Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, June 5, 1838
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Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, June 5, 1838
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:dxt
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1838-06-05
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Letter from Alvah H. Worden to William Henry Seward, June 5, 1838
action: sent
sender: Alvah Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06
Death: 1856-02-16
location: Canandaigua, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: dxt
revision: ekk 2016-03-09
<>
Page
1
Canandaigua June 5 1838
Dear S
I returned this morning and found your letter from
Auburn: I wrote you from Rochester to care of Weed
a note enclosed to Frances
soon receive from Albany my letter I need not repeat its
contents. Since my return I have seen Wheeler
Grangers
I read him portions of your letter about the Clay
which pleased him. W and all the rest of the old Anti
Masonic stock in this county are true men. and seem to
be extremely anxious that an understanding should be had
between you & G. I think G movements will injure
him in the End and that he has magnified this Clay
business too much as the people will learn. I think as Holley
says his present “pucker” arises out of his fears that provisions
are to be made for Talmadge
should we have it in our power to give the place to G or T. I do
think in all Honor and fairness G ought not to be set aside[ . ]
Reason:
Now look how there is no organisation in the Whig ranks
Worth one fig or any political sagacity
friends. and it seems to me that if G & Spencer
Page
2
and our western friends generally will pull together we
can carry the state: and then hold on to it. It strikes me
that we should be united and firm: and adhere to that
policy which has been the foundation of our success and
which we acknowledge the just claims of all. have it perfectly
understood that we are one in purpose & for our great
object irrespective of the interest of individuals. and I for
one would be glad to see Granger in the U S.S in case
he is not Gov. or in case he is then the place should be
yours. Our friend Spencer ought to be the man in preference
to both of you & all others but he is wanted for our courts
if we ever get the power. and if our friends will use a little
discretion & moderation they will find themselves in power &
perhaps in place. the great thing to be considered is to
lay a proper ground for the support of ourselves after
we have succeeded and I believe it is the policy of Van
Buranism to hurry us into a victory before we are suffi-
ciently prepared to sustain ourselves: we may hereafter
experience the truth of the adage "that an unexpected victory
is worse than an expected defeat." If we succeed and retain
our power we shall have stern work to do: we must
go to the work of cutting off heads "like tops o' thistles" your stones
& rocks et id omnia Genuse
Latin, "et id omnia Genus" translates to "and all that kind of" must be
put "hors du partiee
French, "hors du partie" translates to
"outside the part" ." as with
such men we cant live. and we should now early & surely look
about us for the best means of securing victory. Granger cannot
be dispensed with: he has much political sagacity. and great
strength with the people[ . ]
Reason:
Truly
AW
Page
3
Hon William H. Seward
Auburn
CANANDAIGUA NY
JUN 6
Type: postmark
h
A Worden
June 6. 1836.
Canandaigua June 5 1838
Dear S
I returned this morning and found your letter from
Auburn: I wrote you from Rochester to care of Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15 Death: 1882-11-22
and wrotea note enclosed to Frances
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
to
be forwarded to you: as you willsoon receive from Albany my letter I need not repeat its
contents. Since my return I have seen Wheeler
Birth: 1783-08-25 Death: 1852-03-11
: who is undoubtedlyGrangers
Birth: 1792-12-01 Death: 1868-08-31Certainty: Probable
factotum. and he
does not seem inclined to be rashI read him portions of your letter about the Clay
Birth: 1777-04-12 Death: 1852-06-29
movementswhich pleased him. W and all the rest of the old Anti
Masonic stock in this county are true men. and seem to
be extremely anxious that an understanding should be had
between you & G. I think G movements will injure
him in the End and that he has magnified this Clay
business too much as the people will learn. I think as Holley
Birth: 1802-11-10 Death: 1848-03-08Certainty: Probable
says his present “pucker” arises out of his fears that provisions
are to be made for Talmadge
Birth: 1795-02-08 Death: 1864-11-02
in preference to him for U.S.Sshould we have it in our power to give the place to G or T. I do
think in all Honor and fairness G ought not to be set aside[ . ]
Supplied
Now look how there is no organisation in the Whig ranks
Worth one fig or any political sagacity
Applied to animals - quickness or acuteness of scent • Quickness or acuteness of discernment or penetration; readiness of
apprehension; the faculty of readily discerning and distingusihing ideas, and of
separating truth from falsehood •
or forecast in our Easternfriends. and it seems to me that if G & Spencer
Birth: 1765-12-13 Death: 1848-03-13
& Whittlesey
Birth: 1799-06-12 Death: 1851-09-19
and our western friends generally will pull together we
can carry the state: and then hold on to it. It strikes me
that we should be united and firm: and adhere to that
policy which has been the foundation of our success and
which we acknowledge the just claims of all. have it perfectly
understood that we are one in purpose & for our great
object irrespective of the interest of individuals. and I for
one would be glad to see Granger in the U S.S in case
he is not Gov. or in case he is then the place should be
yours. Our friend Spencer ought to be the man in preference
to both of you & all others but he is wanted for our courts
if we ever get the power. and if our friends will use a little
discretion & moderation they will find themselves in power &
perhaps in place. the great thing to be considered is to
lay a proper ground for the support of ourselves after
we have succeeded and I believe it is the policy of Van
Buranism to hurry us into a victory before we are suffi-
ciently prepared to sustain ourselves: we may hereafter
experience the truth of the adage "that an unexpected victory
is worse than an expected defeat." If we succeed and retain
our power we shall have stern work to do: we must
go to the work of cutting off heads "like tops o' thistles" your stones
& rocks et id omnia Genuse
Editorial Note
Editorial Note
such men we cant live. and we should now early & surely look
about us for the best means of securing victory. Granger cannot
be dispensed with: he has much political sagacity. and great
strength with the people[ . ]
Supplied
Truly
AW
Hon William H. Seward
Auburn
CANANDAIGUA NY
JUN 6
Stamp
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10William Seward
June 6. 1836.