MVB to Samuel Smith, 15 October 1823
Albany
Octo. 15 1823
Dear Sir,
I have reason to believe that the information you have received respecting the object & result of Genl. Browns visit to this place is correct. The Clintonian interest is divided betwen Calhoun Clay & Adams. You may be able to appreciate the good it can do either when I assure you that there is not a single county in the State that they can carry. This no intelligent & honest man in the State would deny. There are in our delgation to Congress two or three and in our state Senate there is not one member of that school. There nare 8 or 10 in the wh present house of Assembly & I have no reason to believe that there will be any in the next. Your letter is the first intimation I have had of the disposition attributed to us to support Mr Clay for the Vice Presidency.
I haste your friend
M.V.Buren
Letter from Martin Van Buren
afterwards Secretary of State
given me by General Smith in
1831. R.Gilmer