1847 Anti-Whig Letter Promises Lively Skirmishing of Whigs

Books : Antique

 

Intriguing one and one-third page, 9 ¾” x 7 ¾”, autographed letter signed by H. (Horatio) Webb of Windham, (CT), publisher of the Independent Observer and County Advertiser, to C.W. Philleo, a prominent attorney, abolitionist, author and politician in Suffield, CT, Nov. 22, 1847.

Philleo, settled in Suffield, Connecticut, at age 25, where he studied law and became an ardent Free Soil Democrat. He worked closely with the party during the state elections of 1848 through 1852. At one point, he acted as Democratic elector and a member of the state Democratic Committee.

Philleo married Elizabeth P. Norton, daughter of Daniel W. Norton, of Suffield. Daniel Norton was prominent in local affairs, making the marriage even more practical for a young aspiring lawyer.

Background on the Whigs: The Whigs supported the supremacy of Congress over the Executive Branch and favored a program of modernization and economic protectionism. They received their name because they were compared to the American Whigs of 1776, who fought for America’s independence. William Henry Harrison, who died 31 days after taking office, and Zachary Taylor were the only two Whigs to hold office as president.

The Whig Party was destroyed over the question of whether to allow the expansion of slavery to the territories. With deep fissures on the slavery question, the anti-slavery faction prevented the nomination of its own incumbent President Fillmore in 1852. The party, instead, nominated Gen. Winfield Scott, who was soundly defeated. Its leaders, including Abraham Lincoln, quit politics or changed parties. The voter base defected to the Republican Party, various coalition parties and to the Democratic Party The letter states, in part, “…I was in Hartford [this] past week a few hours after you left…I cannot have any mind of what I shall be able to do in the Spring as I am waiting for Senator Niles to get to Washington…[Sen. John Milton Niles of Connecticut was active in Democratic Party politics and a supporter of states-rights doctrines. After the demise of Whig Sen. Nathan Smith, Niles was elected a Democratic-Republican class one senator to fill his seat, serving from 1835-1839.]

The letter continues, “We are about commencing the political Campaign, a part of my business to Hartford was for that purpose…after all arrangements & plans are concluded and the ball set in motion, there will be lively skirmishing for we intend to give the Whigs a ‘Benna Vertes’ defeat next Spring.

“You will soon hear from the Bugle Sound to Arms from Old Tolland [possibly a suggestion that laws had been broken as courts were held at the Old Tolland County Count House, built in 1822]. I cannot be more particular at this time – and this is strictly confidential for the present.”

Letter has a circular date stamp for Windham, a 5 cent postal rate, a typical seal tear, affecting nothing, otherwise in excellent condition. Research included.

Item ID: 00251