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
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(1 - 2 of 2)
- Title
- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, July 17, 1842
- Description
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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.
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- Title
- Letter to Nathan and Mary Hill, July 24, 1842
- Description
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Letter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include Senate debate on the new Tariff Bill with a bare majority in favor; Crafts in favor of Tariff Bill as passed by the House; frauds practiced by manufacturers and importers; expected veto of Tariff Bill by President Tyler because of the continuation...
Show moreLetter to daughter and son-in-law. Topics include Senate debate on the new Tariff Bill with a bare majority in favor; Crafts in favor of Tariff Bill as passed by the House; frauds practiced by manufacturers and importers; expected veto of Tariff Bill by President Tyler because of the continuation of the distribution of the proceeds of the public lands among the states; current state of the Treasury; Daniel Webster and Lord Ashburton's negotiation over the boundary between the United States and Canada, in particular the northeastern boundary.
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