Details
HARRISON, William H. (1773-1841). President. Autograph letter signed ("W.H. Harrison) to William Ayres, North Bend, [Ohio], 17 July 1838. 2½ pages, 4to (7 15/16 x 9 15/16 in.), address panel on page 4, small seal hole with old repair, small tears along one fold crossing signature, a few smudges, one catching end of signature.
HARRISON'S LONG-RANGE STRATEGY FOR WINNING THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION
Immediately after his defeat in the 1836 Presidential election, Harrison and his supporters began to lay plans for his campaign in 1840. Here, Harrison analyzes his strength in various states and sizes up his chances of winning the nomination again, even though some Whigs, favoring Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, consider Harrison "hors de combat." Harrison explains that "my mind has been so much occupied by the extreme illness of one of my sons [William Henry Harrison Jr.] that I have been almost incapable of doing any business." (Harrison's son died soon afterwards.) Regarding the machinations of a rival, almost certainly Thaddeus Stevens (1792-1868), he observes that "I have for a considerable time been aware of the hostility of Mr. Stevens..." Although Stevens had supported Harrison in 1836 and would do so in 1840, Harrison believes that "he intended to defeat my nomination..."
A recent resolution to exclude delegates from the Anti-Masonic Convention "was one of the projects of Stevens to defeat me. I can see no good reason for its adoption & there are certainly many very good ones why it should have been rejected...But between ourselves it appears to me that the Convention had no authority to adopt such a Resolution..." In regard to his following in Ohio, he observes that "the body of Anti Masons in Ohio reside in the North Eastern part," and "I have a favourable acquaintance with but few of them. They are mostly from the New England States & may be in favor of Mr. [Daniel] Webster. Those in this part of the State I know are friendly to me but in a Convention they may be outnumbered..." Some of the Northwestern states, he notes, "have been restrained from making any movements...in relation to a candidate for the Presidency," waiting "to see what course the Atlantic States would take." Therefore, he concludes, "the question begins to be agitated 'What is next to be done?'"
A friend reports that a rally on Cincinnati was "very numerously attended"; and that Harrison's supporters "asserted my claims very strongly & took the ground that I only of the Whig candidates could succeed." Another state convention of Whigs is to be held at Indianapolis, "but as many of the Counties will not be represented I believe they will make no nomination but refer the matter to the people in their primary assemblies." Some counties, he adds, "were fearful of trusting a business to Deligates which the people could manage themselves." Harrison has been shown a letter "from a member of Congress" stating that "Genl H was completely hors du Combat, all the Whig members of Congress being in favour either of Mr Clay or Mr Webster & that under these circumstances no doubt remained of Mr Van Buren's getting Pennsylvania..."
Harrison's long-range strategies ultimately bore fruit, even though Henry Clay was the front-runner at the Whig's December 1839 convention. But the party included a strong Anti-Masonic faction (as alluded to in the present letter) which torpedoed the aspirations of Clay, a Mason, and as the balloting proceeded, Harrison gained strength and finally won the nomination.
HARRISON'S LONG-RANGE STRATEGY FOR WINNING THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION
Immediately after his defeat in the 1836 Presidential election, Harrison and his supporters began to lay plans for his campaign in 1840. Here, Harrison analyzes his strength in various states and sizes up his chances of winning the nomination again, even though some Whigs, favoring Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, consider Harrison "hors de combat." Harrison explains that "my mind has been so much occupied by the extreme illness of one of my sons [William Henry Harrison Jr.] that I have been almost incapable of doing any business." (Harrison's son died soon afterwards.) Regarding the machinations of a rival, almost certainly Thaddeus Stevens (1792-1868), he observes that "I have for a considerable time been aware of the hostility of Mr. Stevens..." Although Stevens had supported Harrison in 1836 and would do so in 1840, Harrison believes that "he intended to defeat my nomination..."
A recent resolution to exclude delegates from the Anti-Masonic Convention "was one of the projects of Stevens to defeat me. I can see no good reason for its adoption & there are certainly many very good ones why it should have been rejected...But between ourselves it appears to me that the Convention had no authority to adopt such a Resolution..." In regard to his following in Ohio, he observes that "the body of Anti Masons in Ohio reside in the North Eastern part," and "I have a favourable acquaintance with but few of them. They are mostly from the New England States & may be in favor of Mr. [Daniel] Webster. Those in this part of the State I know are friendly to me but in a Convention they may be outnumbered..." Some of the Northwestern states, he notes, "have been restrained from making any movements...in relation to a candidate for the Presidency," waiting "to see what course the Atlantic States would take." Therefore, he concludes, "the question begins to be agitated 'What is next to be done?'"
A friend reports that a rally on Cincinnati was "very numerously attended"; and that Harrison's supporters "asserted my claims very strongly & took the ground that I only of the Whig candidates could succeed." Another state convention of Whigs is to be held at Indianapolis, "but as many of the Counties will not be represented I believe they will make no nomination but refer the matter to the people in their primary assemblies." Some counties, he adds, "were fearful of trusting a business to Deligates which the people could manage themselves." Harrison has been shown a letter "from a member of Congress" stating that "Genl H was completely hors du Combat, all the Whig members of Congress being in favour either of Mr Clay or Mr Webster & that under these circumstances no doubt remained of Mr Van Buren's getting Pennsylvania..."
Harrison's long-range strategies ultimately bore fruit, even though Henry Clay was the front-runner at the Whig's December 1839 convention. But the party included a strong Anti-Masonic faction (as alluded to in the present letter) which torpedoed the aspirations of Clay, a Mason, and as the balloting proceeded, Harrison gained strength and finally won the nomination.