An engaging and historically significant political letter written in the immediate aftermath of the 1832 presidential election, offering a contemporary Northern anti-Jacksonian assessment of the electoral returns and the growing strength of the National Republican movement. Writing from Hartford, Connecticut, on November 10, 1832, the correspondent forwards election results from New Hampshire and Maine before discussing Connecticut's returns in detail. He reports substantial gains for the anti-Jackson forces, noting encouraging gubernatorial and local election results and expressing confidence that public sentiment is shifting away from Andrew Jackson's Democratic coalition. The writer celebrates what he describes as a strong showing for the “good cause,” observing that anti-Jackson candidates had carried numerous Connecticut towns and that former Democratic voters were increasingly abandoning the Jacksonian ticket. He predicts that even where Jackson's allies claim victory, the margin is insufficient to halt the advance of the opposition movement. The letter closes with a postscript noting additional election returns from New York and expressing confidence that the state has likely favored Jackson, though by a reduced majority. The letter captures the intense partisan atmosphere of the 1832 election, one of the formative contests of the Second Party System, fought between President Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay. Written only days after the voting, it provides a valuable firsthand account of how election results were received and interpreted by politically engaged contemporaries before complete returns were available. Addressed to H. C. Hale, Esq., Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, with postal markings and manuscript address panel present. Condition: Folded as mailed with integral address leaf. Small loss at seal area affecting no significant text. General toning, scattered wear, and postal handling expected of a circulated political letter of the period. Overall very good condition. A desirable early American political manuscript offering immediate reaction to one of the most consequential presidential elections of the Jacksonian era.
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Hartford Nov. 10. 32 Sir, I send you the enclosed list of returns from N. Hampshire. The Granite State has gone for Jackson by 1,000 majority. Maine has done equally well; we have a gain over the late election of Governor in every county, & my friends there write me that the majority will be from 6 to 10,000. Connecticut voted for victory from N. England. It is a great increase of popular votes in the State. The result in Connecticut is highly favourable to the good cause. In 123 towns the vote is: Jackson 11,020 Clay 17,349 Wirt 3,330 Nine towns to be heard from. The result is more favourable than my most sanguine expectations. We have broke the backbone of the Nationals; most of the federal Antis voted the Clay ticket, & those who voted for Wirt are mostly democrats. We have gained over 1,020[?] Nearly four votes, we then gain but 4,400. The Nationals claim a victory, but one more such victory will be fatal to them. In haste yours, Oliver Rice [or possibly O. W. Rice]
