Washington Aug. 7 1842
I have attended meeting in the city to day, about a mile & an [a] half from my boarding house.
Mr Slade went with me. we had a fine sermon from Mr Smith a Congregational minister
who is [setted? settled?] in that society. I write my letters to you generally Sunday after meeting.
My dear Friends, Your joint letter of last Monday ar-
rived yesterday morning, and I rejoice to learn by it that
you both continue well. In my last letter I informed you
that your letter of the previous Monday had not, at the time of
my writing, been received. It however came on the next day;
and I was very sorry to hear that Judge French had lost his
little boy. It must be a severe disappointment to their hopes: but
if the child was not to survive its parents, they could probably
better part with him in its early childhood, than at some ten
or twenty years [ ]. My health continues perfectly good, and
altho' some part of the time the weather has been very warm, I
do not perceive any bad effects from it, more than during our
summers in Vermont. I exercise very freely by walking every
fair day after tea, which we have about six, and am careful
not to be out in the evenings.- and as my appetite remains good
I think I shall be likely to remain well the little times it
will be necessary to remain here. It is now thought Congress
will adjourn in about two weeks. This however is not certain. It
will very much depend upon the course the President will take
with the Tariff bill, which was sent to him yesterday, and just
as it came from the House of Representatives. The Locos in the
Senate have opposed the
its
passage in every way in their power.
They have proposed every sort of amendment to the bill,- some
of which were perfectly ridiculous. I should think we have had
the yeas and nays taken perhaps fifty times on the bill in the
proposed amendments. We had but twenty five whigs to support the
bill, being exactly one half of the Senate, (Tennessee not being represented)
There are twenty Locos who all go together like clockwork, and five
Southern whigs, who are against the distribution and against protec-
tion. Yet one of these five Mr Henderson of Missisippi [Mississippi], is absent,
at New York,- probably willingly; and Mr Berrien of Georgia, tho'
present, has taken but little part in the discipline, and has very seldom
voted. The bill under these circumstances was passed by 25 to 23
It is the prevailing opinion that Mr Tyler will put his veto upon
the bill: yet there are many here who think he will sign it.
If he does veto it, it is difficult to conjecture what course will
be adopted. There is much irritation among the whigs, some
are inclined to adjourn and leave every thing in its present state
of confusion: - a Government without revenue, and without money or
credit, and all the great and vital interests of the country prostrated.
I am nevertheless of the opinion, that should our present bill fail,
that another attempt will be made to pass some kind of Tariff
bill, perhaps upon the plan proposed by Mr Simmonds, fixing a [home]
valuation, and then assessing a duty on that valuation of twenty
percent, and say nothing about the distribution of the proceeds of the
public lands, as they are already to go to the States unless the duties
are raised above twenty percent. In this case the protection of wool
would be slightly lessened- and perhaps some other articles. But woolen
cloths might be better protected by establishing a minimum, than
they are by the present bill
It was expected that the Treaty would have been submitted
to the Senate for their approbation before this time, and why it has
not been I do not know. I was in the State Department about a
week ago, and was informed by Mr Websters son that all matters
in dispute had been satisfactorily arranged, and that the treaty
would probably be laid before the Senate during the last week.
Mary asks me if I have heard any good music since I have
been here? There is a very fine band belonging to the Government, which
performs in front of the Capital every Thursday towards night, and
on Saturday evenings at the Presidents- They play very finely, and
there are large collections of Ladies and gentleman to hear them.
I have generally attended when they perform at the Capital, but
I have not attended at the Presidents. It is said that there has been
some very fine performances at the Theatre, and at the Circu[s]
but I have attended neither. I have walked round the public
grounds and inspected the borders every two or three days. There
are a great variety of flowers, but many of them are the same
that are in your garden; yet there are others that are new to
me. I have engaged the gardener to put up for me the seeds
of several kinds which I have pointed out, and will bring them
home with me. It is said that the Athea will grow from the
seeds. I will secure some if they will be ripe enough before I
leave here. I will purchase "Winslow on the holy spirit" if I
can find it. I intend to purchase a few books at New York
on my return. You need give yourselves no trouble about my
getting money to carry me home. Altho' I expect to have to take
a considerable part of my debenture in Treasury notes, yet
I find I can get gold and silver enough to bear my expenses
home, and perhaps I can get a draft for some part of it on
New York, on Boston. I have paid my board and expenses here
in such money as I have drawn; but it would not pass current
at the North.
Free S C C Crafts. U S S
Nathan S. Hill. Esquire
Craftsbury
Vermont
S C. Crafts
Aug 7 - 42
I am glad to know that your political horizon in Vermont is
growing brighter. I should be very much grieved if the "Star"
that has shone so long above the horizon, should be obfuscated
by Locofocoism. I remain most affectionately, yours &c
My love to our friends
S C Crafts