Item 47: Letter from John Laporte to Charles F[isher]. Welles, 1828 December, 1838 December 27
Item — Box: 11, Folder: 47
Dates
- Created: 1828 December, 1838 December 27
Creator
- Laporte, John, 1798-1862 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter/Correspondence
Condition Note:
Poor; documents are brittle, torn/ripped into sections, paper is deteriorating.
Measurements:
8 x 9 ¾ in. (Letter); 7 ⅛ x 8 in. (paper envelope)
Description:
This is a letter from John Laporte to Charles Fisher Welles on December 27, 1838. This letter seems to be regarding a piece of legislation that is up for debate. The creator of this letter, John Laporte, was born in Pennsylvania in the French Azilum community in Bradford county in 1798.
John LaPorte was of a prominent founding family in French Azilum. The French Azilum was a settlement that was built as a response to the refugees of the French Revolution. The settlement consisted of French royalists which occurred within Bradford County. The purpose of the settlement was to house and support those fleeing the French Revolution primarily, as well as the enslaved rebellions occurring within the French colony of Saint-Domingue, Haiti. A marker of the settlement, as well as further information resources can be found at the Historical Marker Project. An article examining the inciting incidents and early history of the colony can be found in JSTOR’s digitized collection. The Laporte family were prominent, not only in establishing the settlement beyond its original refugee abilities, but a township in its own name. When it began to disband upon Napoleon allowing those who fled to return to France, the Laporte family were of the only French emigres to remain within Pennsylvania. Their efforts aided in settling a number of other townships in the following years.
Laporte, who was Jacksonian, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and eventually was named Speaker of the House. The letter discusses opposition to legislation and refers to canals. In the late 1830s, canals were being built for economic purposes, such as shipping to different ports. More specifically, the Erie Extension Canal was built around 1838. According to the Library Company’s records of the PA General Assembly, within petitions, remonstrance, and memorials, there is record of Bucks & Philadelphia Co. going against canal improvement. This is likely the opposition which Laporte is discussing within the letter.
Location:
Springfield Township, Pennsylvania
Transcription:
Front Page:
Harrisburg December 27
Dear Sir,
Both branches of the legislature adjourned on Sunday last to meet again on the 2nd of Jan[uar]y, this Christmas frolick is wrong in principle and frantic, very little business of as public nature has been done as yet, a number of bells of a private nature has been acted upon; there is quite an opposition in the legislation this session to the Canals, but I think the punch of the measure have a majority, the conduct of some of the cana committee has made the project unpopular in some sections of the state; I have called up the item of unfinished business respecting the undivided lands in old Springfield Township it is referred to Nathan Denison, Dr Parkhunt of Tyoga and myself, I wish you to write to me and give me your favors on the subject, you will please right soon as we want to report a bill as early in the session as possible; make my compliments to Mr Wells and family and accept for yourself the assurance of my warmest friendship.
John Laporte
Page 2:
Mr Laporte Harrisburg Dec 1828 Dec[ember] 1828 Springfield Bill
J. Laport HR
Charles F Wells Esq[uire] Wyalusing Bradford Co[un]ty PA
Page 2:
Mr Laporte Harrisburg Dec 1828 Dec[ember] 1828 Springfield Bill
J. Laport HR
Charles F Wells Esq[uire] Wyalusing Bradford Co[un]ty PA
Creator
- Laporte, John, 1798-1862 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu