Clarks Cottage on the Hillside

Dansville N Y

Mch 24,1877

Dear Frederick–

The escape of the Country from the infliction of a TildenTilden, Samuel J.

and a democratic administration under him by the inauguration of Rutherford B. HaysHayes, Rutherford Birchard

Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822-93), nineteenth president of the United States, had previously served as governor of his home state of Ohio (1867-71) and as a Republican congressman (1865-67). Although Hayes had supported the Radical Reconstruction program while in Congress, events during Grant's administration had convinced him that the remaining southern Republican state governments, led by carpetbaggers and blacks, could no longer sustain themselves even with federal military intervention. As president, Hayes attempted to reinvigorate the southern Republican party through a program of sectional reconciliation aimed at attracting former Whigs and Douglas Democrats into the party. He believed that the goodwill of southern whites was better protection for the political and civil rights of blacks than federal military force. Soon after his inauguration, Hayes ordered U.S. troops in Charleston and New Orleans away from the statehouses and back to their garrisons, causing the Republican governments in South Carolina and Louisiana to collapse in the face of the armed force of their Democratic opponents. Hayes also appointed numerous southern Democrats to federal office, including former Confederate general David M. Key, who became his postmaster general. Despite Hayes's hope, few new southern white voters joined the Republican party, and it shrank into a powerless minority in most of the region for the remainder of the nineteenth century. Kenneth L. Davison, The Presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes (Westport, Conn., 1972); Keith Dan Polakoff, The Politics of Inertia: The Election of 1876 and the End of Reconstruction (Baton Rouge, La., 1973), 246-51, 317-21; Vincent P. DeSantis, Republicans Face the Southern Question: The New Departure Years, 1877-1897 (1959; New York, 1969), 66-132; William Gillette, Retreat from Reconstruction, 1869-1879 (Baton Rouge, La., 1979), 335-52. as President of the United States is cause for great joy and rejoicing to all true and loyal hearts throughout the Nation.—And the appointments thus far made and the policy—so far as any distinctive policy has thus far been indicated by the President meets with very general approbation—and every body (except the badly disappointed) breathes freer and look and speak more hopeful and cheerful for the future of the country. Even Democrats have told me they are really better satisfied now it is Hays than they would have been had it been Tilden! I hope and pray the President may be sustained in what I believe is his honest purpose as a true Patriot

and statesman to administer the government for the greatest good of the whole country. Another thing—good and pure people will be glad to know we have now a President who is a clean Christian gentleman—and a practicle Temperance man who will not defile himself with either liquor or Tobacco–and will, in this important respect set a pure example and exert a good and wholesome influence over the youth of the country.

Having been enabled to say thus much of our new President with real satisfaction—let me now most heartily congratulate you on your appointment to the important and responsible position of United States Marshall for the District of Columbia! And that your Nomination was confirmed by so large a vote in the Senate—even some of the most rabid democrats voting for you! Verily the World has moved since you and I were tuging away with our shoulders to the Anti Slavery wheel more than a quarter of a century ago!

We are with all your friends hereabouts highly gratified—both for your sake and for the sake of the cause and people you represent, and we trust and believe your administration of the duties of the office will be a success and reflect honor upon all concerned.

My family join me in sending their greetings and good wishes and desire to be remembered to Mrs Douglas also and all your children who may be at home.

Yours truly as of old

Geo. W. ClarkClark, George W.

This is possibly George W. Clark (c. 1807-1887). He was born in Massachusetts but was living in Victor, New York by at least 1850. In 1848, he was placed on the executive committee of the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society. He was a well-respected citizen of the town but not much is recorded about him. 1850 and 1860 U. S. Census Victor, Ontario, New York; “George Clark,” Ontario County (NY) Times, 28 September 1887; “Fifth Annual Meeting of the Western N. Y. Anti-Slavery Society, North Star, 29 December 1848, p. 2, c. 3;