Auburn February 10. 1847.
My Dear Lazette,
I am a turtle, and go backwards half the time at
least. There is a thick heavy shell on my back, and people throw
coals upon it, to see whether I am not of the Salamander as
well as the amphibious tribe.
Mr Weed and I said plainly we wanted Mr. Wright
elected speaker. He was defeated for that and other reasons. We
ordained no issue with the Loco Focoson the responsibility for the war. The
Legislature, probably for this reason made the issue. Would any dis-
creet friend of Mr Worden dare to expose him to the peril of being
our preferred candidate?
All men who charge me with opposing or being opposed
to his appointment or even merely indifferent speak falsely, all
who say that I have not contributed to it in the only way and
to the only extent that would lead to it speak very erroneously.
But I pray you, take up no question with any body on the subject.
I do not suffer a thought of regret or sorrow for even such
injustice in any quarter.You are my sister, however related to others
and they have no right to disturb your faith in me by any
ill founded complaints.
Who has adhered more faithfully to friends and exacted less
of them? When my friends ^were^ preferred to save themselves at my expense
have I complained of them?
While your ears are attuned on one side, I am accused at
Albany of sacrificing other friends to secure Worden’s appointment.
Faithfully your brother Henry

A newspaper clipping is attached to the letter.

Enclosed news paper clipping from the Albany Evening Journal
The Albany Evening Journal, in the course
of a too flattering estimate of our labors for and
services to the Whig cause, remarks:
“We should however, rejoice in the Editor of The
Tribune could feel at liberty to devote himself exclusive-
ly to his Political mission, leaving Social and Moral Re-
forms to those who devote themselves to such enter-
prises; because this would disarm his enemies, who
now, by false charges of Infidelity, Agrarianism, &c.
endeavor to impair the usefulness of a man whose integ-
rity and purity of life invite scrutiny and challenge
[ eomparsion ] .”
We know well that this advice is dictated by
the sincerest kindness and unselfish interest; we
know, too, that it emanates from one whose shrewd-
ness and knowledge of men have rarely been
equaled. We are not so conceited as to be unconcon-
scious of the superior wisdom which impels it, nor
so wayward as to act in opposition to it without
regret. If this earth were the Universe and to-
day Eternity, we should not hesitate to give in-
stant heed to its suggestions. As it is, we must
walk on in the path which seems to us that of the
widest and highest usefulness, despite the present
inconveniences attending it. It is not permitted to
any one man to be the instrument of much good,
but he that would do any must be willing to toil on
in paths which do not lead to power and honors—
which demand and enforce instead a surrender of
all personal aspirations. When the evils and suf-
ferings which weigh down the great mass of man-
kind and render their lives bitter shall be shown to
be exclusively Political, we shall feel bound to con-
fine our efforts for Melioration and Reform to the
channel thus plainly indicated. At preset, we
must act otherwise.