Page [1] view page image Baltimore Octr [October] 11th 1808General James WinchesterSir
I sent you some time ago a Statement of the money paid me, for my Clame [Claim] against Foster , which you was so good as to collect for me and will thank you to Inform me if you are satisfyed [satisfied] that I am Correct, As you very truly observe, our political hemisphere lowers indeed, and tempest Clouds and darkness Seems to hang over us, and I am very fearfull [fearful] that it will be some time before the Sun of our prosperity will again be able to dissipate them, Those whom I think to be the truest friends of the country have a host of Evels [Evils] to encounter, it is not alone, the tyrannical measures of her enemys [enemies] abroad which they have to War against, but they have to fight at home (as a venerable Senator of Vermont says) [unclear: with ] against every thing but Trouth [Truth] & Justice could any good man who loves his Country, have supposed that America could have produced Such men, as we see Inlisted [Enlisted] against their Countries peace prosperity & Independence alas Sir, is the patriotism of their Fathers buryed [buried] with them in the Silent Grave and nothing permited [permitted] but the rank weeds of Ambition and revange [revenge] to Spring up in its place, it almost appears so to me, I fear our past prosperity has destroyed our National virtue and the enemys of our liberty wants to convince us that all Nations most [must] be ruled with a rod of Iron, I do however yet trust, that they shall be disappointed, it is not the honest Federalist that I am afraid of, it is the ambitious and designing traitors who ranks themselves among that class of men
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and deceves [deceives] the unenformed [uninformed] , our Election is Just over for Congress and assembly, I Enclose you the returns from this mornings paper, the great object of the Federalists was to turn out General S. Smeth from the senate of the U. [United] [gap] but the Election is by a Joint Ballot of both houses therefore they cannot Suceed as the Senate of this State are all republican if it Should however turn out, that they have as Small majority they may probably refuse to go into an Election they cannot however put one into his place that is a federal, but it is thought if they Should have a majority of two or So, that there is one or two of their men so very moderate, that that they would refuse to turn out so usefull [useful] a member of the Senate, or let our State want a member in that body, in case there should be a Call of the Senate before there next anual [annual] meeting____ There is no foreign news at present but what the news papers will give you the St. Michales has arrived but it is thought she brings nothing favourable [favorable] England Calculates largely on the division amongst ourselves, she is truly taking the French policy Divide & Conquer Your friends here are all well, the Scotch Intrest [Interest] is gaining ground in father Williams Family, Becky is going to bestow her hand to a man from that Country, and if you will allow me to be Impartial in Such a Call I must say that I think she has made a very good choice he is an Imparting Merchant of every Considerable respectability and much Esteemed by all who know him___ I am Sir With Great respect your Huml Sert [Humble Servant] David Armour
Page [3] view page image General James Winchester Cragfont Tennessee [added: David Armour 11th Oct [October] 1808]
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