Denver, James W.

California state politics in the Buchanan administration.

James William Denver (1817–1892) served in the Mexican War, was elected to the California State Senate, appointed Secretary of State of California, and was elected to Congress representing that state. He was appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1857, and then Secretary of the Kansas Territory, when the town along the South Platte River was established and named for him (present-day Colorado). He served as brigadier general during the Civil War, and assumed command of the Federal troops in Kansas. After the war, he practiced law in Washington D.C. The present letters exemplify each of these phases in his life, but concentrate on the drama of local politics in California.

Arthur Denver. Autograph letter signed ("A. Denver"), 3 pages (10 x 8 in.; 254 x 204 mm), Platte City, Missouri, 26 June 1847, to James W. Denver in Vera Cruz, Mexico, with integral address and postmark; formerly folded. Blue half-morocco folding case, gilt-stamped title on spine, typed transcription laid in. "A description of the august personages who held a Whig meeting in Platte City and nominated General Taylor for President and a history of that meeting came out in the "St. Louis Union," & when it arrived here created a tremendous breeze — John Forbis became so indignant at such 'unpardonable outrage,' upon his character, as was there set forth, he could hardly breathe for some days — Davis was very very angry, so were they all. They talked a great deal about it to nearly every person except me. They are very suspicious of me, on political questions, merely because I am a brother of Capt. Denver's ... Two weeks ago I went to Clay, and was at Ecton's and had my curiosity gratified by an acquaintance with my future sister-in-law, Mrs. Tracy ... The citizens of Clay County are making preparations to give Doniphan a dinner on his return home. There is a rumor here that he has been appointed a Brigadier General by the President, but I think it all humbug ..."

Joseph W. Gregory. Autograph letter signed ("Joseph W. Gregory of Cal[iforni]a"), 1 page (10 1/2 x 8 1/4 in.; 266 x 210 mm), New York, 26 July 1856, to James W. Denver at Washington, D.C., with postmarked envelope; formerly folded. Red half-morocco folding case, gilt-stamped title on spine, typed transcription laid in. "As one of your constituents, I have what I believe to be a just & good claim against the General Government for loss & damages by failure of the U.S. Mails to carry & promptly deliver Newspapers from New Orleans to San Francisco in 1851 & 1852, over twenty-four thousand copies were so lost, or damaged by delay ... As I was elected Democratic Presidential Elector on the Price & King ticket in Cal'a in 1852 & thru that campaign forwarded and circulated all the Democratic documents thru the sate without charge, I deem it desireable not to delay the presentation of this claim ..."

Frank Denver. Autograph letter signed ("Frank Denver"), 3 pages (10 x 8 in; 255 x 205 mm), Sacramento, California, 5 June 1859, to James W. Denver at Washington, D.C., with post-marked envelope; formerly folded. Blue half-morocco folding-case, gilt-stamped title on spine, typed transcription laid in. "As Arthur has just written to you, and covered all the ground 'political,' I have but little left to write about. I agree with him in his views of things, but wish to know if you will be a candidate for Governor, I think that it would be better for your friends to know to a certainty as soon as possible ... Weller is not popular with the people, now, and Latham they do not like for the reason that they think he is scheming too much ..."

Arthur Denver. Autograph letter signed ("Ar. C. Denver"), 4 pages (10 x 8 in.; 255 x 205 mm), Sacramento City, California, 17 February 1859, to James W. Denver at Washington D.C., with accompanying envelope; formerly folded. Blue half-morocco folding-case, gilt-stamped title on spine. "There is a growing feeling to run you for governor, but I somewhat doubt the policy ... The only friends you have about the Custom House — that is reliable ones — are in Tilford's office, Washington will be against you because he is afraid you might succeed in what he failed. You know the disposition of Californian politicians to pull down others to their own level, instead of rising above on their own merits and Washington is not an exception to the rule ... [goes on to describe recent work in the legislature and a subscription to start a newspaper to compete with the Union]."

James W. Denver. Autograph letter (retained copy) signed ("J.W. Denver"), 3 1/2 pages (10 x 8 in.; 255 x 205 mm), Washington, D.C., 24 September 1861, to "Editor Sacramento Union," with newsclipping and envelope; formerly folded. Blue half-morocco folding case, gilt-stamped title on spine. The newspaper had published a letter of his written to brother Frank, conveying the widespread doubts following the battle of Bull Run, as a sign of incipient disloyalty, in an effort to discredit him locally. He responds "I have just been put in possession of copies of your paper of the 20th and 21st inst. by which it appears that a private letter written by me in July last to my brother has found its way into the public presses ... the letter was intended to be strictly private and meant only to notify my brother of the stagnation of all kinds of businesses here, so that he might be prepared for the crisis when it reached California, which I believed it would at Bull Run, when everyone who felt any love for the country was greatly depressed in spirits ... I yield to no one in my devotion to the constitution and Union and I know of no circumstance that would induce me to acquiesce in a peaceable dismemberment of our country ... So long as there was any chance of a settlement of our troubles by compromise, I was in favor of that course, but when the door was closed to all compromise by the unprovoked attack on Fort Sumter ... I was and am, in favor of supporting and maintaining the government at every hazard and whatever cost ..."

Arthur Denver. Autograph letter signed ("Ar. C. Denver"), 6 pages (8 1/4 x 5 1/4 in.; 210 x 134 mm), Coloma, California, 2 July 1865, to James W. Denver; formerly folded. Red cloth folding-case, gilt-stamped title label on spine. Reports that he is unable to follow up on James' "Sutter Grant Claim" as he has no money, his mine investments have turned out worthless. "Great preparations are making every where for celebrating the 4th ... in all the principal cities & towns, the negros, by special invitation, were urged to participate in the celebration. In San Francisco, Sacramento & Placerville & perhaps other places the people have split on the negro question & will have separate celebrations. In fact the Republican party are likely to split wide open on the negro equality question ..."

James W. Denver. Autograph letter signed ("James W. Denver"), 2 pages (10 1/4 x 7 3/4 in.; 260 x 196 mm) on letterhead of "National Law & Trust Company", Washington, D.C., 25 January 1887. to his wife; formerly folded. Green half-morocco folding-case, gilt-stamped title on spine. Family and personal news.