1802 Letter Discusses Massachusetts Politics And Gerrymandering: A Bill Disturbing The Commonwealth For Fed Representatives

WILLIAM EUSTIS (1753-1825). Eustis served as a military surgeon during the American Revolutionary War, notably at the Battle of Bunker Hill, as a Congressman and Governor of Massachusetts, and as United States Secretary of War during the War of 1812. ALS. 3 pgs. 8 x 14. February 23, 1802. Cambridge. An autograph letter signed AH to Wm Eustis Esquire: The opposition party you see continue to vent their chagrin by saucy paragraphs in the paper devoted to their cause, but they are more moderate in mixed company than when you left us; it is nevertheless my opinion that they will make a great exertion to retain their superiority in the next legislature, but (truncated) with much less confidence than on proceeding occasions: Our Gerry & General Heath will again be held up by one party, whilst the other will run Mr. Strong for Governor, & (it is said) will hold up Mr. Robbins & Genl. Knox for Lieut. The motion for an address to the President has been disposed of nearly as I expected, & if the Fools exult in their numbers, it is done in private & only in their own circles, & believe they were on that occasion but so completely on the rack that they have not wished to hear a word about it since that time: Since the motion for an address no questions involving Politics have come before us excepting the Maryland Amendments, & these have been referred to the succeeding Legislature. An interesting subject is however in train in the House, & the Committee are about to report the XX for a Bill disturbing the Commonwealth for the choice of Fed representatives, in substance as follows Viz. Berkshire to make one District, Hampshire two, Worcester two, Suffolk together with Charlestown, Midford & Malden one, Essex with Reading two, Norfolk with Newton, Natick, Sherburn, Holliston & Hopkinton one The rest of Middleton one Plymouth one Bristol one with the exception of New Bedford which is to be joined with Barnstable Dukes County & Nantucket in order to make one District to accommodate Mr. Williams, then make thirteen & four in Main {sic} will make up the number York one, Cumberland one, Lincoln, Kennebec, Hancock & Washington one to make two districts but the manner of dividing them I have not ascertained; what the result of this Business will be is uncertain & the only remark which I shall now make on it, is, that if it is to be carried into execution it will not operate unfavorably to the cause of Republicanism This letter was written to William Eustis, then serving as a U.S. Congressman representing Massachusetts. The letter was most likely written by Aaron Hill, a deacon and local politician whose namesake house in Cambridge is one of just seven still standing from the decades before the American Revolution. Both were members of the Democratic-Republican Party which, while in charge nationally, were still the minority party in Massachusetts. As such, the letter discusses both the upcoming 1802 state elections and attempts by the majority-Federalist legislature to configure the states congressional districts. Statewide, Federalist Caleb Strong (1745-1819) and his Lieutenant Governor Edward Robbins (1758-1829) would easily defeat the Democratic-Republican Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814) and General William Heath (1737-1814). Additionally, though Eustis would narrowly win re-election that fall (as would Lemuel Williams (1747-1828), the Federalist congressmen whose district was altered to aid his re-election), he would lose in 1804 to his Federalist predecessor Josiah Quincy (1772-1864). However, Gerry and the Federalists would get the last laugh. Gerry would finally be elected Governor on his fifth try in 1810 and with a Democratic-Republican legislative majority would reconfigure the states congressional districts in such odd shapes that the map was dubbed a Gerry-mander, giving partisan redistricting the new it goes by to this day. The letter is in good condition, though it has some tears along the edges, and will be worthwhile for any student of Massachusetts, Early America, or gerrymandering. (Inventory #: 6176)