Description:

Levi Woodbury
Washington, DC, January 7, 1826
SC Justice Opines on J.Q. Adams' Candidacy & Politics, Twice Signed
ALS
Levi Woodbury (1789-1851). Autograph Letter Signed, "L. Woodbury", 3pp bifolium, 7.75" x 9.75", Washington City, January 7, 1826. Integral address leaf at verso is signed a second time with Woodbury's free frank, "Free. L. Woodbury", and is postmarked Portland, Maine, January 14, 1826. Expected mailing folds and creases, with isolated instances of overlapping folds obscuring a few words. Central vertical fold has been reinforced with a strip of heavier weight paper affixed at left recto/right verso. Light soiling with minor staining from adhesive. Verso bears the remnants of a red wax seal with an area of loss corresponding to the seal. Overall, in very good condition.

Woodbury's lengthy letter to General Joshua Wingate reads, in full:

"I sit down forthwith to write a few lines in reply to your kind letter of the 1st. instant; although a line from me to Mr. Clapp a few days since will in part explain the state of things here.

After it was found that Mr. Cutts could not be reelected Clerk, the prominent candidates being Lownie and Dickens, no interest was felt by me as to the result since neither of them had been friendly to the administration. I voted, however, for Dickens from certain personal considerations; but find Mr. Lownie makes an excellent Clerk and considerable of his support came from friends to Mr. Adams.

The appointment of Committees had much more of party feeling in it beyond a doubt. The Vice President is on the alert and intends not to trust his popularity to the safe keeping & watch of subalterns. Such men as Mr. Calhoun must be expected to consult their own interests rather than those of rivals - and the more numerous such men are, the more it behooves Mr. Adams to ponder well his ways.

I do not believe, that any organized opposition exists to the administration; but think it will be sustained in all 'correct and proper measures' by large majorities. So far as I can see, a strong disposition exists to give Mr. Adams a chance to display his policy and designate those he wishes to favour - and, after he has done that, to exercise the same liberty with himself in judging of his policy and his favourites.

Indeed, there is less of party feeling and more of principle exercised than one would suppose - a most goodly calm - where Federalists and Democrats, Crawfordites & Jacksonites, all keep side by side without knowing which way the current is to drift them.

Some think that even the President has forgotten, that there was a war in A.D.1812 and who opposed it - or that his own election was resisted by a certain class of gentlemen till it became highly probable which class of gentlemen seem now to bask in the fullest sunshine of Executive favour. God only knows when all this is to end. For one I am resolved to cleave as far as possible to the principles and policy of A.D.1801 & 1812 and am ready to abide the issue.

Mr. Adams shall receive my most cheerful support in every measure consonant with that policy and beyond that no honest politician should dream of going. Beyond that, too, he will, if attempting anything, find a large majority of the Senate exceedingly unmanageable...I am not in his secrets or in those of his enemies. Probably, I never may be in those of either - of course I have a better opportunity to form opinions unbiased; and in forming them shall be very happy often to receive the suggestions of my friends at the East and to whom and more especially to your own family Mrs. Woodbury unites with me in wishing a most kind remembrance."

Woodbury's career in public service spanned over forty years. He served as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1945-1951; U.S. Senator from New Hampshire from 1941-1945; Secretary of the Treasury from 1934-1941; Secretary of the Navy from 1931-1934; 9th governor of New Hampshire from 1923-1924; and as a cabinet member in the Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren administrations. Woodbury received significant support for the presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in 1848.

Joshua Wingate Jr. (1773-1843) grew up in Essex County, Massachusetts, and graduated from Harvard in 1795. He moved to Maine after marrying Henry Dearborn's daughter Julia. After serving as chief clerk for his father-in-law at the War Department, Wingate was named the postmaster at Portland in 1804. Two years later, Thomas Jefferson appointed him the collector for Bath, Maine. In addition to his duties as collector, Wingate served as a brigadier general in Maine's militia and represented Bath at Maine's constitutional convention in 1819.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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