Peter Buell Porter letter to Henry Clay, 17 November 1823

Black Rock, November 17, 1823.

Dear Sir, I received your favor of September some days ago.

The singular results in our late elections, with the speculations on them in our newspapers, will show you the uncertainty of the ultimate vote of this State on the presidential question. The zeal and pertinacity with which Van Buren and his friends have pushed Mr. Crawford (who has no substantial popularity here) without any other argument in his favor than the necessity of party d scipline, have disgusted the Republicans of this State, and produced great dissatisfaction and division in our ranks.

The cleverest fellow in our delegation is Dudley Marvin, a new member from Ontario, to whom I have given a letter of introduction to you. He was from New England, and educated a Federalist, but is a Republican in principle and practice, and has for some time been in the confidence of our party. He possesses a heart as well as a head of the first order. I hope you will notice him in public as well as in private, and I am confident your attentions will be amply repaid in the pleasure you will derive from his acquaintance.