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In the November 4, 1856, presidential election, Democratic nominee James Buchanan defeated Republican nominee John C. Fremont and Know Nothing/Whig nominee Millard Fillmore. The main issue was slavery as facilitated by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed for the possibility of slavery’s rebirth in the North. President Franklin Pierce had become unpopular in the North because of his support for the pro-slavery faction in territorial Kansas. The newly formed Republican Party and Fremont campaigned on the promise to end “slave power” and to repeal the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
4 pp, 5 x 8, ALS, Manchester, NH, October 12, 1856, to Malvina Shed of Hillsboro, NH, sister of the letter’s writer whose last name was Clement, a well-known politically connected name in New Hampshire. The first name is difficult to decipher. Written on Fremont campaign stationary and including the cover, the letter was written three weeks before the contentious 1856 presidential election. The writer expresses anti-slavery views with scorn toward President Franklin Piece and advises the letter’s recipient to look forward to the election results, undoubtedly expecting Fremont to win. The writer also references the Hunk’ers, a political faction within the New York State Democratic Party in support of the conservative wing.
“...I visited your Aunt Abigail and Grandmother – had a very pleasant time and today. I went to church but I did not like the minister. He drew an awful picture of hell. By his talk you would think he had been there and perhaps he is a native.... I think Aunt Mary takes the death of little Josephine very hard and I fear she is worrying too much for her good.
“Write when you will be here and I will meet you at the station house and give you as good a reception as I would our much-honored President Franklin Pierce, yes, far better. He deserves the finger of scorn from every woman and every man that loves liberty. Col. Fremont is the man, Jessie [Fremont’s wife] the lady to adorn the White House and give to all the freedom of speech in Kansas as well as New Hampshire. Look at his noble face and ask yourself if his look is not far superior to that long-faced lantern jawed old Buch of a Batchelder without any deer. Your heart says yes if your tongue does not speak it...My respects to all the old Hunk’ers and tell them I feel for them but the Fremont boys know they have the approbation of the ladies. Therefore I will say nothing to them only go on a few weeks more and you will be richly rewarded for your labor.”
Fine political content with a heavy anti-slavery leaning.
The letter is in excellent condition. Punctuation added for clarity.
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