Ezra Cornell: A Man of Politics

Ezra Cornell was deeply interested and involved in politics. As early as 1837, he was chosen as a delegate to the Tompkins County convention of the Whig party, and he backed William Henry Harrison and John Tyler in the 1840 election. His antislavery feelings led him to support Henry Clay in 1844 and to bitterly oppose the war with Mexico in 1846.

Popular dissatisfaction with the Kansas-Nebraska Act led to a realignment of political forces in the North and West. In 1854, a coalition of Whigs, Free-Soilers, and antislavery Democrats met to recommend the formation of a new party and suggested the name Republican. Cornell early identified himself with the new party, serving as a delegate to the first national Republican convention in February 1856. The new Republican Party met in Philadelphia later that year, nominating John C. Frémont on a platform which included the upholding of congressional authority to control slavery in the territories and the admission of Kansas as a free state. That year, the Democratic Party nominated James Buchanan and the Know-Nothing Party nominated Millard Fillmore. Cornell supported Frémont and continued to be active in the Republican party, campaigning for Lincoln in the 1860 election. He was present at Lincoln's inauguration in 1861. That same year, he was elected to the New York State Legislature. Because of his experience with farm issues and his position as President of the State Agricultural Society, he was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture. In 1863, he was elected to the State Senate, where he served for four years, representing Broome, Tioga, and Tompkins counties. In 1866, there was talk of nominating Cornell for governor of New York State. His son Alonzo B. Cornell served as governor from 1880 to 1883.

Ezra Cornell to Alonzo Cornell, December 20, 1846. Autograph letter signed.

I am so thurorly disgusted with the whole of this miserable Mexican War that I have no patience even to consider the good qualities of some of our best and bravest men.

This war I firmly believe was provoked by our rulers to gratify a lust for conquest and extend the curse of human slavery.

I don't believe that our constitution authorises the waging [of] a war of invasion and it only authorises a defensive war through the sanction of the peoples representatives in Congress.

This is not such a war as any man in my opinion can justify by the sacred document the Constitution of the United States.
(Collection Finding Aid)

Political memorabilia.
From the Susan H. Douglas Collection of Political Americana

Ezra Cornell to the American Citizen of Ithaca, August 20, 1856.
Copy of autograph letter signed.

By 1854, the anti-Catholic and anti-immigration movement had emerged as an important political force. Officially called the American Party, it was popularly known as the Know-Nothing Party.

As for the Pope, I am too old to be frightened by his shadow, and am quite sure his shadow or Substance will do less harm to the liberties of my country than will a party, who seek to acquire political power by exciting religious bigotry in the minds of their duped followers.
(Collection Finding Aid)

Political memorabilia.
From the Susan H. Douglas Collection of Political Americana

Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell, March 11, 1860.
Autograph letter signed.

Last Tuesday being the Presidents reception night...I called up at the White house, shook hands with "James the Usurper," circulated through the gaudy apartments and gay throng untill the crowd became to dense to be pleasant when I returned to my hotel.
(Collection Finding Aid)

D.B. Cornell to Ezra Cornell, October 27, 1860.
Autograph letter signed.

We are now having a series of political mass meetings in this section of country, the Hon. John P. Hale is stumping the state for Old Abe. I heard him last Wednesday, we expect to give him a rousing majority in this state---Douglas stock is down low and still declining.
(Collection Finding Aid)

Political memorabilia.
From the Susan H. Douglas Collection of Political Americana

Ezra Cornell's Pocket Diary. Autograph manuscript.

Monday, March 4, 1861

Joined the N.Y. Delegation at Willard and called on Gov. Seward who responded with a speach. Closed with the prediction that Lincoln's administration would close with the refreshed Union healed and whole country united. Delegation then formed in procession and attended inauguration, got near enough to hear most of the President's address which was forcibly delivered.
(Collection Finding Aid)

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library. Page designed by Angela Moll & Noni Korf Vidal. Last update 6/5/96.

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
Page designed by Angela Moll & Noni Korf Vidal.
Last update 6/5/96.