1844 MISSOURI POLITICS LETTER PRO HENRY CLAY: Autograph letter, signed.

[Missouri][Politics] Autograph Letter Signed. St Louis, Easter Sunday, April 7, 1844. From R. C. Cabeen to his Cousin Mr. J. W. Cabeen in Bluff Post office, Merced County, Illinois. One sheet folded into four leaves. Self-folded to stamp-less envelope. Very good. Legible writing.

Mentions the children have had the measles, and the Spring business season has not yet occurred. At the end a short discussion of wheat prices and crops. Most of the letter is a long discussion of Missouri politics, the election and Henry Clay, etc. In the 1844 election Henry Clay was the Whig candidate and James Polk was the Democratic candidate. A faction of the Democratic Party were known as the Loco Focos and the Whigs charged that Van Buren was a Loco Foco radical. Clay was referred to as "Ol Coon Clay," so that "coon" was a reference to Whigs. These terms are used in the letter:

"It is with joy that I tell you of the devilish licking the locos got here last Monday. The poor devils I pitied them. The City has been under their control for several years. But the coons were determined to disposes them of their power. So last Monday was the day and a good day it was too. May it long be looked upon as the day that gave birth to the freedom of Missouri when the people began to see that locofocoism would never do for a nation to prosper under the Ball had been started. Because it will roll on surrounded by a hole of glory and its – will surpass the Sun in its onward course. Missouri will be seceded or if not seceded so near it that she can be looked upon as one that is fond of the light and eventually be a good demonstrated Whig State. What do you think of that you squatter, you are a mighty deep – that's a fact. I did intend to answer your death blow to Clay but I sent your letter to Father the same day that I got it and I have forgot what they were but I know they was Brown [abolition?] arguments, but to save time I have I have determined on sending you the Mill Boy [newspaper] which gives a fair account of everything of the leading principles and I do say that a fair person will read the Mill Boy and if he can find any Scandal undeserving I will give it – him compare the Mill Boy with the speeches that has been made by both parties and after all the proof he will find in the Mill Boy if he argue -- after all the Proof will say that the Whig Clay party and not the true democracy of 1816 then I will believe in the old saying that a fools opinion is harder to change than a smart man's but if he can't convince of your error by reason they is one great blessing we have the women on our side and we will sing the devil out of you."

"Get out of the way your all unlucky

Clear the track for old Kentucky."

He mentions a Martin Van Buren letter, perhaps the famous Hammet letter regarding Texas Annexation: "if you don't take insult you can't be insulted." Quotes a parable of a shoemaker and another campaign doggerel. Finally:

"You will read the Boy and be convinced of your error and vote for Clay the Man who protects American Industry. I expect you to make a full confession denouncing locofocosim and singing anthems in praise of our Clay. You say you are a locofoco Squatter but don't be like the man that said this horse was 10 feet high. When convinced of his error he said well I have said it and I stick to it. Come out like a man. Coon skins are high and it has been asserted that what makes [them] high is the Whigs are buying them up to catch the locos."