A well-written letter by a Baltimore Quaker, written “one day after the glorious victory” in municipal elections of the newly organized Whigs.

“…It will no doubt surprise a lady to be addressed with what I intend a description of our great & glorious Whig victory, but, as it is necessary for a voter to have a mother, among his other qualifications, and as the mother generally exercises an important control over the minds of her children — both male and female, it is necessary that she should be imbued with a little of the zeal of a Whig, so as to encourage her rising sons to pursue that path which alone will continue to keep our glorious constitution on its original bases, and the laws emanating from that constitution to be respected and obeyed. Yesterday was a proud day for our little monumental city, and I am happy in saying that my gloomy anticipations were not realized. The polls were opened at the usual hour and so great was the anxiety of all concerned to get their votes register early in the day lest some unforeseen occurrence such as death by making divers causes, should prevent them, if they delayed, that in two hours after the polls opened one half the voting was done. The greatest order prevailed throughout the day, and both parties acknowledge that they have never witnessed a more orderly, or quiet election, than the well contested one we had yesterday. It was an election of principle against unhallowed power — and principle prevailed.

The first five wards of the city — the district (mis?) represented by Isaac McKim  in Congress gave a majority of 219 votes against executive usurpations, the illegal seizure of the public monies, and the detested doctrines of the protest. The total majority of the city in favor of a more efficient “reform” than that promised by the “Old man” (or boy) is 314, which shows a gain on our side since last election of nearly 1000 votes. Does this not tell the “Powers that be” in more emphatic language than we used when they sent the “protest” for the inspection of the people that we hold no such doctrines as they are pleased to dictate, but that the people define for their selves the meaning of the great charter of their liberties.

Our political opponents retained a cheerful expression of countenance throughout the day, and bet confidently in heavy amounts on the success of their candidates, but the Knight of the “rueful visage” paid them a sympathizing visit ere the watchman had cried “past 9 o’clock.” Indeed, I pity them on account of their mortification. They are so unused to defeat, have so long been the victors, that now the change depresses them beyond calculation. Poor Galled jades! They have not even the stimulus of the “Yellow Jackets” to destroy the effects of their iron collars. They have heretofore hugged their chains in ecstasy because they were gilded chains. But now they feel their sores because they are beaten and have foolishly parted with the “gold” — the only salve that could keep them easy. They have lost their party and have lost their money too. As soon as the result of the election was known, the Whig banner — which had been deposited in the Chronicle office — was brought into Market Street & sent forward to the residence of our principle candidate, followed by about 4000 Whigs. Other processions then took place and kept up the joyous uproar until 3 this morning. Some of the Whigs have been in ecstasy ever since, and all of them look happy. The barbers have been obliged to obtain recruits of journeyman & razors, and have agreed among themselves to shave the Hickory’s at so much per square foot. Their faces look as long as a barn door and they are so ashamed of them that it is a difficult affair to find one in the street.

I feel nervous with excitement and two days severe labour in the cause, and must therefore conclude with love to all folks, and with best wishes for the success of the Philadelphia Whigs…”

     The writer’s identity could not be clearly established, though it seems he was a brother-in-law of the Troth family of Quakers who owned a pharmacy in Philadelphia. This election was one of the first head-on contests between two new political parties – the Democrats and Whigs, although the latter, evolving from the National Republicans was still not clearly a place for anti-slavery advocates (like Quakers) could find refuge. The Whig victory in Baltimore made national news because it was not duplicated elsewhere, the Jacksonians retaining control of the US House of Representatives, while the National Republicans/Whigs gained some seats by benefiting from the decline of one-issue third parties like the anti-Masons. The issues cited by the writer – “votes against executive usurpations, the illegal seizure of the public monies, and the detested doctrines of the protest” – seem obscure in retrospect but it’s clear from his words that, at the time, they aroused strong feelings. The “beards” and “razors” comment is interesting because it was apparently connected with a fashion statement of the time that Jacksonian “workingmen” could be distinguished by their facial hair. It’s also ironic that the writer felt he should apologize, with tongue in cheek, for writing a political letter to a woman.