Benjamin Knower | The Papers of Martin Van Buren

Benjamin Knower (1775-1839) and was a hatter, republican politician, and banker in Albany, New York. Knower was NY's Secretary of the Treasury from 1821 to 1824 and was president of the Mechanics and Farmers' Bank of Albany. His connections with the Albany Regency and especially his son-in-law, William Learned Marcy, enhanced his buisness pursuits and he was a major investor in the Erie Canal's construction.

Documents

As Sender

Benjamin Knower to MVB, 4 March 1822

I now embrace the first leisure moment to write to you I have had since I recd yours of the 18^th^ of last month, the perusal of which gave me great pleasure, the only alloy to the pleasure it gave, arose from the selfish idea that we should probably ^lose^ you altogether from this state, & the present confusion in the Republican ranks fully demonstrates the evils the party would suffer by... Continue Reading

Sender: Benjamin Knower

Recipient: MVB

Benjamin Knower to MVB, 27 January 1828

I duly consider the difficulties involved in this great question, and am fully aware of the strong predjudices of the of the southern people, arrayed in opposition to it, ^still^ I hope, that the republican members from this state will devise some means to overcome all these difficulties. If the vital importance the fate this bill will have, over our political as well as individual and publick... Continue Reading

Sender: Benjamin Knower

Recipient: MVB

Jesse Buel et al. to MVB, March 1828

The pending question of the Tariff, as regards its effects upon coarse wools and woolen fabricks, has been a subject of very anxious, but of perfectly friendly discussion among several citizens of this place and others casually present, and who, disclaiming every political & other foreign motive, and looking only to what we conceived to be the common good, beg leave to lay before you certain... Continue Reading

Sender: Jacob Sutherland, Sender: Charles Edward Dudley, Sender: Thomas Worth Olcott, Sender: Samuel Young, Sender: Peter Robert Livingston, Sender: Benjamin Knower, Sender: Peter Wendell, Sender: J.W.G. Townsend, Sender: John Woodworth, Sender: William Jerome

Recipient: MVB

Benjamin Knower to MVB, 23 April 1828

Dont fancy that you are about to be tuned with another long epistle on the tariff bill, no such object is intended. I have long since ceased to have any hopes that a tariff bill will pass this session, believing as I do the Adams party have determined to vote against any bill unless they could have the credit of passing it, and knowing the southern men would vote against any bill protecting the... Continue Reading

Sender: Benjamin Knower

Recipient: MVB

Memorial regarding slavery's extension, 21 December 1819

The committee appointed by one of the foregoing resolutions to prepare and present a memorial to congress, having withdrawn for the purpose of agreeing to the same, again appeared in the meeting—when the following was reported on their behalf by Mr. Duer, and unanimously adopted. To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled. The memorial of the inhabitants of the... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB, Sender: Charles Edward Dudley, Sender: Ambrose Spencer, Sender: Benjamin Knower, Sender: Stephen Van Rensselaer III

Notice of a meeting regarding slavery's extension, 16 December 1819

NOTICE ☞A meeting of the inhabitants of this city and county of Albany, is hereby requested at the capitol in the city of Albany, this evening, at six o'clock, for the purpose of expressing their opinions on the expediency of prohibiting the further extension of slavery in the United States.

Sender: MVB, Sender: Charles Edward Dudley, Sender: John Townsend, Sender: Ambrose Spencer, Sender: Benjamin Knower, Sender: Stephen Van Rensselaer III

MVB, Roger Skinner, Charles Edward Dudley, Benjamin Knower, and William James to Joseph Ellicott, 21 October 1822

At the request of Mr. James Gourlay of this City, we have been induced to address you on the subject of the property purchased by William J. Caldwell in Buffalo in 1817. It has been represented to us that Mr. Caldwell soon after the close of the late war, at the solicitation of his friends in Albany, went to Buffalo, selected a lot of land belonging to you, took an article for it, expended as we... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB, Sender: Charles Edward Dudley, Sender: Benjamin Knower

As Recipient

MVB to Benjamin Knower et al., 6 January 1822

The enclosed letter was written under ^an^ expectation that the question of postponement raised by us would have been decided yesterday. It is now sent on for the purpose of apprising you of what is doing and not for you to act upon unless and until you hear farther from us me. In addition to the letters enclosed there are the following which are now in the possession of the President viz a... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB

Recipient: Charles Edward Dudley, Recipient: Benjamin Knower

MVB to Benjamin Knower et al., 5 January 1822

The accompanying letter will show you what has been done here in regard to the post office and the present state of this question. If I could have supposed that our members could have removed ^recommended^ Mr V Rensseler, I would have exposulated with them on the subject. I have no doubt they are as much mortified about it now as I am. Before I knew about it the Post Master Gen. had committed... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB

Recipient: Charles Edward Dudley, Recipient: Benjamin Knower

Daniel D. Tompkins and MVB to Benjamin Knower et al., 9 January 1822

The enclosed letters shew the ground we have taken, in regard to the appointment of a post-master of your city. Of the result, you have already been advised. Aware of the dissatisfaction which exists in our state, with the course of appointments in the post-office department, and of the impression common to our political friends, that the political characters of the applicants to that department... Continue Reading

Sender: MVB

Recipient: Charles Edward Dudley, Recipient: Benjamin Knower

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