From Thomas Welsh to John Adams, 6 November 1794
From Thomas Welsh
Boston Novr: 6. 1794
Dear Sir
I have the Pleasure to inform you that Mr Ames is reelected by a very respectable Majority of the Votes of this District and perhaps there never was a time when the Rights of Election were more fully improved or greater Exertions made. you will see by our Papers who the Persons were who stood in the Entry of Fanieul Hall to distribute the fœderal Votes. their party […] the Antifœderal were sanguine of their Success at the Commencement of Election. The Governor came himself to vote for Jarvis he had a Vote offered him for Mr Ames which he refused and said aloud He is not the right Man.1
Mr Russell stood at the Door handing Votes. when the Governor came down he addressed Mr Russell: Sr. how do the Votes go? He replied Mr Ames they tell me has a Majority of more than four Hundred; ah replied the Governor they will put the Cart before the Horse.
You will also see that Mr Dexter is reelected for the next District.
I am Sr with respect your humble St
Thomas Welsh
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President of the United States.”
1. In the Massachusetts congressional elections of 1794, Fisher Ames received 2,178 votes, and Charles Jarvis 1,668 votes. The other six candidates received eleven votes in all. Politician Samuel Dexter (1761–1816), of Lunenburg, Mass., Harvard 1781, represented Massachusetts in Congress from 1793 to 1795. Dexter failed to retain his seat, losing in a subsequent runoff election to Joseph Varnum (A New Nation Votes; , 10:51, 306).