Florida 13^th Nov 1840
My dear William Henry
The Battle is over the
Agony is ended success is ours thank God the enimies
of democracy are defeated Who would have
thought that defending the cause
of the poor dispised abducted
Morgan would have led to a result
like this—the triumph is so extensive
and so amply supports the cause of
virtue that our congratulations ought
to extend to every Friend in the Union
Is it possible that my Eyes do not deceive
me in looking over a list already heard
from I see 171 Electorat Votes cast for Harrison
and only seven for the traitor Van Burin
Oh! how thankfull I feel that I have been
permited to live to see my bleeding
country redeemed.
About the conspiracy of Butler
Hoyt Edmonds Stevenson & Glentworth
there is but one opinion in this part of
the state First that by their base falsehoods and
slanders they they intended to sacrafise yourself & friends
and then defeat the Whig party in the Union

And secondly that the cause of our Country the cause of
Justice and the character of worthy citizens demands that
examples be made of those loud [ groveting ] miscreants who
to carry political point at Elections would blast the business
favor fame and characters of their superiors—I glory in
the prospect of Mr Grenelly bringing his traducers to Justice.
You too by men considering themselves as standing
faire in society have been traduced and belied in to the
character of a felon—It has been publicly asserted that you
was concerned in procuring fradulent voters in 1838
that you was seen in Irons in custody of an Officer in
a steam Boat on your way to New York to meet your
deserved pubnishment that you had been arrested and
was under Examination—That you was a thief and
had stolen money from your father These and every
slang and abuse have privately been made to bear
on the minds of weak men and caused them to vote
against their better Judgment—Is this sufferable can
it be indured—Our country says no I say no—The
perpetrators of such conspiracies and subordination
of Pergury ought to be taken up and brot, to [ condine ]
punishment as an example to other evil doers—
But for the forgerers of the Loco's this Country & this Town
would have gone Whig—But for the frauds on the ballot
boxes the City of New York would have been safe
The universal impression is that Van Buren men have
laid themselves liable and that honor self respect &
Justice requires that they should be made examples
of

You will receive this by our freind Major W Houston
he is a young man of promis and any civilities you
can show him will be gratefully acknowledged by me.
I have lately taken cold and am quite indisposed
a small acqueous cist still continues on Ma's lip otherwise
all well, GWS has a promising boy one week old.
I am anxious to hear from you will you write or direct Blatchford
S.S.S
William Henry Seward
Gov of the state of New York
Albany
Allocution of
Major Houston
hSamuel S. Seward
Nov. 13. 1840

hMy dear Henry I am fully apprised that your liberation is a
most difficult one to give satisfaction in—I know well
that my opportunities of Judging of your course is nothing
compared with yours—Still in all affection good wishes
and prayers for your sucess I would say that since
I saw you last and during the time those base re-
ports have been in circulation I have mingled with
many of your friend and enimies— and have
heard many observations as to the manner in which
you executed your official duties from which
I would in all kindness say that in preparing your
second Message it will be well not to make it too
long—To incorporate in it all the great and absorbing
questions of Legislation and set them as plain as
[ po ] ssible before the representatives of the people
To speak withe great firmness and [ desition ] as to
the benefit to result from a change in our adminis-
tration of the general Government. But to be
[ cauuious ] in advancing new projects unless asked
for by the people. The impression of your associating
with and favouring the views of the papists has
Unquestionably given Umbrage to some of our
best citizens—Attach not yourself to any set of men
in the state but try as far as practicable to ^be^ the
Governor of all—The practice I mentioned to
you of a few getting together in each County and
Town and dictating for it has a bad effect
Affectionately yours
Sam^l S Seward
WH Seward Gov & c