The Dorr Letters Project

Nathaniel Bullock to John Brown Francis:
Electronic Transcription

Introduction

Nathaniel Bullock wrote to John Brown Francis advocating for Dr. John D’Wolf, a member of one of the most powerful families in the state, to receive the lucrative federal position of collector for Bristol. Bullock also wrote about the constitutional crisis.

Letter


Bristol. April 15th 1842
My Dear Sir,


Yours of the 11th came duly to hand
and gave me the very information I wanted
and had been expecting and today we
all have the President’s letter in conforma
tion of yours.


But my object in this is to say that
Doctor John J. D’Wolf, the son of the Professor, is
desirous of obtaining the Collectorship of
this District, in case of the removal of Mr. Allen.
Now I am not among those who believe Allen has
committed an unpardonable sin by voting against the
Landholder’s constitution and advocating the people’s, tho’
I do really view his conduct therein as weak and wrong;
still for the sake of his family & some other connections, who
were with us in the late exciting question, I am willing
to impute their righteousness to him, and thus have Allen
rescued from perdition – and in this, Doctor D’Wolf and
myself entirely agree. He would not injure Allen,
but had rather that he would separate and live.
Nevertheless, as a removal is expected from the great
efforts which have been made to affect it, he feels inclined,
as the methodists say, “to put in for a share”.


The Doctor is a most excellent man and in all respects
qualified for the office, and is known to the State Department
as consul at Novascotia. If, therefore, you are uncommitted


in the premises, he would be thankful to have you
drop a line to the President or to Mr. Forward, in his
behalf – professing him or rather recommending
him, as a suitable person for collector, provided the
removal shall be determined upon.


But if you feel the least reluctance to interfering
in this matter, it is not my wish to have you do it.
And in that case, as in any other course you may
adopt about this thing, I shall be satisfied. As I am
nearly connected with the family of the present incumbent,
I should prefer to have even this letter kept “sub rosa”
least I should be suspected of endeavoring to remove
him, which however, I should deprecate.


So you have been a plenipotentiary to the city of Great
Men and much more – you have well accomplished
the object of your mission. Captain Tyler seems firm
and decided. He will interpose, at the first outbreak. Before
that, I do not see that he can. Pearce & Dorr have overleapt
their mark. Had they suffered the advocates of the people’s
constitution to sustain ours, they would have gained to
themselves, all the credit of the extension of suffrage, &
laid up a fund of popularity that would have secured
their influence for life. Any prox, they might have selected
this spring could have walked into power. Pearce used
to contrive well but in this affair he seemed to have been
seized with a phantasy.


We must, however, have a constitution soon, and


suffrage must be extended. Instead of the record of land
titles, the tax list must be the register of freemen. Had our
constitution admitted to the polls all tax payers and none
others, as was first agreed in committee, the constitution
would now have been in force - so thought your Mr. Rhodes,
Mr. Man, Judge Haile and myself in that committee.
But regrets are useless – and I will only add
that I remain very truly yours,


N. Bullock
*Hon John B. Francis

Questions

What mistakes does Bullock believe that Thomas Dorr and Dutee Pearce have made?

What mistakes does Bullock believe were made by the committee whose task it was to revise the suffrage laws at the Landholders’ Convention?