Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 17, 1838

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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 17, 1838

transcriber

Transcriber:spp:keh

student editor

Transcriber:spp:sss

Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1838-12-17

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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 17, 1838

action: sent

sender: Benjamin Seward
x

Person

Name: Benjamin Seward Birth: 1793-08-23 Death: 1841-02-24

location: Westfield NY
x

Place

Name:  City:  Westfield County:  Chautauqua State:  NY Country:  US

receiver: William Seward
x

Person

Name: William Seward Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10

location: Auburn NY
x

Place

Name:  City:  Auburn County:  Cayuga State:  NY Country:  US

transcription: keh 

revision: ekk 2015-10-28

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Page 1

Westfield Dec 17, 1838
Political
Dear H.
Your friends here show a becoming
desire that you should make no misstep in
regard to the county – and it may not be amiss
to apprize you of what is said.
I need hardly mention that Jones
Unknown
of J.
x

Place

Name:  City:  Jamestown County:  Chautauqua State:  NY Country:  US
Green
Unknown

of Tews
x

Person

Name: George Tew Birth: 1804-04 Death: 1875-11-27
office – Dixon
x

Person

Name: Abram Dixon Birth: 1787-07-23 Death: 1875-04-19
& Livermore
x

Person

Name: George Livermore Birth: 1794-10-15 Death: 1870-08-21
of this place – Ruggles
x

Person

Name: Francis Ruggles Birth: 1807-06-25 Death: 1865-05Certainty: Probable

of F.
x

Place

Name:  City:  Fredonia County:  Chautauqua State:  NY Country:  US
Saxton
x

Person

Name: William Sexton Birth: 1796-04-11 Death: 1881-10-07
French
x

Person

Name: George French Birth: 1798 Death: 1865-01-29
– & one or two more are [ lookig ]
x

Alternate Text

Alternate Text: looking

for, preparing for & thinking about a nomination for
S. — Of Jones it is said that he is very useful &
efficient & has claims – but is young & lacks weight.
This is somewhat true of Green & others. Of French
it is said that he wants every office that is going
& is not suited for this one – & on the other hand
that he is deserving & was wronged in the nom-
inations at the October convention. Judicous
persons think a more cultivated man should
be had. Plumb
x

Person

Name: Alvin Plumb Birth: 1802-06-09 Death: 1877-08-31
& Hazeltine
x

Person

Name: Abner Hazeltine Birth: 1793-06-10 Death: 1879-12-20
are restrained from
favouring the claims of Ruggles by their prox-
imity & obligations to Jones – but a clamour
is raised against Ruggles because he does
not reside at Mayville
x

Place

Name:  City:  Mayville County:  Chautauqua State:  NY Country:  US
. Green
Unknown
the Loco man
would like it – & if there is any chance by com-
promize to procure the nomination would expect
above all other men to be in favour with the senate.
Judson
x

Person

Name: Timothy Judson Birth: 1801-11-02 Death: 1872-03-10
, our member from Portland
x

Place

Name:  City:  Portland County:  Chautauqua State:  NY Country:  US
is thought to be the
prominent man of our delegation & likely to carry
the other with him in these matters. He it is
said is unfriendly to Ruggles & dislikes French,
Page 2

and it is said that he is likely to go for Liv-
ermore who will obtain the support of his neigh-
bors here – and perhaps a good portion of the
Loco best men in the county. Your fast friend
Richd Walker
x

Person

Name: Richard Walker Birth: 1802 Death: 
has been fearful that you might
fall into the error of nominating Livermore, of whom
he says that he is irritable, unpopular & unsuitable
and he begs you to pause before nominating him.
It occurs to me that if Ruggles would con-
sent to go to Mayville, he might be preferred be-
fore all those who do not offer to go there &
Green the Whig being so much younger & less
known – & Green the Loco, expects nothing only in
case of tie – so that in this way the whole
thing would be easy – & while this would be so
it would please Whigs in, & about Mayville
to have him there & give strength to the party
& do good every way. It is delightful to
see the Loco's signing Livermores paper &
thus acknowledging the unfitness of Smith
Unknown
the
present incumbent – & I hear it often said
that he is exceedingly unpopular with his
own people as well as others. I suppose
Judson has nothing worse against Ruggles than
this, that Ruggles opposed his nomination.
I am under promise to Walker also to say
a word in favour of our Esq Patchin
Unknown
. Walker
says he is quite down & needs assistance. If
it is in your way to introduce him into
some of the departments it would doubtless
be a favour. He is a good pensman – a pleas-
ing gentleman man with a clear mind & I
Page 3

think would make a good clerk in such
a place.
To these and to all who converse with
me or write me about appointments I have
said, their applications would be put upon
grounds of public consideration. I have no
other wish & ought to have no other.
Your grateful Brother
B. J. Seward
P.S. I forgot to mention the name
of my old western friend Capt Candler
x

Person

Name: Samuel Candler Birth: 1782-06-21 Death: 1863-06-19

who applies for the Pot Wardens
office of N.Y.
x

Place

Name:  City:  New York County:   State:  NY Country:  US
– a good scribe – an
upright man – of much business
experience & faithfulness.
All well.
Page 4

W H. Seward Esq
Auburn
N. Y.
Single
WESTFIELD N.Y. DEC 19
x

Stamp

Type: postmark

seward-pen
x

Person

Name: Samuel Blatchford Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07
B. J. Seward, Westfield
Dec 17, 1838
date: 
Monday, December 17, 1838
year: