Item 64: Letter from Richard Rush to “Gentlemen”, 1838 December 31
Item — Box: 11, Folder: 64
Dates
- Created: 1838 December 31
Creator
- Rush, Richard, 1780-1859 (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
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
7 ⅞ in. x 9 ⅞ in.
Description:
This is a letter from Richard Rush to a group of gentlemen on December 31, 1838. In the letter, Rush writes that he has met and spoken with Asher Miner. The context of the note seems to be that the recipients have acted underhanded or maliciously to Miner and his companions, and Rush is warning the “gentlemen” of his letter that history will not portray them kindly in their actions. Rush states that it is the senators who have acted “noble,” explaining where the tension is occuring but a term that appears to be used in the sarcastic following his metaphor of history. Rush continues his letter in attempts to move the recipients to respond to the struggles of Miner, stating that their rewards will be tenfold but concludes by stating that the names of the men have become public property as the community observes their actions.
The creator of this letter, Richard Rush, was born in Pennsylvania in 1780. Considering Rush’s close relationship to James Madison, he was quick to be hoisted up to positions like the United States Attorney General, Secretary of Treasury and State, ambassador to Britain, and minister to France.
Asher Miner, who was a signature of the paper being discussed, was born in Connecticut in 1778. Asher was a printer who established the Pennsylvania Correspondent.
Location:
Wilkes-Barre, Lydenham, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Transcription:
Page 1:
Lydenham (Penn township) near Philadelphia December 31. 1838 Gentlemen:
Two days ago I received from a friend in Wilkesbarre, “the advocate” Extia of the 25th instant containing the proceedings signed by Asher Miner and others, which have been talked over at my fire side; and I feel unable to withhold any longer the poor but sincere tribute of my heartfelt acquiescence in the sentiments of the concluding paragraph. History supplies instances in which heretofore whole communities have been saved by the conduct of a few individuals, sometimes by a single one, on great and trying emergencies. The future historian of Pennsylvania will record this to be the predicament in which yourselves and Mr Montelius stand in reference to the recent events at Harrisburg. Nor will he withhold his tribute from the senators who have acted so noble a part. But to take the lead in
Page 2:
such a case was the tug. You had to break party trammels and face party displeasure - a trial as sore as when mutins Levola laid his head on the burning coals. Yet had you not broken the trammels, also can say what would have been the state of things in our happy commonwealth three months hence, or even at this moment? “The beginnings of strife is like the working of mighty waters” and you presented its beginning. You will have the reward of your own approving consciences, you will be sure of the verdict of of ten times in your favor, and among your contemporaries the calm-minded and well-judging of which all parties unite in doing honor to your motives as they cannot fail to perceive the great public good produced, and incalculable amount of evil prevented, by your conduct.
I will offer no apology for this letter though unknown to you. Your names have become public property at a momentous crisis, and as one
Page 3:
of the community I merely claim to render you my share of the public. thanks for the public tranquility which you and your associates have so mainly been the instruments in securing for us all. In these feelings and with every sentiment of respect, I subscribe myself your fellow - itvren, Richard Rush.
Mess[ers]: Butter + Sturdevant, Members of the House of Representatives from Luzerne.
Lydenham (Penn township) near Philadelphia December 31. 1838 Gentlemen:
Two days ago I received from a friend in Wilkesbarre, “the advocate” Extia of the 25th instant containing the proceedings signed by Asher Miner and others, which have been talked over at my fire side; and I feel unable to withhold any longer the poor but sincere tribute of my heartfelt acquiescence in the sentiments of the concluding paragraph. History supplies instances in which heretofore whole communities have been saved by the conduct of a few individuals, sometimes by a single one, on great and trying emergencies. The future historian of Pennsylvania will record this to be the predicament in which yourselves and Mr Montelius stand in reference to the recent events at Harrisburg. Nor will he withhold his tribute from the senators who have acted so noble a part. But to take the lead in
Page 2:
such a case was the tug. You had to break party trammels and face party displeasure - a trial as sore as when mutins Levola laid his head on the burning coals. Yet had you not broken the trammels, also can say what would have been the state of things in our happy commonwealth three months hence, or even at this moment? “The beginnings of strife is like the working of mighty waters” and you presented its beginning. You will have the reward of your own approving consciences, you will be sure of the verdict of of ten times in your favor, and among your contemporaries the calm-minded and well-judging of which all parties unite in doing honor to your motives as they cannot fail to perceive the great public good produced, and incalculable amount of evil prevented, by your conduct.
I will offer no apology for this letter though unknown to you. Your names have become public property at a momentous crisis, and as one
Page 3:
of the community I merely claim to render you my share of the public. thanks for the public tranquility which you and your associates have so mainly been the instruments in securing for us all. In these feelings and with every sentiment of respect, I subscribe myself your fellow - itvren, Richard Rush.
Mess[ers]: Butter + Sturdevant, Members of the House of Representatives from Luzerne.
Creator
- Rush, Richard, 1780-1859 (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