Letter from B.H. Thompson, August 6, 1848
This letter from B.H. Thompson describes Thompson’s trip from New York to Albany, and from there to Buffalo and Niagara Falls. He writes that “...by the time you receive this, I shall probably be in the city of Buffalo, and may be at that great wonder of the natural world, the cataract of Niagara.” His purpose in taking this trip is to attend “the world’s convention in favor of free soil and against the extension of slavery in regions now inhabited by freemen…at Buffalo on Wednesday, & will probably be one of the most numerous ever assembled in this country. Every political interest seems to be merged in that greatest of all questions the preservation of our country from the perpetuation of slave representation in congress, and will just as like as not result in affirming the nomination of my old acquaintance Martin Van Buren for president of the U. States, not that we like him at all, except that he seems to be the only man just at present, who can carry the election of chief magistrate into the house of representatives, where it is barely possible he may be elected president”. He continues that “this all important question must now or very soon be settled, & upon that will essentially depend another more important yet, the integrity of our union. For if our government is to be influenced if not wielded by slave representation, there will and must inevitable be an end to the union of the state. A line will have to be drawn between the north & south and two independent confederacies formed out of the present union…”
The Free Soil Party Convention occurred in Buffalo on August 9 and 10, 1848. The convention was held to establish the new Free Soil party in an effort to prevent the extension of slavery into the Western Territories. The convention attracted upwards of 20,000 delegates, and the committee nominated former president Martin Van Buren for president. Although the party did not win the presidential election, they were successful in having 14 Congressmen and 2 Senators elected.
RG 653 Letter from B.H. Thompson to Mary Thompson, August 6, 1848
