LETTERS TO GUSTAV KOERNER, 1837-1863.

Of the German-American leaders in Illinois politics none deserves more general recognition than Gustav Koerner. Coming to Illinois in 1833 as a result of the revolutionary uprising in Frankfort, he never lost his affection for his fatherland. Yet he was equally loyal in the service of his adopted country. He insisted always that it was the duty of the German-American to work with his neighbors for the promotion of sound ideals in politics and higher standards of civilization. This attitude won him the respect of the community in which he lived and he held a series of important public appointments. He was successively a member of the legislature, judge of the State Supreme Court, lieutenant governor, and United States minister to Spain.

During his long public career he gained a wide acquaintance among the public men of his time in Illinois and elsewhere. He was an active correspondent and left to his family an interesting collection of letters, some in English and some in German, written by many of his most prominent contemporaries. Through the courtesy of his daughters, Mrs. R. E. Rombauer of St. Louis and Mrs. Henry Engelmann of Lakewood, Ohio, I have been able to present for the annual volume of the transactions a few of the letters written to Koerner in English. The copies were carefully prepared for this purpose by his grand-daughter, Miss Bertha E. Rombauer, of St. Louis.

Brief accounts of Koerner's life may be found in Ratterman, Gustav Koerner, Ein Lebensbild; in the Illinois Historical Society's Transactions, 1904 (article by R. E. Rombauer); in Deutsch-Amerikanische Geschichtsblätter, April, 1907, (article by E. B. Greene); also in Koerner's Deutsche Element, Chicago, 1884. Koerner's autobiography, which contains much matter of great interest, still remains unpublished. EVARTS B. GREENE.

Dear Sir

CITY OF WASHINGTON, 29th August, 1837.

I reached here on day before yesterday evening and found your letter for which I am much obliged to you, there have arrived about forty or fifty members,. Mr. Polk the former Speaker and Mr. Bell are here, both wish to be elected the contest will be a close one, but I believe Mr. Polk will succeed, there is no certainty about what we are convened for, the impression prevails that no other business will be taken up but merely providing means to defray the

expenses of the Government until the money in the deposit banks can be reached by some permanent measures adopted by the general sesion, should this view be correct Congress will probably not sit more than six weeks and adjourn until the general session.

On the subject of the sale of land to Mr. Hilgard I am perfectly willing to sell the quantity and in the manner that he wishes it and have written by this mail to General Semple to call and see you and make the bargain. I will send a deed as soon as the land is surveyed and I can have a description.

I am much astonished at John Eckart, but a few days before I left. home he called at my house, and asked me if I would as soon rescind the contract I made with him for the land. I told him I would, he said he would rather and he would pay me what he owed me, but had not the money with him, I told him that would make no odds another time would do as well, I am willing now and at all times to perform my contract if he wishes it, and pay him the moment he makes a title, but he is certainly a very strange man, he most unqualifiedly rescinded the contract with me, please tell to him I am ready to perform when he gives title to the land the deed from C... ... is not good as you will perceive by reading it.

Please sell Mr. Martin the lot he wishes at $3 per acre, interest 12 per cent until paid, if he can pay one-third down I should prefer it, but sell to him at the price even should he pay none down, but pay in

terest.

I have this moment called on to see* Blow & Rives the editors of the Globe, send me two numbers of the German Paper, I will enclose one to the editor of the Pennsylvanian and will convey one to the Globe office & effect if possible the exchange.

There are here for me upwards of forty letters, most of them on subjects connected with my representative duties and it will occupy all this week to attend to them, I will try and write you frequently and fully, and in the meantime you will always confer a favor by writing me often.

My health is somewhat impaired, I have some hopes it will gradually get better, I assure you from the business pouring in on me it is much. needed.

May you enjoy health and all the blessings of life is the fervent wish of your sincere friend.

A. W. SNYDER.

WASHINGTON CITY, Sept. 25, 1837. DEAR SIR-I received yours of the 16th enclosing the certificate of Jno. Hous which I will send to the office of the Secretary of State on tomorrow and so soon as it is prepared I will send it to Mr. Hous.

I am much delighted to hear of your success at the bar, may it always attend you, is my sincere wish. You did not tell me what was done with my attachment case (at Kaskaskia) against Dr. Hogg, will you please inform me in your next. I wish also you would promote

*Probably Blair and Rives.

the petition of the people of Tamaroa for a post office at that place and please see that the State road is opened, through the bottom across the Kaskaskia river. I received a letter from Rittenhouse who says Tamaroa is getting along very well, that Shutz & Thompson are doing very well with the steam saw mill. I regret much that Gen. Semple did not make a contract with Mr. Hilgard, it is desirable such a man as him should be interested in the place.

Jno. Braun's draft was protested and I had to pay it here. Will you please to learn whether he is in that part of the country, if so whether he intends to take the land he purchased, he having failed to meet his purchase, I suppose he does or cannot comply, if so I should be glad to know it. What course is the editor of the Representative going to pursue?? Is the press under the control of Jno. Reynolds?? Is it not the avowed object to promote the political prospects of Reynolds either to advance his claims to congress or to the Gubernatorial chair?? Will you ascertain. Has Fleming recommenced printing or can he, is it worth while to aid him, or would it be better to buy up the Representative, if it can be bought.*

The bill proposing to withhold the fourth installment from the states is still under discussion. I am of the opinion it cannot pass.

The bill to authorize 10 million of treasury warrants will pass, a resolution is before the house declaring it inexpedient to charter a bank of the U. States. I shall vote for it. I never will unless instructed vote for a bank of the United States, at least [word covered by scal, probably such] a Bank as the former was.

I begin to doubt whether we shall adjourn at all before the General session commences. My health is not as good as it has been. I have been enabled by a most desperate effort of self control to discontinue the use of tobacco for the last two weeks.

What are the charges made against Mr. Mitchell, does he still neglect the office, is it badly attended to? If so, how? My regards to all our friends.

A. W. SNYDER,

CITY OF WASHINGTON,

Oct. 18th, 1837.

DEAR SIR

Yours of the 7th inst I received today. Am pleased to hear you and your family are well. My own health is as usual, middling. We adjourned on yesterday about 10 o'clock. The subtreasury scheme was laid on the table by a vote of 120 to 107. I voted in the majority believing it better that some expression should be obtained from the people and if it is to be adopted no injury can result from its suspension until December. I do not like to believe that it will ever be adopted, time however will prove all, was it in the power of Congress to restrain Banking in the States the policy of the measure would be

*Some personal remarks relating to another individual are here omitted by request of the family.