MARSHALL JEWELL - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 05/06/1880 - HFSID 17370

MARSHALL JEWELL
As Republican National Chairman in 1880, a year when the Party was deeply divided, he signs an autograph letter accepting an invitation to a pre-Convention meeting on the condition that he may be present as a "silent looker-on" only.
Autograph Letter signed: "Marshall Jewell", 1 page. 8x7½. Hartford, Connecticut, 1880 May 6. On letterhead of P. Jewell and Sons to Thomas C. Acton, 30 Wall St., (New York City), in full: "Yours of the 5th is at hand. I hope to be present on the 20th but do not want to respond to any toast. So please allow me to be a looker-on, silent. Yours truly." Marshall Jewell (1825-1883) was Governor of Connecticut (1869-1873), US Minister to Russia for 7 months (1873-1874), Postmaster General under President Grant (1874-1876), a contender for the Republican Presidential nomination (1876) and Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1880-1883).Thomas C. Acton was former New York City police commissioner and a leader of the Republican Party in the City. The event to which he had invited Jewell is unspecified, but coming less than a month before the Republican National Convention, it was certainly a political one. The Republican Party was deeply divided in 1880, with the so-called Stalwart faction of the party supporting a return to office of former President Grant, and a reform-minded Half Breed faction equally determined to prevent this outcome. The Convention would prove to be the longest in Republican history, requiring 36 ballots before a "dark horse" candidate favored by the Half Breeds - James Garfield - secured the nomination. New York Republicans were also divided, with state party boss Roscoe Conkling threatening retaliation against any convention delegate who did not vote for Grant. In this setting, it is quite understandable that Jewell, as National Republican Chairman, conditioned his attendance on not being required to speak and risk alienating one of the warring factions or compromising his ability to work with the eventual Presidential nominee. P. Jewell and Sons of Hartford, a family enterprise, manufactured leather belts. Multiple vertical and horizontal fold creases. ½ inch hole at upper left, ½x¼ inch hole ¾ inch from right edge at top. 1 inch tear at left edge 2 inches from bottom. Chipped at creases along bottom edge. Lightly stained.