Washington, July 24 1842
My dear friends,
Your very acceptable letter of the 18th arrived yesterday
morning. I have lately received the letters which you mail
on mondays early on the mornings of Saturdays. I am thank-
ful to learn by your letter that you and our other friends continue
well; and I pray that you may all remain so until I may be
permitted to meet you again. It has been my good fortune to con-
tinue well, perhaps as much so as it has been usual while in Vermont.
It yet remains uncertain when I may be permitted to return, I
now think it will not be sooner than the middle of August, altho'
until lately I had supposed we might not have found it necessary
to continue here so long. Business seems to accumulate upon us.
The Senate will
tomorrow
commence the discussion of the new tariff bill
which has passed the House of Representatives, and I have reason
to expect it will be violently opposed by a part of the Senate, and
some amendments may probably be made in the bill. There is a bare
majority in the Senate in favor of a protective tariff, but I think
these may be depended upon. I should be satisfied with the bill
which has passed the House, as it gives a very fair protection to
all of the main interests of the country, provided it can be carried
into execution agreeably to the intention of those who framed
it. But there are so many proceeds practised by foreign (and pro-
bably domestic) manufactures [manufacturers] and importers, by under valuation
abroad, smugling [smuggling], bribery, &c. that the revenue is often defrauded,
and the manufactures [manufacturers] deprived of a considerable part of the
intended protection. When we shall have passed this bill it is
the general belief that Capt Tyler will veto it, mainly on the
account of the provision contained in it, to continue the distribution
of the proceeds of the public lands among the States; and some think
he would veto it, if the land distribution was not in it, because
the bill gives more than an incidental protection to manufactures.
If the President shall affix his veto on account of the land, I
believe it is the universal determination of the Whigs to send him
a new tariff bill, leaving out the distribution. This must be done
or the government will come to a perfect stop. There is very little
money now in the Treasury, and still a very scanty and diminished
revenue accruing, and the whigs, being the majority, will be held
responsible for any deficiency in the supplies. It is believed by
many that we have no revenue laws inforce [enforced], and that it will be
so decided by our [ ], if the collectors attempt to enforce the
collection of the duties claimed to be due on importations since
the first inst.
It is reported that Mr Webster and Lord Ashburton have agreed
upon a line between Maine and New Brunswick. This I have from
one of the New Hampshire
Maine
Senators who has it from the Maine &
Massachusetts commissioners, who have given their assent to the
arrangement. The line is nearly the same as proposed by the
King of Holland, with the additional item of a free navigation
of the St Johns river. New Hampshire to have a small tract
lying between Indian stream & the Easter branch of Connecticut
River, then to continue on the old divisional line between
Vermont and Canad[a], and New York and Canada, to the St Lawrence,
giving us Rouse's point &c. I do not learn that any thing is
done in setling [settling] the North line of Oregon Teritory [Territory], or from Lake
Superior to the Lake of the Woods. Maine is to have three hundred
thousand dollars in money, and to have the expenses of the [ ]
expedition paid. Such I understand to be the manner in which
the North Eastern boundary is about to be adjusted. It is reported
that the United States, and not Great Britain, are to pay Maine: this
I can hardly believe. If so I very much doubt whether the Senate
will advise the ratification of the treaty. Perhaps this is a mistake.
I am very glad to hear that your crops are promising,
notwithstanding the frost and snows of June, and I should like
very well to be with you, and aid you in securing them; I pro-
bably shall be able to aid you in securing part of them. There
is a beautiful flowering shrub in the Capital grounds and about
many of the gentlemans houses, called Athea. it grows like a
small tree, from four to ten feet high and is covered with blossoms
as large as a holly hock. They are of various colors, as white, red
pinks, white with red centers &c. They continue in blossom several
weeks, they are yet in full bloom. The dahlias, running rose bushes,
and many other flowers are yet in blossom. I have gathered
seeds of the double hollyhock- White, black, red, & yellow, very double
and very elegant, which I intend to bring home. I have within a
few days received a short letter from Mrs Todd, she says she is well
that she has not for a long time had any letter from Craftsbury.
I shall answer this letter the first time I have sufficient leisure.
you will perceive that this letter is dated on sunday. I have
attended meeting to day, as I do every sunday, and the remainder
of the day after meeting I think I cannot put to better use than
writing home. I have had letters from Vermont giving
the result of the State convention. I hope the whigs will rally this
fall; I believe they have the power to carry the election, and hope they
will use it.
Free S C Crafts U S Senate
Nathan S. Hill. Esquire
Craftsbury
Vermont
S C Crafts
July 24 -42
Give my love to all friends, and believe me to be
very affectionately
yours Saml C Crafts