Peter Jay Munro to Peter Augustus Jay, 28 December 1794
Peter Jay Munro to Peter Augustus Jay
N. York 19th. ^278th^ Decr. 1794.
Dr. Peter,
The Election for Representatives in Congress is just closed—in Albany Mr. Glen in Saratoga Mr. Van Allen & in Dutchess Mr. Bailey are unquestionably re-elected— The issue [of] the elections [in] Ulster & Orange will probably prove unfavorable to the fœderal Candidate. Eight1 days before the election it was proposed that old Chief Justice Morris shd. be set up in opposition to Mr. Cortlandt, in W. Chestr & Rich[mon]d prefering him to our other Candidate2 I acquiesed in the nomination & Mr. Harrison, Mr.^Ph[ilip].^ Livingston & myself wrote him a Letter upon the Subject, wh. brought him to town. A Conference ensued that ended in his agreeing to become a Candidate. Mr. Harison Went to the Yonkers and Colo. Fish to Richmond, and secured the Interest of Mr. Cortlandt & Judge Ryerson— expresses were sent to every Part of the County, and as I had suffered myself to engage in the Cause I was prevailed on to go into the County—3 few men are more unpopular than the late Ch[ief]. Justice and I doubt whether his direct Influence could have procured him 100 votes.4
By dint of exertion5, we have been enabled to divide the ^former^ County—6 and had the latter given the stipulated Number of votes our success wd. have been certain. at present it is problematical—but appearances rather favor Mr. Morris. The exertions made at this election serve as preparations for our Grand election next Spring, and this Idea had great weight in engaging me to take active part7 on this occasion. A Letter from your side of the Water declaring the Certainty of your return, and ascertaining the precise time of embarcation is highly necessary— from what I cd. see and learn in the upper part of the state and from Col. Burr’s electioneering Agent there (who mistook me for Mr. Prevost) it will be impossible for Clinton, Burr & the Chan[cello]r. to prevent Uncle Jay’s election.
In N York Ed. Livingston was [in] Opposition to Mr. Watts. The event is very precarious— On Long Island Saml. Jones was the federal Candidate his election is doubtfull. In Columbia Gilbert is re-elected.
Hamilton has given notice of his intended Resignation & it is said Knox & Wolcott also resign.8
Present my ^best^ Respects to Uncle Jay, tell him that we are all well and that on the 23d. Inst. the mill at Bedford began to grind. Adieu Dr Cousin—
P.J.M.
Dft, NNMus (EJ: 00440). Endorsed. This text is elaborately reworked and contains multiple interlineations and excisions, largely stylistic, that have not been noted. Significant excisions are indicated in the endnotes.
1. Here PJM excised “six” and replaced it with “Eight”.
2. Here PJM excised “this was truly with me was truly agt. the Grain, however as I preferred him to Mr. Ph. Livingston & no other candidate could be thought of”.
3. Here PJM excised “Never did I find a man who filled an important public office so entirely destitute ^of^ friends willing to support him ^as the late Ch. Justice. I even^ and I”.
4. Of the candidates for Congress mentioned above, the following were elected or reelected; Henry Glen (1739–1814), Federalist, who served from 1793 to 1800; John Evert Van Alen (1749–1807), Federalist, who served from 1793 to 1798; Ezekiel Gilbert, Federalist, who served from 1793 to 1796; Theodorus Bailey (1758–1828), Republican, who served 1793 to 1796 and from 1799 to 1802; Edward Livingston (Republican), who served 1795 to 1800; Philip Van Cortlandt (Republican), who served 1793 to 1808. Federalists Samuel Jones, Richard Morris, state chief justice (1779–90), and John Watts (1749–1836), who served in Congress in 1793–94, were not elected.
On the campaign for Richard Morris, see Daily Advertiser (New York), 17 Dec. 1794; and the Albany Gazette, 16 Feb. 1795, which asserted: “Westchester & Richmond—Gen. Van Cortlandt is re-elected.— The contest in the district was so well managed by the parties that the successful candidate had but about 20 votes ahead of his competitor, Richard Morris, Esq.”
5. Here PJM excised “in some towns”.
6. Here PJM excised “At Bedford 231 votes were taken & at Rye 120—Greeneburgh 111[?]”.
7. Here PJM excised “in the support of Mr. Morris than he imagines. I will ensure Uncle Jay a majority of six hundred votes in that the County ^of W. Cheste^ if that comes ^continue^ if he is then a candidate—”.
8. Here PJM excised “Aunt Jay & William have gone to Rye to pass the Hollidays at Rye— The Mill at Bedford was set agoing began to grind on the 23d Inst.— The Sansom has sailed ^at last^ two or three a few Days ago this time she carrys”.