[Texas]. Huston, William Henry Harrison

[Manuscript Letter Seeking a Political Appointment in Texas, Accompanied By Two Letters of Introduction]

San Antonio: February 4, 1881. Three autograph letters, signed, totaling six pages, with two original transmittal envelopes. Original mailing folds, but otherwise clearly legible and in excellent shape. Near fine. Item #2524

A four-page holographic letter written by William Henry Harrison Huston (1841-1907), an attorney in San Antonio, Texas to his brother, Arthur Brown Huston (1834-1909) of Columbus, Ohio. William is intent on leveraging personal relationships to obtain an unspecified federal appointment from then President-elect James A. Garfield. Huston's letter comes during the period of the spoils system, which prevailed since the 1828 election of Andrew Jackson until the adoption of the Pendleton Act in 1883 introduced civil service reform.

Competition for federal offices was often fierce, as Huston alludes to in his letter: "I expect there will be two or three applicants for the position, some of them with considerable political influence outside of this State, but none who can bring as strong a local influence as I can.... San Antonio is a city of over Twenty Thousand inhabitants, with a larger republican vote than any other city in the State and about as large as that of most southern cities of its size; yet we have not one single representative of our city among the federal appointments in this State. The circuit judge, the U.S. dist atty, the clerk & all his deputies, the Marshall & all his deputies, the Int. Rev. Coll. and all his deputies - even the one for this city - a Treasury agt and even our Post-Master & - part of his clerks - are all, every one of them, from other cities, and part of them from other States. This too, while we have republicans, citizens of this city, who have served in the Army of the Union during the rebellion, who have suffered for their adherence to the cause of the Union, and their party, who are equally well qualified to fill the positions, and in some instances far better qualified than the present incumbents, and who would be far more acceptable to the citizens of our city, both democrats & republicans."

Both Huston brothers served in the Union Army during the Civil War, as did George W. Clement (or Clemment), who was known to Arthur and whose endorsement William valued. He writes: "Tell me if Garfield and Mr. Clemment are intimate friends, and if you think Clemment has any influence with him. Your letters have been very encouraging, and I feel almost certain of the appointment.... On the 31st of Dec. I was made the happy father of another boy (No 5)...I have not yet christened the last one, and am waiting the result of my application, to determine whether I shall call him James A. Garfield or not."

The above letter is accompanied by two letters of introduction written by William, one addressed to Clement and the other to Christopher C. Upson, the U.S. representative who represented the district including San Antonio from 1879 to 1883. In his letter to Clement, William also makes introductions for two fellow San Antonio citizens, P.G. Bowman and Leonardo Garza, who were traveling to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration ceremonies, which took place on March 4, 1881. Similarly, he asks Upson to extend any available courtesies to Clement during the festivities. Both letters appear to have been intended for Clement and are accompanied by the original mailing envelope, which is addressed to the House of Representatives in Columbus, Ohio. Huston's main letter is also accompanied by the original mailing envelope, which is addressed to Arthur care of Hower and Higbee in Cleveland.

An interesting letter and supporting communications from a man seeking political appointment in Reconstruction Texas, with passages imbued with a typical viewpoint held by most Texans at any one time throughout history: there are too many outsiders here.

Price: $850.00