Letters Home From Congress
Collection Overview
This collection features letters home from Warren R. Austin (Senator, 1931-1946), Jacob Collamer (Representative, 1843-1848; Senator, 1855-1865), and Samuel C. Crafts (Representative, 1817-1824; Senator, 1842-1843). The letters document travel to...
Show moreThis collection features letters home from Warren R. Austin (Senator, 1931-1946), Jacob Collamer (Representative, 1843-1848; Senator, 1855-1865), and Samuel C. Crafts (Representative, 1817-1824; Senator, 1842-1843). The letters document travel to and from Washington by horse, boat, train, and airplane; lodging in boarding houses, hotels, and homes; social life in Washington; significant local and national events; and legislative issues under consideration in Congress. Austin's letters are particularly strong in their coverage of his frustration at being a Senator in the minority party during the era of Roosevelt and the New Deal; his activities on the Judiciary Committee; and foreign affairs questions such as the Neutrality Act. The letters of Crafts and Collamer both extensively cover the question of slavery, discussing Missouri statehood, John Brown, the annexation of Texas, and the Civil War. All three Congressmen frequently discuss questions regarding appropriations and the Federal budget. Biographical information is available from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, at: http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp
Show less
Related Archival Collections
(61 - 80 of 104)
Pages
- Title
- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, February 7, 1848
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include speech in House by Collamer; Hiram Powers statue of the Greek Slave.
- Title
- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, January 19, 1846
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include Representative Solomon Foot (VT); death of Representative William Taylor (VA); President James Polk; Representative Cornelius Darragh (PA); Representative George Perkins Marsh (VT); Representative John Chipman (MI).
- Title
- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, January 26, 1845
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include annexation of Texas debate and vote; speeches by Collamer and Representative George Perkins Marsh (VT) on Texas.
- Title
- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, January 30, 1849
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include inauguration of President Zachary Taylor; possible Cabinet appointments.
- Title
- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, July 8, 1848
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include question of slavery being admitted into newly acquired territories; presidential speeches in the House.
- Title
- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, June 26, 1856
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include Kansas.
- Title
- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, March 2, 1862
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include Civil War; slaves and slavery; health of Vermont troops.
- Title
- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, March 5, 1849
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include inauguration of President Zachary Taylor; appointment of Collamer as Postmaster General.
- Title
- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, May 15, 1858
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include constituent business.
- Title
- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, May 9, 1858
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include death of Senator Josiah Evans (SC); Representative Justin Morrill; Kansas.
- Title
- Letter to Mary N. Collamer, November 27, 1845
- Description
-
Letter to wife. Topics include securing a seat in the House chamber; traveling to Washington.
- Title
- Letter to Matilda Corbin, July 7, 1842
- Description
-
Letter to sister. Topics include 4th of July festivities including processions by Juvenile Temperance Societies, Sabbath School Societies, and black Sabbath School children numbering near five hundred.
- Title
- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, April 30, 1842
- Description
-
Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include traveling to Washington, DC from Craftsbury, Vermont; oath of office in the Senate; Senator Phelps (VT).
- Title
- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, August 1, 1842
- Description
-
Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include enclosed seating chart of the Senate chamber with the seats of the members.
- Title
- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, August 14, 1842
- Description
-
Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include veto of Tariff Bill by President Tyler; Southern and Western Whig opinions to leave Washington without a Tariff Bill leaving the Federal Government without revenue; strategy meetings of Whigs from the Senate and House; idea to give up on public...
Show moreLetter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include veto of Tariff Bill by President Tyler; Southern and Western Whig opinions to leave Washington without a Tariff Bill leaving the Federal Government without revenue; strategy meetings of Whigs from the Senate and House; idea to give up on public lands piece of Tariff Bill; treaty between Great Britain and the United States is before the Senate, with possible Locofoco (Democrat) opposition to it; the treaty settles boundary questions from St. Croix to the Rocky Mountains.
Show less
- Title
- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, August 21, 1842
- Description
-
Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include treaty between Great Britain and the United States finally approved by the Senate after four long days of discussion, surmounting strong opposition by a vote of 39 to 9; continued deadlock on Tariff Bill; Treasury statement to the House stating...
Show moreLetter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include treaty between Great Britain and the United States finally approved by the Senate after four long days of discussion, surmounting strong opposition by a vote of 39 to 9; continued deadlock on Tariff Bill; Treasury statement to the House stating that all funds on hand had been expended and asking for authority for more Treasury Notes; impact of governmental inaction on the Tariff Bill on factories and the importation of foreign goods.
Show less
- Title
- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, August 7, 1842
- Description
-
Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include Tariff Bill passed by Senate and sent to the President; efforts by Locofocos (Democrats) to oppose the Tariff Bill; Senate split on Tariff bill with twenty-five Whigs for, twenty Locofocos (Democrats) against, and five southern Whigs against, but...
Show moreLetter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include Tariff Bill passed by Senate and sent to the President; efforts by Locofocos (Democrats) to oppose the Tariff Bill; Senate split on Tariff bill with twenty-five Whigs for, twenty Locofocos (Democrats) against, and five southern Whigs against, but Senator John Henderson (MS) was absent and Senator John Berrien (GA) did not vote; discussions about whether President Tyler will sign the bill what will happen if it is vetoed; treaty between Great Britain and the United States; Government band which plays in front of the Capitol every Thursday and at the Presidents on Saturday evenings; theatre performances; public gardens; Locofocos (Democrats) in Vermont.
Show less
- Title
- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, December 11, 1842
- Description
-
Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include adjournment of Congressional session; Senate and House repeal of Bankruptcy Law; act for reducing pay of members of Congress and other officers of government would fix the compensation of members at seven dollars per day, and seven dollars for...
Show moreLetter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include adjournment of Congressional session; Senate and House repeal of Bankruptcy Law; act for reducing pay of members of Congress and other officers of government would fix the compensation of members at seven dollars per day, and seven dollars for every twenty miles of travel, and reduce the pay, by twelve and one half percent, of all of officers of government who receive more than twelve hundred dollars a year; vote to release General Jackson's fine.
Show less
- Title
- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, December 11, 1842
- Description
-
Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include effect of severe weather on obtaining a quorum in the Senate; health of Senator Samuel Phelps (VT); church meeting preached by Dr. Nott, President of Union College, Schenectady, New York; boarding accommodations in Washington, DC.
- Title
- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, July 17, 1842
- Description
-
Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include President Tyler and the Tariff Bill; Tariff Bill passed, 116 to 112, by the House despite opposition from Locofocos (Democrats) and some Southern Whigs and a threatened veto; Tariff Bill now in the Senate where there are 20 Locofocos (Democrats)...
Show moreLetter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include President Tyler and the Tariff Bill; Tariff Bill passed, 116 to 112, by the House despite opposition from Locofocos (Democrats) and some Southern Whigs and a threatened veto; Tariff Bill now in the Senate where there are 20 Locofocos (Democrats) and 30 Whigs, but 5 southern Whigs who will cast the deciding votes on passage; Vermont State Whig Convention; Governor Paine (VT); Henry Clay's potential candidacy for President; Craft's feelings on being elected for the remained of Judge Samuel Prentiss' Senate term; rumored changes in President Tyler's cabinet; Daniel Webster, Lord Ashburton and a prospect of a settlement of disputes with Great Britain.
Show less