Smith, James M.:

$2,500 · Offered by William Reese Company · No longer available

[AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED, FROM NEW YORK DEMOCRAT JAMES M. SMITH TO JOSEPH M. DOTY, DISCUSSING THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION OF 1844, THE BARNBURNERS AND HUNKERS, THE VIRTUES OF SILAS WRIGHT AS A ... A fiery, loquacious, and fascinatingly analytical letter written by young New York Democrat James M. Smith, commenting at length about the upcoming gubernatorial election and the strained political landscape for Empire State Democrats in general. In discussing the political landscape of New York, and indeed of the forthcoming presidential contest, Smith touches on most of the pressing issues of the time, especially the effect of the issues of Texas annexation and slavery on party factions.The majority of this lengthy letter deals with the disappointing tenure of Governor William Bouck and Smith's astoundingly high hopes for Silas Wright as his replacement. Smith brutally assesses Bouck's weaknesses and poor prospects, and the candidates' stands on crucial issues. "When our banner is unfurled for the fight," he writes, "let us see upon it the same name of Silas Wright and even in the eighth district, the stout hands and willing hearts of the Democracy shall carry it to the van of the battle." A nomination for Bouck, "on the other hand,...would create no feeling at all, but would be received with lukewarmness & indifference at best & by many with the strongest disgust & dislike." A core reason for this, Smith argues, is the probable nomination of Millard Fillmore as the Whig candidate

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