In the second letter in this group, John Porter, then a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, writes his cousin, a Jacksonian Member of Congress, about the “necessity of caution” for “public men” who might “communicate” things said, “in confidence” that “they have reason to repent of afterwards”. Unlike the Congressman, who spent 18 years in the House of Representatives, Porter held elective office for only two years and was never again tempted to enter the political arena. Content to spend his life as a small-town businessman, he was therefore not famous, but this letter is proof of his astute grasp of public affairs.  Fame, instead, went to his son, Thomas, whose letter, written while a student at Lafayette College, indicates the passion for science which would later make him an eminent Botanist, expert on the flora of Pennsylvania, and later, of Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. These three letters, written over a period of 8 years, give much information about the little-known John Porter, his wife (also related to the Congressman) and his then-young son.

1.     Porter, Maria Bucher, Autograph Letter Signed, Alexandria, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1831, to her husband, John Porter, Philadelphia

Quarto, 2 pages plus stampless address leaf, portion of address leaf cut off, not affecting the address portion itself, but a large tear through that panel has been repaired with tape on verso.

“…I have Thomas McLaughlin digging garden for me to day…the Engineers measured through town yesterday and they think the Canal will go through the alley or rather though part of the hill. They say it is too low through our gardens. I hope it may be so but I still have fears. Mr. Theodore Franks, one of the engineers is sick at Mrs. Fishers with an inflammation of the lungs. Dr. Charlton attended him…”

Born and spending most of his life in a small Pennsylvania town of some 300 residents, where the first transport was by raft and Conestoga Wagon, John Porter, as a legislator, was an enthusiastic booster of the Pennsylvania Canal, begun in 1824, which was intended to tie into the infant railroad system and ultimately to enable shipping goods to the rapidly developing territories of the Midwest.  This letter suggests that his wife was less enthusiastic about a project which might disturb her beloved flower garden.

2.      Porter, John, Autograph Letter Signed. Alexandria, Pa., January 8, 1832, to his father-in-law, John Bucher, Member of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Quarto, 3 pages plus stampless address leaf, tear from seal opening; tear to one fold repaired with tape

When his cousin, the Congressman, sought his opinion about the raging Nullification controversy which pitted President Andrew Jackson against the first proponents of “states’ rights”, John Porter responded with this very thoughtful and knowledgeable warning about the dangers of a controversy that might lead of civil war.

“…you ask my opinion of the sentiments of my namesake in the Legislature of Alabama…the assumed right of State Legislatures, legislating on national affairs…. I believe this course in our legislative bodies (which in most cases have been silently submitted to by the people) has had an injurious effect, it has confounded and confused that distinct and relative rights of the State and general governments. That the representatives of each are delegated by the people for separate and distinct objects – each should be careful how they interfere with the duties of each other. They in my opinion exercise a prerogative not given them by the Constitution or people when they attempt officially to instruct each other the course to pursue. This ought in all cases be left with the people in primary meetings – which they should and will attend to where the necessity of instructing their representatives appears necessary. If such instructions are not given it is evidence that the people have such a confidence in their Representative that they are willing that he should exercise his own judgment and be governed by circumstances.  I am daily waiting to hear the result of the position which our brethren in South Carolina have taken, they have truly placed themselves in a situation far from being enviable, led on by ambitious and misguided men they have mounted a tower of their own erection. The base of which is rapidly decaying by the voice of public opinion, and threatening to tumble down, destroying all who by false courage or intimidation have had the temerity to ascend – gone too far to retrace their steps without disgrace. They appear almost prepared to take the false leap – and involve our hitherto happy country in civil war – the greatest course that can befall any country. I perceive that Virginia have appointed delegates to go to South Carolina for the purpose of endeavouring to arrest this evil – whether they will be received by these infatuated men with any more approbation than they received the proclamation is hard to tell – may these seeming good offices be looked upon by them in the same light they viewed the President’s paternal advice.

