MHS Collections Online

Salem Washington
H. R. Decr. 18 -- 1838 --

I write again to you, my dear Wife,
in this most impropitious place for
writing -- but how can I better employ
my time, in this impropritious place
for writing, while the Clerk is calling
the yeas & nays? I feel, judging from
myself, that my letters will be accepta-
ble, even if they contain nothing new,
or particularly interesting. They
will show assure you, I hope, that
I am in good health, and that those
most dear to me at home, are not less
dear to me, when abroad. I am
disappointed -- having prepared my-
self to make a speech this morning on
the Haytien subject, and being cut off
by the previous question. But this is the
fortune of war. A man must be acc-
ustomed to the place -- start quick -- bellow
loudly & repeatedly to catch the Speaker's
attention and get the floor. I am sorry my
labor is lost, as I felt prepared, and may
not soon have so favorable an occasion to

let them hear my voice.

Tell Eliza P I thank her for
her letter. It was very kind in her
to write. Her letter gave me much sat-
isfaction. Give my love to her, and assure
her that her letter shall not remain
unanswered. I am delighted that her Father
is so much better, & hope he will soon be
restored to his usual health and loco-motive
powers.     I have read the address
of my successor with great pleasure. It is
well written & very sound & sensible.

Tuesday Evening. My Dear Wife -- I was never
so much astonished in all my life, I have
made my debut -- after all. Yesterday when the
house adjourned, they were considering a petition offered
by Mr. Reed, praying in effect, that Congress would take mea-
sures for the acknowledgment of the Independence
of Hayti. Mr. Wise began by making a very short
speech. Mr. Adams followed. Mr. Wise replied at
length. Then the house adjourned. I prepared my-
self last evening to reply to Wise, but Mr. Grennell of
Masss. got the start of me & went over the whole ground.
Then Mr. Philmore of N. Y. observed, that a fortnight
had passed & the States had not yet been called for
Petitions & he hoped that the subject would be postponed
untill the States had all been called, that the Petitions
might be presented & the Committees have something

to do. It was also moved that the whole subject
be laid upon the table, & the previous question was
also called for. The motion to lay on the table was
first put & lost. Then the previous question was
put & carried & the question was taken on the petition
& it was referred to the Committee on foreign rela-
tions -- the disposition desired by the friends of the
Petition.     After that, it was supposed
of course that we should go on quietly presenting petitions.
Several members from Masss. presented theirs &
I rose to present my petitions. I presented several
abolition petitions, and they were laid upon the table,
according to the rule adopted. I then presented one
I had for the recognition of Hayti &c & moved that
it be referred as the other had been, to the Committee
on foreign relations. Upon that, Mr. Legaree -- the
celebrated Mr. Legaree of Charleston rose & objec-
ted, & made a violent speech against it. He
considered it as part of a plan to attack
the institutions of the South &c &c &c &c I could
not hear 1/4. of what he said. It was a most try-
ing moment to me. He was attacking a petition
presented by me. He commanded the utmost
attention. He was called to order by the Speaker --
but there was a general cry from the South
"Go on -- Go on". He went on, & when he set
down, several rose -- I, among the rest. Cush-
man moved the previous question. I rose
& said I hoped he would not insist upon it. He (poor creature) did however, but it
was lost. I then rose & replied off-hand
to Mr. Legaree—felt self-possessed & made a
perfectly extemporaneous speech of about
40 minutes. How did he succeed? you will
all say. My dear wife, I believe your young
husband did very well for a beginner. There was
perfect silence and attention. Every eye was
fixed upon me. It was a trying situation. Old
Mr. Adams' [face?] listened most attentively &
when I set down -- Wise rose to reply to me,
but an adjournment was called for & carried.
So it [car?] goes on tomorrow.     Our Delegation
gathered around me & congratulated me
with great warmth.     This may seem
hardly worth while for me to give in detail,
but it is interesting to me & of course to
you, my dear wife. I am now fairly
in for it. I should be pleased to have you
communicate this to my friend, the Sheriff.

I can't go home. I have not mentioned the
subject before -- thinking it doubtful whether I
ought to go, but wanting to go. But considering
the distance -- the shortness of the Session -- my en-
gagements the state of things in the House, & the inconveniences altogether, I have
abandoned the idea. My dear -- dear Brother.
How much this days doings has made me think of
him. What an intense interest he would have felt --
but he is gone beyond all these earthly excitements &

[This text appears in the left margin of page one of the letter.] agitations -- & is safe, henceforth safe & happy, in a better world.
I think of him constantly -- more and more. What a Brother. What
a friend he was. Several of his Maryland friends have spoken of him
with great interest.     Poor Dear little, Tutty. Tell
her to have patience. Her Father has not for-
gotten her -- O -- No -- nor either of his dear children.