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Description
Dudley updates George on the state of the government in Washington and addresses a question about debts owed to Deacon Washburn
Date
Winter 2-26-1826
Keywords
Congress, House, President, Statesmen, Deacon Washburn, Ohio, Mrs. Chase, Mr. Gaillard, Mr. McIlvaine, Panama Question, South Carolina, Jersey
Recommended Citation
Chase, Dudley, "Letter to George Chase" (1826). Philander Chase Letters. 592.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/592
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Transcript
Washington February 26. 1826
Dear George
Yours of 18th is rec[eive]d and I must confess your speculations on the gen[era]l character, from a single speech, of particular members of Congress is rather a rash cast; but you have certainly had a fortunate hit. I read your first page, anonamously [sic] as to the writer, to a particular friend of mine of the House and he said the remarks were just, and affirm’d that the Author must have been personally acquainted with the member alluded to, and with their congressional standing & labours or he never could have delineated so perfectly. -- Be that as it may, perhaps at no time since the formation of the govt. have parties been so poorly organised as at the present. Indeed but few know precisely where they are. And fewer yet, are known by others. All is in hotchpot all is uncertainty. I [think] [them] [grave] hastening towards a development, and will [eventually] end [well] for the Administration. I am bro’t to the belief, from a confidence, which I consider well formed, that the President, and his executive advisors, are honest, and are sincerely aiming at the general good and prosperity of the Country. I also believe them to be wise and enlightened Statesmen. On the contrary, the Leaders of the Opposition, as far as their feelings and views are known by their conduct, appear to be seeking for occasion to find fault, and thus far they have been very unfortunate in [pointing] out the cause of clamour, or grounds of their complaint. They have been equally [?] in saluting their rallying points. They have pass’d by the Thing by & noble [marks], and have attacked the pawns on the board, with all the parade of of [sic] skilful [sic] [?]. Their moral goods have been [wanting], too many of their [Master] [peeres] have been put in check by the same measurement, and their game has already become desperate. One or two of their knights remain and bluster & hop skip about on the board with a great deal of [a] [duty] and [?] but it won’t do -- their game is [lost] for this heat.
[pshon]! no more of this --
Your faith have have [sic] tomorrow, for Ohio, [she] has answered some the ends for which he made his journey, and returns but little disappointed.
I thank you for all the minutiae of intelligence you afford me of yours & mine, your way of [telling] matters & things amuses me mightily. Give my love to your good & excellent wife and tell her I most heartily wish her half the happiness she deserves, and that’s enough for one poor mortal.
As to Dea. Washburn, I tho’t I had already ans’d your letter on that head - pray [look] over and find what I have written. I am not indebted to the Dea. as you will see by referring to any books. I have made no promise to furnish him. The Ten bushels you have already let him have, is, I should suppose, what he would want for his family’s use. I say again, I am under no obligation to him -- yet I would not see him suffer. Best this does not mean that I would furnish him as he might please to claim or make demand. I [?] [?] not to try to pay his debts, or to keep [him] dear of pressures. If I was at home I should judge of the necessity of the case by [?] & knowing the [?], [?], and then act accordingly. But must leave the math to your [judgement] and your Aunts decision. Act right & that will do. I have been rather out of kilter and still am, but hope I am gaining. have written Mrs. Chase this forenoon & at 2. P.M. let her see this and she will not be [very] alarmed for my sake.
Mr. Gaillard, a senator from South Carolina died this afternoon. his complaint was of long standing, a disease of the Liver. Mr. McIlvaine another Senator, from [New] Jersey is dangerously ill of a paralysis and will probably never be in his seat again.
So we go.
The Panama Question hangs & [?] but never blossoms. Will probably put forth this week. It has [exuted] much talk & some interest.
It will be June before I am at home in all probability - shall write you again before long. In the meantime continue to write & write & write
Your affectionate friend & Uncle
D Chase