1840 WHIG REPUBLICAN PARTY LETTERS MASSACHUSETTS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Description

We are offering two letters, both addressed to Thomas P. Beal, Esq. of Kingston, Massachusetts, one dated October 12, 1840 from C.P. Watermann of the Executive Committee of the Whig Republican Association of Sandwich, MA; the other dated October 17, 1840 from Richard L. Pease, Secretary, Edgartown Whig Association, Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard.
Both letters have to do with the 1840 Presidental election campaign and both are inviting Thomas Beal to address the citizens of their towns to enlist their support for the Whig Party in the election.  One letter invites him
"to address the citizens of Edgartown on the subject of national politics [obviously referring to the upcoming presidential election].
The other letter invites him
"to address the citizens of Sandwich upon the all absorbing subject which now claims the attention of the whole country from east to west - north & south".
[Again obviously referring to the Presidential election].
Watermann writes "we want to have a majority of 200 at any time before the ensuing election, and to do this we must have half from abroad  [not exactly sure what that meant].
We turn to you knowing your influence will very materially assist us".
William Henry Harrison was the Whig Party nominee, who won the presidency over Democratic Party nominee, Martin Van Buran.  Massachusetts voted for the Whig candidate (Harrison) by a margin of 16.16%.