Collection of Incoming Correspondence 1870-1877

40 letters, 57 pages, octavo and quarto, some damp-staining and wear, letters written in both pencil and ink, generally in very good legible condition. The letters discuss legal matters, political affairs, especially the "nuts and bolts" of 19th century politics, partisanship, patronage, and influence. The letters are notable for their early articulation of the antagonistic relationship of Philadelphia and western Pennsylvania, and the resentment felt by the rest of the state towards its largest city: a conflict which resonates to this day.William Andrew Wallace was a lawyer and Democratic Party politician from Clearfield, Pennsylvania. He served in the Pennsylvania State Senate and was its speaker in 1871. He represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate from 1875-1881. After his U.S. Senate service Wallace returned to the state senate. In later years he was interested in the development of local coal resources and headed the Beech Creek Railroad. Wallace died while he was in New York City on business in 1896. October 3, 1871, Mauch Chunk, Pa., Office of Lehigh Valley Rail Road Company [partial letter] "Hon W. A. Wallace, You was [sic] advised last Evening by Telegraph and letter of the withdrawal of Jas. A. Harvey as a candidate for Associate Judge on the Workingmens Ticket which I think will have the Effect of quieting us all down in Carbon and electing our entire ticket & not only this but will insure a full turnout next Tuesday and a full vote for the State ticket. The people all over the County have been aroused and are making full and ample arrangements…" October 4, 1871, Headquarters Democratic County Committee, Lock Haven, Pa. "Hon W. A. Wallace, Dr. Sir, From Estimates made to us the State ticket will have seven hundred majority in our county. It is perhaps safe to deduct 50 from this in consequence of our inability to get out the full vote…" May 22, 1872, from P. Gray Meek, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania "Hon. W. A. Wallace, What I write you about may be none of my business, but I know you will overlook it even if you think so. I understand there will be an effort made at Reading to have the delegates to the National Convention instructed as the N.Y. delegates are, to all intents and purposes for Greeley. If such a course is pursued I honestly believe we will de defeated in this state 30,000 votes. We cannot poll the Democratic vote for Greeley, nor can we fix up the dissatisfaction and division his endorsement would create sufficient to get one half our party to the polls in October. You know the trouble the 9 th resolution gave us last fall it was but a drop compared to the tub ful of radicalism that is proffered in Greeley. We will lose Democratic counties – we will lose Democratic representatives – we will lose Democratic tickets every where, by losing Democratic faith in our leaders and Democratic earnestness in the fight. You can do much to prevent such a movement – in fact you can prevent it! Will you do it and save the Democracy of the State? I do not write simply because I feel this way but because I believe it to be the general sentiment of the Democracy in this section. For one I am very free to say that I will neither vote for nor ask any one else to vote for Greeley, and in case the trickery of a few men about Washington, who expect to get cabinet positions or Foreign appointments succeed in securing his endorsement at Baltimore I shall advocate and work for the immediate calling of an other convention to nominate a Democratic candidate. Let the reading Convention say nothing about him one way or the other. Let us have a Democratic platform with any body on it but Cass for Governor (Noyes I believe is the strongest) and not fettered or fighting on ....[etc]