Harrison, William Henry (1773-1841) to: J. F. Cox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00112 Author/Creator: Harrison, William Henry (1773-1841) Place Written: North Bend, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 November 1838 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; 24 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Urges Cox to reconsider his decision not to attend an upcoming convention for he is relying on his influence to " ... counter act certain sinister movements which were apprehended." Discusses his presidential prospects in Ohio for the 1840 election. "I knew enough of the foolish Conduct of some of the leading Whigs to make me believe that they had imbibed very erroneous notions in relation to the Whig strength in the State. But greatly as I lament the result, It has smoothed my way greatly in this State." Mentions that many men have avowed to give up on Henry Clay as a Whig presidential candidate. Brings up the political leanings of some newspapers concerning the election of 1836, in which Harrison was a Whig party candidate but was defeated by the Democratic candidate Martin Van Buren. In the postscript he states, "I should have had a majority of 15 or 20,000 if it had not been generally believed that my Election was hopeless." Written to Cox in Somerset, Pennsylvania.
Harrison won the Whig party presidential nomination over Henry Clay in 1840 and beat the Democratic candidate Martin Van Buren to become President.
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