. If indeed they are swept off by the flood, as we fear, I will pay for the erection of an other [sic]." Though business was a common theme in his letters, Cooper did not shy away from expressing his anti-Jacksonian political views, despite warning his son, "I beg of you to take care what you write & how you write. Political Letters may at any rate now be dispensed with. The die is cast. The vote to the Southwest places the Administration on better ground than before & that cause is gaining ground in every direction" (August 20, 1828).

Examples of Cooper's political correspondence include:
  • December 5, 1829: "In about two days Andrew Jackson must come from behind the fence & I predict a confirmation of the Sentiment which I constantly communicated to you...that he is not a friend of the American System, the essence, Spirit[ual] Substance of American Independence. He can't disguise any longer at any rate."
  • March 28, 1837: "There are several hundred on the poor list & receiving charity in some form. Several of them Leading Politicians. Altho no more deserving the name of Freeman than the Virginia Slaves. Indeed they are unfit for freedom & would be better off, as well as more useful, under the rule of reasonable Masters...I was something of an Abolitionist until I discovered this frightful state of things- able bodied Men & women are ashamed to work; but not to beg & even insult those whose Industry & Economy has enable them to acquire something."
  • March 24, 1839: "Altho I think the claim of Maine is probably right I still think she had better proceed slowly & remember that it is a National question & no State had authority to proceed to a War without she is so Authorized to do by the National authorities. It is too much like the act of an Individual who takes the Law in his own hands... As to a war, I have no idea of it. It would be madness, except as an Ultima Ratio." [Aroostook War]
  • May 17, 1840: "We have nothing new since I wrote you that I know of Tippecanoe is going ahead at a great rate & will be taken into the Presidential Chair with a great majority as Washington & Jackson had. All seem to think something must be wrong in administration in time of Peace, expending the whole revenue of the Country...With the Purse & the Sword they have nearly nullified our Republican Institutions. I think however that I see the handwriting on the Wall...Nor will we now despair of the Republic."
  • March 17, 1842: "If Jackson should come to my door in the Midst of a Shower of Rain, I would not know how to ask him in; but I would furnish him an umbrella & show him the way..."
Collection

Samuel Lyman scrapbook, 1827-1869 (majority within 1828-1839)

1 volume

This scrapbook contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other material related to Samuel P. Lyman, a lawyer from Utica, New York. Most items are incoming letters to Lyman about his involvement with the Anti-Masonic Party and Whig Party in the 1820s and 1830s.

This scrapbook (10" x 14") contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other material related to Samuel P. Lyman, a lawyer from Utica, New York. The volume's primary contents consist of around 230 letters, newspaper clippings, and documents about Samuel P. Lyman's political interests and professional career. Lyman frequently received letters from New York residents such as Robert H. Backus, Thomas Beekman, and William N. Maynard, and his nationally prominent correspondents included Thurlow Weed, Edward Everett, Daniel Webster, Millard Fillmore, William H. Seward, Henry Clay, and Rufus Choate. Most of the correspondence pertains to the Anti-Masonic Party, the Whig Party, and New York state politics. Some letters from the mid-1830s concern national elections and the careers of John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster.

Other manuscript items include speech notes and occasional diary entries. Newspaper clippings often reprint accounts of Anti-Masonic Party conventions, in which Lyman frequently participated. Other clippings, circular letters, and reports relate to temperance societies, the Utica Female Academy, and the New York and Erie Railroad. Also included are invitations, menus, certificates, a political cartoon, a ribbon, and numerous calling cards.