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MVB to [Charles Edward] Dudley, 14 January 1824

My dear Sir,

The course you are taking at Albany has been a source of the highest gratification to every honest democrat here. The opinion is universal that a refusal on the part of the Legislature to repeal the electoral law would settle the Presidential question and bring in the freinds of Mr Clay and Mr Adams. You can form no conception of the strong feeling excited by your prompt and firm proceedings; so much pains had been taken to impress a beleif that New York would goin the seceders that a different expectation was ridiculed by the friends of the Candidates who persevingly opposed every means of concertaling the support of Republicans. In one word the three last have been the proudest ^days^ for New Yorkers here that have been witnessed for years. In Pensylvania a convention has been called to nominate electors. This is well as far as it goes. The friends of all the other candidates except Mr Crawford united in the caucus and succeeded by a majority of three to reject a resolution advising their members here to attend a caucus. But such a resolution I have little doubt will yet be passed. Your proceedings in and out of the Legislature will contribute greatly towards it. It is therefore very desirable that your caucus be held early and that you speak plainly and boldly. To New York will be yielded the high merit of saving the old democratic party. The efforts to prevent a caucus are <peculiar> ^herculean^. I may with truth say that all the efficient powers of the government are in operation against it. But we shall nevertheless succeed. We could tomorrow obtain in caucus twenty votes more for Mr Crawford than were given in caucus for Mr Monroe and have in caucus within eight or ten days as many as attended then. If I am correct in my belief that there were then 119. Your decisive proceedings will directly increase our strength and we wait but for that and a little time afterwards to give it its full effect in other States before the caucus is called. As one of your constituents I return you my sincere thanks for the firm stands you have taken on a recent occasion. Nothing could have been better timed and I have not a doubt that it contributed essentially to produce that good feeling which now exists. I am at the head of a laborious committee which with other necessary duties imposes upon me much labor. I therefore find it impossible to write to as many of my friends as I could wish. Will you have the goodness to show this to Gen Root: and to all our freinds in the Senate and as many as you conveniently can in the Assembly ^and^ together with the expression of my regard ask them to excuse my seeming inattention. Mr Crawford's health is rapidly and safely improving.

My best respects to the ladies

Yours truly

M.V.Buren

Copy in unknown hand.

Source: DLC Library of Congress
Collection: MVB Papers (DLC)
Series: Series 4 (3 December 1821-31 December 1824)