AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED, 9 MARCH 1835, FROM WASHINGTON, TO WILLIAM OR FRANCIS BAYLIES, DISCUSSING RELATIONS WITH FRANCE, POLITICAL MATTERS, AND PERSONAL SENTIMENTS

Folio sheet, folded to 4pp, about 25 lines of ink manuscript on each pages [1] and [2]. Final leaf is blank. One archivally repaired short closed tear [no loss], Very Good.

When he wrote this informative Letter, Brigadier General Wool, the Army's Inspector-General, was on official business in Washington. During the course of Wool's long career-- which included service in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War-- he earned a well-deserved reputation as an extraordinarily capable soldier and organizer. Here he brings his friend Baylies current on the feud between President Jackson and his erstwhile supporter, Senator [and former Judge] Hugh White of Tennessee. White, who began his political career as a Jacksonian-- indeed, he succeeded Jackson in the U.S. Senate after Jackson lost the 1824 presidential election-- became disenchanted with Jackson's lust for enhanced presidential power. White then joined Henry Clay and the new Whig opposition party. When White voted against spending three million dollars on fortifications, a measure which Jackson supported, White made a bitter enemy of the President, who vowed to do whatever was necessary to thwart White's presidential bid in 1836.
Wool also discusses the status of the French Spoliations negotiation: France had promised to pay the United States an instalment of $25,000,000 but had not yet done so.
The complete letter reads as follows:
Washington
9 March 1835
My Dear Baylies,
I received your kind favor from Baltimore and thank you for it.
Since you & your agreeable companions left us we have felt very much inclined to pull up stakes and follow you. It has I assure you been very loansome [sic]. Indeed we have missed you very much. To add to our gloom the weather has been worse since you left us, if possible, than it was before.
By the Globe of to day you will perceive that he intends to assail Judge White. The cast vote of the judge over the rejection of the three millions will not be forgotten. It was the unkind cut, and shews in what direction he and his friends intend to go. The campaign is open, but what the result will be I am unable to say. I shall remain a mere looker on.
This morning we had an [?] with dispatches, but I believe they contain nothing of importance. It is said that our affairs with France do not appear any worse than they did. We have a report that private letters say that the French chambers will vote the twenty five millions with a proviso, that is, to be paid in case we have taken no war like steps toward France.
If you are still with Mr and Mrs Gorham, remember both Mrs. Wool & myself to them in the kindest manner- & for yourself believe me always your friend.
John E. Wool.