1838 - Letter from a Whig state Senator whose vote against his party allowed Democrats to take control of the Pennsylvania's House of Representatives during the contested election of 1838 that led to the Buckshot War

"You may expect to see me branded as a coward and a traitor, although I went out of the door when some of the above went out the windows. . .."

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1838. Envelope or Cover.

This stampless folded letter, which was sent by John Strohm to a relative in Ohio, measures 15½" x 9¾". It is datelined "Harrisburg Dec 22nd 1838"." It bears a circular Harrisburg, Pennsylvania postmark, a paid handstamp, and a manuscript 25 rate mark. In nice shape. A transcript will be provided.

In it, Strohm described some of the events that occurred after both the Whigs and Democrats presented differing ballot tallies certified by partisan judges that would decide the control of the state's House of Representatives. The Whigs already controlled the Governorship and the Senate, so a victory in the House would have given them complete control of the state. Tempers ran hot, and violence appeared imminent.

• "Tis true, we are no longer molested with lawless intruders, nor in danger of personal violence, but we have two bodies each claiming to be the house of Representatives. . .. There is great excitement . . . and we really seem to have been, or are yet, on the eve of a Revolution [but] I have it now in my power to prevent it. [However,] it cannot be done without frustrating the designs of Stevens, Ritner, & Burrowes, and thereby bringing down on my devoted head the bitter excoriations of those worthies [of my party], and what is still worse, the denunciating and contempt of many who were my friends, and whose good opinions I highly esteem. You may expect to see me branded as a coward and a traitor, although I went out of the door when some of the above went out the windows. . .. I have at length determined to sacrifice myself for the good of my Country. . .. Although [my constituents] may not appreciate my motives at first, perhaps they may in time. . .. "

Strohm's reference to Whig leaders fleeing out of windows is not an exaggeration; three of them were forced to do so to escape assassination when a violent mob of Democrats invaded Senate Chamber shouting they would kill Penrose, Stevens, and Burrowes. Fears of open conflict had merit, and after Democratic President Van Buren refused to provide peacekeeping assistance from the Army that was requested under Article IV of the Constitution, the Governor armed 1,000 members of the state militia with buckshot-loaded muskets to stop rioting in the streets outside the legislature, thus giving the crisis its name.

Inside the legislature, the Democrat mob remained in control. In the end, no one was injured as State Senator Strohm and two other Whigs voted with the Democrats in order to restore peace.

(For more information, see "Pennsylvania's Buckshot War of 1838" at the Pennsylvania Heritage website and "Letters of Honorable John Strohm" in Volume XXII of Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society online,)

At the time of listing, nothing similar is for sale in the trade. Rare Book Hub reports no similar accounts have appeared at auction, although two militia copybooks containing militia pay and administrative orders during this period sold in 2012. OCLC reports the Historical Society of Pennsylvania holds a diary describing the disorder.