[ALS] Political Letter to Duff Green, Newspaper Publisher, About Andrew Jackson and the Success of the Hickory Clubs

Pittsburgh, [PA], 1828. Very good, extremities worn, seal torn, affecting a few words, light soiling and dampstaining, contents clean otherwise.. [3] pp. Bifolium. with integral address. 7.5 x 12 inches. A wonderful and lengthy political letter from William Snowden, Jackson supporter and son of Pittsburgh Mayor John Maugridge Snowden, to Gen. Duff Green in Washington, owner and editor of the United States Telegraph, a pro-Jackson paper. Snowden discusses the political climate in Pittsburgh and the great success of the Hickory Clubs, the pro-Jackson political organization that would change the course of American electoral campaigns. Contrary to his initial suspicion, Snowden had recently come to believe that there were many Jacksonians in his midst. "We are going on handsomely here. Hickory Clubs are being organized thro' the whole county as well as in the City. These clubs form so many points round which the friends of Jackson may rally in the respective districts and concentrate their forces... At the meeting of the Hickory Club for the West Ward of the City a committee was appointed to ascertain the number of votes in the Ward friendly to the good cause and to report their names to the Club. This duty was performed. Out of 800 qualified voters in the Ward the committee reported the names of 603 persons favorable to Jackson. I give you this fact for your private information, not for publication. The Club for the East Ward appointed a committee for a similar purpose."

Snowden proceeds to elaborate on a meeting held at the Court House, "to discuss the provisions of the proposed Tariffs and the amendment of Mr. Mallory. The meeting was called at 11 o'clock in the morning on a market day when the friends of Jackson who are principally mechanics, manufacturers, and shopkeepers could not attend." Despite the sinister intentions of the opposition, Snowden surmised that the meeting did no harm to their cause, insisting that "The new Tariff is popular with us." Signed and dated Pittsburgh, March 14, '28, Wm, Snowden.

William Snowden (ca. 1805- after 1829) was a frequent correspondent of Green (see Green's letter books). He had accompanied Jackson to Washington after his visit to Pittsburgh and having studied law, was looking for a clerkship in Washington. His father's letter to Jackson describes him as possessing "a good address, some talents and is a young man of steady habits." After 1829 there are no further references to him, except a note that he died young, which must most likely have been the case since he does not show up among any Jackson appointments despite his recommendation by his father and his friendship with Green. (Centennial Volume of the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, PA., 1784-1884, First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Wm. G. Johnston & Co., Printers, pp. 203).

Duff Green (1791-1875) bought the Telegraph in 1826, using it as a platform to support Jackson, and later became a member of Jackson's Kitchen Cabinet though they had a falling out when Green used the Telegraph to openly support Calhoun in his dispute with Jackson.