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 - 11 of 11)
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- Letter to Doctor Eli Todd, January 30, 1820
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Letter to brother-in-law. Topics include Federal deficit; debate over Missouri.
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- Letter to Dr. Eli Todd, January 28, 1821
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Letter to brother-in-law. Topics include health of members of Congress; health of son Samuel P. Crafts; Representative Henry Clay to introduce a Senate resolution on the admission of Missouri to the United States; Florida treaty and Spain.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, December 10, 1820
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Letter to wife. Topics include question of Missouri's acceptance into the United States by Congress and split between Northern and Southern members; federal deficit and consideration of reduction of pay for government employees; social life; invitation to dine at President James Monroe's.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, December 3, 1820
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Letter to wife. Topics include unknown state of the Treasury; question of Missouri's acceptance into the United States.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, February 12, 1821
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Letter to wife. Topics include health of son Samuel P. Crafts; health of members of Congress; votes on admitting Missouri to the United States with slaves failed by three and six votes on successive days.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, February 20, 1820
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Letter to wife. Topics include speeches in the House about Missouri.
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, March 12, 1820
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Letter to wife. Topics include Missouri and slavery; Federal deficit and Government spending; Representative Henry W. Edwards (CT) and the Connecticut delegation; Representative Timothy Pitkin (CT); Representative Samuel B. Sherwood (CT)
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- Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, November 19, 1820
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Letter to wife. Topics include travel; boarding houses; Senator William Palmer (VT), Representative Charles Rich (VT), Judge Livermore (NH), Mr. Phelps & Mr. Stevens of Connecticut; election of Speaker of the House; constitution of Missouri & slavery.
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- Letter to Samuel P. Crafts, February 2, 1820
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Letter to son. Topics include Missouri and slavery; includes a sketch by Crafts of Missouri and surrounding area.
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- Letter to Samuel P. Crafts, January 4, 1824
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Letter to son. Topics include upcoming presidential election and potential candidates John Calhoun, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, and William Crawford; divide in electoral politics on question of slavery particularly in Pennsylvania and New York; question of a Congressional...
Show moreLetter to son. Topics include upcoming presidential election and potential candidates John Calhoun, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, and William Crawford; divide in electoral politics on question of slavery particularly in Pennsylvania and New York; question of a Congressional caucus on the election debated; health of members of Congress; Greek War of Independence.
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- Title
- Letter to Samuel P. Crafts, November 19, 1820
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Letter to son. Topics include traveling to Washington; election of a Speaker of the House to replace Representative Henry Clay (KY) held up by split between northern and southern Representatives on slavery question; constitution of Missouri and slavery