“… Your letter of the 30^th ult I received on the 5^th inst at my return home from my school. … It is now Thursday noon and intermission with my school and I am seated at my desk to write you as the mail goes to Racine tomorrow. My school has opened very pleasantly consists of 37 scholars – comparatively few small ones the majority are diligent and behave with great propriety. I have a very pleasant board – the man Mr. Bush is a radical democrat and more than half secesh – claims to be a conservative very much like his fellow demos professes a great regard for the U.S. Constitution. Occasionally I cannot avoid a discussion with him on national affairs – when induced to do so I usually ply him with facts and show the cause of the northern democrats in connection with southern traitors, encouraging them in their rebellion &c &c and thus head him – causing him to drop such topics. Of course I endeavor to be entirely respectful your action in our behalf in respect to the assignment of the certificate… We now are making calculations and arrangements to remove to Hammond, setting out the latter part of May or forepart of June next. …

I have been very cordially received and welcomed by the people in this district and my prospects are now favorable that I shall succeed well in my school. The Republicans of Yorkville were very desirous that I should be elected be elected to the Assembly and the delegates which they elected all voted for me at the district Convention but the office seekers in Mount Pleasant and in Calidonia had the arrangements all made before convention met to nominate Mr. Monroe and the delegates from those towns never consulted the delegates from Yorkville with respect to the wishes of their constituents, presuming that they would acquiesce rather than that Mr. Monroe should be defeated. He probably would have been had it been for the election of a senator by the ensuing Legislature. Mr. M. was a member from the 2d district & when I was in the Assembly and generally voted with me on important questions or bills. He was a quiet member and never and never lead in any matter. I should like to be in the Assembly this winter as it is probably that the anti-democrats will do all they can to embarrass the proceedings I should have cordially welcomed by several senators and members and especially by Secretary Hastings; but perhaps I am now doing more good than I should at Madison. …

I could write much with respect to our national affairs but I have not time now nor space, you can easily infer my views from my principles. It seems from present indications that a more vigorous policy to embarrass the Administration and favor the rebels … S. S. Bradford”