AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED FROM GOVERNOR JOSEPH VANCE, URBANA [OHIO], JUNE 12TH, 1838, TO HIRAM GRISWOLD, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY OF THE LOCAL WHIG PARTY: "I HAVE DELAYED ANSWERING YOUR FRIENDLY INVITATION TO JOIN THE WHIGS OF STARK CO. ON THE 4TH OF JULY NEXT AT MASSILLON TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF OUR NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE... I WAS PLEASED TO LEARN FROM MY FRIEND EWING THAT HE WOULD BE WITH YOU, & I HAVE SINCE HEARD THAT GENL. HARRISON HAD ALSO ACCEPTED YOUR INVITATION. - THIS IS AS IT SHOULD BE, AND WILL BE GRATIFYING TO THE CITIZENS OF STARK TO MEET & TAKE BY THE HAND THESE TWO VETERANS OF THE GOOD OLD REPUBLICAN SCHOOL TO WHICH WE ALL PROFESS TO BELONG. THE PRINCIPLES OF THIS SCHOOL AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT & THE PEOPLE ARE ONE, & THAT THIS IS NO SEPARATION OF INTERESTS - BUT OUR GOVERNMENT - OUR PEOPLE - OUR INTEREST & OUR DESTINY. MAKE MY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TO THE CITIZENS OF STARK COUNTY FOR THIS MANIFESTATION OF THEIR FRIENDLY COMMENDATION & REGARD AND ACCEPT FOR YOURSELF THE BEST WISHES OF YOUR FRIEND

Urbana [Ohio], 1838. Large folio leaf, folded to 8" x 12-1/2". [4] pp. Manuscript letter on first page, two center blanks, addressed on final page with postal stamp "Urbana O. Jun. 14" and wax seal remnant. Very Good.

Ohio Whigs gathered at a major convention on July 4, 1838, in Massillon. Mid-term elections were approaching during Democratic President Martin Van Buren's presidency. "The Whigs had a splendid celebration at Massillon on the 4th inst. They were honored with the presence of Gen. Harrison and the Hon. Thomas Ewing, both of whom addressed the citizens that day. The Vanites also, had a celebration at that place on the same day... The Massillon Gazette states that the Whigs outnumbered the Locos about two to one. It is said that there were from 8000 to 10,000 persons present at the celebrations." [Huron Reflector, Norwalk, Ohio, July 24, 1838, page 2.]
Joseph Vance [1786-1852], an Ohio Whig, was its 13th Governor [1836-1838] and the first Whig to hold that position. His service during the War of 1812 earned him the rank of Major General. 'H. Griswold' was likely Hiram Griswold [1807-1881], a lawyer and judge originally from Connecticut who moved to Ohio around 1825. An active antislavery Whig, he was Reporter for the Supreme Court of Ohio from 1844-1848, He became counsel for John Brown in the Harper's Ferry trial, moved to Leavenworth Kansas in 1863, and practiced law for more than 50 years. In addition to being a successful Whig and later Republican politician, Thomas Ewing [1789-1871] was the adoptive father of William Tecumseh Sherman. (Inventory #: 35850)