You say ‘that those who prize the Union should be willing to make considerable sacrifice to harmonize the conflicting interest’;  in this sentiment I will agree with you that every thing should be done that can be to affect this object – but it has become a matter of doubt to me whether the South will be satisfied with a reduction of the duties to the wants of Government – and that if the present Congress should pass the bill now before them, whether it will have any tendency to allay their excited feelings on this subject – they are directly hostile to the protection system – opposed to discriminating duties, a principle on which Pennsylvania is deeply interested – to give it up would be highly injurious to her. If a reduction of the Tariff to the wants of government will be the means of preserving peace, let it be done as by doing so a constitutional difficulty with many will be apparently settled. But let that duty be imposed on articles of growth and manufacture and not on all articles indiscriminately – in this matter our Southern friends ask too much – they want all – are willing to give none of the advantages – the protective policy is in my humble opinion as much to their advantage as any section of the Union – the doctrine of free trade cannot and should not be adopted in our country until other nations manifest a willingness to adopt the same principle. What justice or propriety would there be in receiving the manufactures of Great Britain when they will not receive ours without a duty amounting to prohibitive in many cases.  That many of our Northern friends governed by that lever of human action interest calculate the value of the Union by dollars and cents is a truth they give evidence of every day by their unwillingness to meet their neighbors on the ground of compromise, by relinquishing part of the bounties of government their strong and warm opposition to the measures of our National policy is fast impressing the public mind that their motives are selfish – and far from that patriotic spirit which should characterize every true friend of this country. Yet notwithstanding some of them show a disposition of this kind – yet I would be among the last who would wish to see them destroyed – and the great danger is when we take the ground of concession and compromise even in  preserving our protective policy we may be inclined to go too far – in consequence of opinions formed from the imprudent course pursued by a few interested individuals there is a point which will require the most mature reflection deliberation to arrive at where the Pennsylvanian and every friend to his country should stop and take a firm and decided stand – this cannot be discovered by those who are governed by partial interests – it is only within the reach of the Statesman who has made himself acquainted with the several feelings of the people in the different sections of our wide and extended country – with the different ramifications of our Government – and who covered with the mantle of Washington views the American Republic as one people.

The proceedings of our State Legislature so far as I have yet seen have not evinced much matter of importance… I perceive that several unqualified attacks have been made on General McKean – no doubt for the purpose of prejudicing the public mind against him – our members… I have not had any correspondence with them, neither have I any particular desire to commence one…there are indeed many things communicated by public men in confidence that they have reason to repent of afterwards – hence the necessity of caution…I have seen an account of the conflict between Duff Green and General Blair – wonder they do not blame Gen. Jackson and his administration with the scrape – but it seems his Proclamation has some [?] among his enemies, it has turned the tongues of slander into eulogy and praise…

3.       Porter, Thomas Conrad, Autograph Letter Signed. Lafayette College, March 19, 1839, to his father, John Porter, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Quarto, three pages, formerly folded, tape repair along one-fold, else good.

    Written at the age of 17, Porter’s son, who had been sickly while at college, tells his father excitedly about how scientific investigation could lead to the exposure of murderers. At the time, Chemistry was his passion, but this would later evolve into the interests that would bring him back to Lafayette College and a Professor of Botany and Zoology.  That his health would improve is evidenced by his participation, 30 years later, in the pioneering United States Geological and Geographic Survey of the Rocky Mountains.

“…I have been able to have seen Dr. Green… and asked with regard to my going to Phila. His report was that it would not injure me, but would be of benefit, cautioning me to be careful of my diet, saying I might be tempted to eat many things not suitable for me. Recollecting this caution, he said it would be well for me to go…I have nothing to do here but read and write. I cannot study any more this season – am pent up here doing almost nothing. I am able to travel now…I have completely recovered from my illness… I am free from examination, there is nothing to hold me here and I may as well go home as soon as I can…or some place else than this, for I believe change would be good for me…. I long to see home once more, it seems to me were I there I should soon be well…

Dr. Green procured enough pure arsenic from that man that poisoned himself, he told me, to have killed a dozen of men. He was some days employed in our laboratory… analyzing the contents of his stomach. He has the arsenic in his office and any one can see it who wishes. Thus by chemistry many murders have been detected, by disinterring bodies and examining them. He told us of a case of suspected murder, the body was disinterred 3 ½ years after burial. The chemist taking up the mouldering remains of what he supposed to be the stomach and by the power of Chemistry analysing them and producing the arsenic by which means the murder was detected, convicted and punished. Thus we see the power of and use of Chemistry, to which we are indebted for many of the benefits and comforts we enjoy…”