"The Granite State Has
Gone for Jackson by (a) 7000 Majority"

JOHN MILTON NILES (1787-1856)Postmaster General for Martin Van Buren. 1½ pp. Autograph Letter Signed with exceptional political election content just after the 1832 national election

Addressed to R.C. Hale, Bellefonte, Penn.:

“Hartford Nov. 10, 32 D Sir, I send you the enclosed List of returns from N Hampshire, the Granite State has gone for Jackson by 7,000 majority.

Maine has done equally well we have a gain over the late election of Governor in every county, & my friends there write me that our majority will be from 6 to 10,000 Seventeen Votes for old Hickory from N. England & a great increase of popular votes in the other states. The result in Connecticut is highly favourable to the good cause of democracy.

In 123 towns the vote is Jackson 11,028 Clay 17,349 Wirt 3,330. Nine towns to be heard from. The result is more favourable than my most sanguine expectations. We have broke the backbone of the Nationals & most of the federal Antis voted the Clay Ticket, & those who voted for Wirt are mostly democrats.

We have gained over 18,200 nearly 7,000 votes; And they gained but 4,400. The Nationals claim a victory, but one more such victory will be fatal to them. In haste Yours J. M. Niles. The returns from N. York you will have learnt before you get this: they come in nobly, we are already 14,000 ahead, with every member of Congress so far as heard from. There can be no doubt the state has gone for Jackson, probably by 10,000 majority.”

The campaign in 1832 was dominated the so-called “Bank War” and was notable for being the first in which the candidates were chosen by national nominating conventions; that task had previously been carried out by Congressional caucuses, state legislatures or non-representative political meetings. Jackson’s smashing victory in 1832 spelled the end for both the National- Republican and Anti-Masonic parties. They would later be reconstituted and join in the formation of the Whig Party. Integral address leaf free franked by Niles: “Free JM Niles PM.” Red Hartford postal stamp. Separated at center fold, wax seal tear, mostly Fine.                                                  $400 - up