Rochester June 3 1838
My Dear Sir
The cursed Clay meeting in NY has come off and the use is attempted to
be made of it which I predicted. And although for the just rebuke of those that
got the meeting up Mr Clay ought not to be president yet I do not see how
you ought to be effected by it. You have or may see the Miss Repository of hard
work and from that you may see an intimation of a threat that unless things go
right, they cant go at all. Now there is more in all this, than may perhaps be
apparent to you, and unless you were here to see with your own eyes you may
cannot precisely appreciate the state of affairs or Understand what hues
things wear; As I said before a certain friend of ours has a strong hold
upon the people; those who see that man occasionally and take their impres-
sions from his manner “pour le [ mone ] ”e have imbibed strong feelings of partiality
towards him, and to some considerable extent public sympathy is strong towards ^in his^
him, ^favor^ and it is but just that it should be so; he has some claims to the peoples
regards, which ought not and cannot safely or properly ^be^ overlooked; Now then
if a feeling can be infused into this section of the state that another section
are taking undue, or untimely measures to defeat the nomination of this man, and
To promote that of another, and that those Clay movements are designed for
that purpose I fear a state of things may be brought about which will be disas-
trous.
I came out here on Tuesday last to try poor Thomas Bennett on this mur-
der charge and on Wednesday G. came here also. I have not been prying
into his business but I think he has been laying a train from which he expects
a Wonderful blow up whenever he sets fire to it. There is so far as the Tracy
influence extends a clique in Gennesee and perhaps in Erie & Livingston who
are of opinion that their own peculiar views will not be advanced by your
advancement and these men have been operated upon through their selfish
feelings to a considerable extent; It is the same in Ontario, and every means
will be used to cause these individuals to operate as extensively as possible to your
prejudice, and if they can at this present moment be so monstrously magnified

as to become bugbears to frighten the Eastern portion of the state, the game will go
as is designed. This is to be the lead out, and unless I am greatly mistaken an emisa-
ry is now on his way to Albany and New York whose especial business it is to duly impress
upon the mind of the New York Whigs the great attachment of the people of the West
for G. and then form determination to abide by him. Now nothing can be made
out of all this unless the Eastern Clay men act foolish; they have taken a most
rash step in this Clay meeting and G will make something out of it. Now I beseech
you to entreat your friends not to be rash, if they can be goaded into another
rash step of this sort it will make infinite trouble, and afford other means to be
used to their and your prejudice.
I have not as I think taken a wrong view of this business, and if
prudent steps are taken I dont think much will be made out of this shuffle, but
the most I fear are those cursed New Yorkers, they wont understand the country, and
seem to be laboring under an infatuation in respect to the wonderful influence the
City of New York sways over the state; now they have created something like jealousy
on this subject, or at all events a feeling exists which may be easily blown into a flame
and then what is to become of the Yorkers; now it is important to keep down this
feeling, and more especially so when there are men in the country who are partic-
ularly desirious of keeping it alive for selfish purposes; and besides there is much
reason to apprehend that rash measures have already been determined upon in regard
to the conservatives; and that a coalition is negotiating between them & the NYK Whigs
this wont do; as a matter of principle it should not be; we have been always
injured by these coalitions and come what may I for one will have no lot
or portion with the conservatives; I look upon them as a class of men more depraved
both morally and politically than any other now in the nation; they are those
who supported Jacksons worst measures, from the worst notions, and only left been
Van Buren as rats leave a sinking ship; by that kind of instinct which attaches
to scoundrels. With these men we ought to have no connection: the embrace
would be fatal. all honorable men would eschew it: and the result would be
perhaps a temporary success but sure to be followed by defeat & disgrace

besides it would be unpopular among our Whig bretheren, and afford means to
influence the fall nominations, as being a measure originating with Clays friends
and the party with which you are supposed to be identified. This matter is also
in agitation, and justly so no steps can be too early taken to prepare the minds
of the people on this subject; the evil is, that with the dissemination of the truth
falsehood and detraction are sewn; and while the people are taught to abhor
a coalition with the conservatives; they are to be also taught that you and your
friends are striving to bring it about. Now I am not without my fears on this sub-
ject. Weeds article looked wrong to me and I fear
you have given your assent to such a measure
I should greatly depose it if you had; I can
not see it to be either just or honorable to do so to
that extent which I fear the conservatives ex-
pect; and doubtless they expect more than
you have been given to understand.
Can we consent to place Talmade again in
the senate: or put him in nomination for Vice President. yet the
conservatives expect as much as this: they ought not to be allowed to expect it. Again I believe
Van Buren is striving to drive the conservatives into our ranks and ^that the party^ have made up their minds to
be beaten next fall; now ^if^ they get the conservatives fairly identified with us, there will be heart burnings &
jealousies created among us, men who have borne the burthen of the fight will not see the honors of
Victory dealt out to those new allies; and again the "democracy" will have been betrayed, and the
"torn robe" of "republicanism" pierced by the daggers of those wicked conservatives will be held
up for the Antonys of the party to make speeches over! Who can tell what two years will
bring about. We can carry the state next fall without the conservatives next fall, and if we do and
nail our Whig Colors to the mast and let the conservatives go to the devil we shall be
safe; I tell you the Whig Ship Cant be worked with a conservative crew.
Truly
AW

h Forwarded
hHon William H Seward
Care of Thurlow Weed Esq
Albany
hAuburn Cayuga Courts
ROCHESTER NY
JUN 3
ALBANY NY
JUN 5
hA Worden
June 3. 1838