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Ingersoll, Ralph I. Letter to Martin Van Buren, 15 Feb., 1840. Van Buren Papers,
Harvard University. Microfilm.
New Haven, Conn. 15 Feb. 1840
(Private)
My Dear Sir,
One of the whig papers in Hartford asserted last week in a very bold and confident manner, that you had written a letter to Judge Judson of the U. S. District Court, while he had the case of the negro captives on board of the "Amistad" under ajudication, urging the Judge to order the negroes to be restored to the Spanish authorities; and this is denounced as a flagrant interference of the Executive with the Judiciary [ &c., &c.] The same paper today pretends that his informant was actually told by Judge Judson that you had written such a letter to him. Now I have never for a moment believed that you had written to the Judge on the subject--Still I should be gratified to have your authority, for positively contradicting the story. Judge Judson ought to contradict it, and perhaps he will, if he does the article. He [however lives] in the captives' part of the state, and I seldom see him. To be sure, therefore, in this matter, I have taken the liberty to address you at once, and shall be grateful to receive a line from you, or some friend of yours at Washington on the subject, that I may give the broadest contradiction to this new [election] [ ] [ ].
Very truly your friend and servant,
R. I. Ingersoll
His Excellency
M. Van Buren
Washington City
