细节
PIERCE, Franklin (1804-1869), President. Autograph letter signed ("F Pierce") as New Hampshire Senator [to H.H. Carroll], Washington, Sunday night 10 o'clock [31 May 1841]. 3½ pages, 4to. Fine.
"THE CONSERVATIVES MUST BE APPEASED..." CONGRESSIONAL POLITICKING IN THE FIRST MONTHS OF THE TYLER ADMINISTRATION. An unusually long letter of Pierce, while Senator, with a detailed account of the hotly contested balloting in the House for Speaker and Head Clerk, and commenting on "Vice-President" Tyler's recent meessage: "It is impossible to form any conjecture as to the tone & principles of Vice President Tyler's message. You will probably have received it by express..." Pierce turns to affairs in the House: "...The Federalists had a caucus last night and nominated [John] White of Kentucky who has been here four years [in Congress]. Did you ever hear of him before? For Speaker Dawson of Georgia the next highest candidate--a good deal of dissatisfaction I understand on the part of Wise & others. Still the probablity is that White will be elected on the first ballot....I think you will be surprised, as I certainly was, to hear that...Fog Smith was nominated for Clerk. The inhabitants of the City, it is said, are extremely indignant...and are making great exertions to defeat Smith, but the conservatives must be appeased."
"White was elected speaker on the first ballot"; and Pierce lists the votes tallied by the contenders, including "Lawrence of Pa. abolitionist." Then, new members "were sworn in" and the "House proceeded on motion of Wise to ballot viva voce for Clerk....Smith regular caucus candidate of the Federalist Party...and Mason of Virginia irregular of the same Politcks, no candidate I believe nominated by our Friends..." He lists first ballot results, but "the second ballot was in progress when I left the House and a general impression that Fog was in the fog--probably cannot be elected. Our friends will go for any one rather than him. Our delegation will not vote for Smith..." He adds "I have just heard from the Capitol that M. St. Clair Clark was elected clerk on the 4th ballot. It must be a sore thing to the regular nominee of the Federal caucus, that honest man and pure patriot F.O.G. Smith. Our friends found that either Clark or Smith must be elected and as a choice of evils they cast their votes for the former. Our delegation voted to a man for Clark..."
Pierce had served in the House (1833-1837) and then the Senate (from 1837) but resigned his seat in February 1842.
"THE CONSERVATIVES MUST BE APPEASED..." CONGRESSIONAL POLITICKING IN THE FIRST MONTHS OF THE TYLER ADMINISTRATION. An unusually long letter of Pierce, while Senator, with a detailed account of the hotly contested balloting in the House for Speaker and Head Clerk, and commenting on "Vice-President" Tyler's recent meessage: "It is impossible to form any conjecture as to the tone & principles of Vice President Tyler's message. You will probably have received it by express..." Pierce turns to affairs in the House: "...The Federalists had a caucus last night and nominated [John] White of Kentucky who has been here four years [in Congress]. Did you ever hear of him before? For Speaker Dawson of Georgia the next highest candidate--a good deal of dissatisfaction I understand on the part of Wise & others. Still the probablity is that White will be elected on the first ballot....I think you will be surprised, as I certainly was, to hear that...Fog Smith was nominated for Clerk. The inhabitants of the City, it is said, are extremely indignant...and are making great exertions to defeat Smith, but the conservatives must be appeased."
"White was elected speaker on the first ballot"; and Pierce lists the votes tallied by the contenders, including "Lawrence of Pa. abolitionist." Then, new members "were sworn in" and the "House proceeded on motion of Wise to ballot viva voce for Clerk....Smith regular caucus candidate of the Federalist Party...and Mason of Virginia irregular of the same Politcks, no candidate I believe nominated by our Friends..." He lists first ballot results, but "the second ballot was in progress when I left the House and a general impression that Fog was in the fog--probably cannot be elected. Our friends will go for any one rather than him. Our delegation will not vote for Smith..." He adds "I have just heard from the Capitol that M. St. Clair Clark was elected clerk on the 4th ballot. It must be a sore thing to the regular nominee of the Federal caucus, that honest man and pure patriot F.O.G. Smith. Our friends found that either Clark or Smith must be elected and as a choice of evils they cast their votes for the former. Our delegation voted to a man for Clark..."
Pierce had served in the House (1833-1837) and then the Senate (from 1837) but resigned his seat in February 1842.