Charles Miner Historical Profile

“Mr. Miner, you have lighted a torch that will set fire to the whole country.” Daniel Webster said this to Charles Miner after Miner made his speech on January 6, 1829 about the abolition of slavery in the United States, well before the Civil War and any major American anti-slave movements. Even though this proposal was easily rejected in Congress, it still had a lasting impact that is seen later in history. This should be considered a crucial event in American history, but Charles Miner is a relatively unheard of person. Researching a person that few people know or heard of can prove to be quite difficult, even if the person should be more well-known.

Early research on Miner reveals little mention of him in any history books and it was hard to find anything longer than a few sentences describing him. Most of the information about him came from his personal writings collected at the Luzerne County Historical Society, such as political pamphlets or letters to his wife, along with some small newspaper articles. Miner also wrote an autobiography for himself, but for some unknown reason he burnt most of his letters and papers. Large portions of his personal writings still remain, but some aspects of his early life, such as his education, are a mystery. The articles and books gave a decent amount of Charles Miner’s background information, but his letters were what stood out the most. They give a look into his personal life and they type of person he was. He wrote many of these letters to his wife while he was away at Washington working in Congress.

Miner was a Federalist and published a newspaper in Wilkes-Barre that was based on these ideals. As a long-time Federalist, Miner voiced his support of the group, which may have led to his start of running for Congress. He was disappointed with the lack of Federalists in the government, as he stated in 1805: “In 1803 of the eighteen Representatives in Congress from Pennsylvania there was not one Federalist. In the State Senate there was one, and the House only five.” While on a trip to Lancaster and later Washington D.C. in 1806, it becomes clear to see that Miner wants to be involved in legislative affairs. Miner sees a Pennsylvania legislative session in action for the first time and it obviously influenced him. Miner wrote that, “The scene was full of pleasure and romance. I will not say a secret thought did not steal into my mind that if I behaved well and exerted myself honorably, I might at some future day find my way there.” When Miner reached Washington D.C., he realized the difficulties he would have. Without knowing many people in the government, he wouldn’t be able to advance at all. Even with these hardships Miner decided to travel to Philadelphia to try to gain some experience. By a chance meeting with a man named Matthew Carey, he was able to gain some advancement in the political field. Miner describes Carey as a very influential man in both politics and business.

Charles Miner began as clerk of election, and then in 1806 was elected to be a member or the first borough council of Wilkes-Barre. He served alongside more noticeable Wilkes-Barre residents such as Judge Hollenback and General Butler. When describing this experience with these other men Miner writes, “Being comparatively a poor boy among these wealthy veterans, I was proud enough to be pleased with the honor.” In 1807, Miner was elected to the Board of Trustees at a nearby Academy and later that same year he was chosen to be a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Luzerne County. This was a surprise for Miner and he describes the year as, “unexpectedly one of the most memorable of my life; as a chain of circumstances arose which led me to position not in the distance unhoped for, but which even the throbbing impulses of my ambitions heart had not whispered was near at hand.” Miner remains modest, but almost seems like he knew this would eventually happen and possibly feels that here was more in play for him. As history shows this eventually proves to be true.

Miner was well-liked among the people during his course of working in the House, but at times he faced some personal problems. Miner would occasionally become very frightened when he had to speak on the floor and he wrote to a friend in Wilkes-Barre addressing this issue, “My oratory is very awkward, when put in competition with that of the others; but I let dash at them. I do not perceive that my enemies-political, I mean-respect me the less, nor that the affection of my friends has decreased from my attempts.” This problem would occur throughout his career, but it never really seemed to have any negative impact on how people perceived him because he was relatively well-liked. Miner constantly tried to help the poor and he states in another letter, “Oh, how I wish I could make everyone happy.”     

 Charles Miner served at the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives for two years and returned to live at his home in Wilkes-Barre until 1816 when they moved to West Chester. Miner was quickly asked to represent the Chester and Montgomery district as the Federalist candidate in Congress. His first attempt failed, but in 1825 he was elected. Miner only ran for two terms, but became quite influential during his time in Congress. Working in Congress for Miner proved to be a whole new experience, both difficult and exciting.   

Miner wrote many letters during his time in Congress, including many to his wife, Letitia. These letters help show the type of person Charles Miner is. From early on Miner’s letters give off the impression that he is ecstatic to be in Washington, and is almost like someone from the country going to the city for the first time. A letter from December 21, 1825 describes an instance when Miner is at a dinner party with the president and he is amazed by a tray at the center of the table. He described it in great detail, talking about its silver and bronze, the size of it, the decorations on it, and its possible price of a “many thousand” dollars. Miner is almost just as excited about the food when it is brought in. Miner continues with his letter stating that, “We had many things which from the cooking I could not judge what they were, but we had birds, venison, hams, chicken-pie, canvas-back ducks, soup at first, of course, the canvas-backs the last of meats. Then came ice cream, pineapples, oranges, apples, grapes, raisins, olives, and golden-bladed knives with pearl handles to help eat them with.”

Miner soon after maked a first speech on January 26, 1826 addressing the “rights of man” and the idea that all men are created equal, which many Southerners realized was actually referring to slavery. Many of Miner’s friends in Congress were impressed with what he had to say, even though he was embarrassed at times while talking. Miner sent a letter to his wife the very same day talking about the event, “I was, in speaking, very much embarrassed, but, my friends assure me, not so much so but that I was perfectly understood. They tell me my voice fills the hall entirely, which is something here. I produced a stir among the colts.” Just two days later after sending this letter, Miner sent another to his wife. After giving his speech he was almost too nervous to talk again, realizing that “stirring the colts” may have been a bad idea. Other people in Congress now knew who he was. Miner explained to his wife that for now he just wanted to avoid embarrassing himself on the floor in front of everyone. He wanted to try to eventually return to a more comfortable environment he was used to. He only spoke when he had to now as he told his wife, “I yesterday spoke again a few words, called for by the occasion, pretty well and without much embarrassment. So we go.” This wasn’t a problem though, and was actually beneficial according to him. Miner believes that being timid was a good problem to have in Congress, he wrote to his wife that, “The truth is the greatest and strongest man is awed here. The man without sensibility is awed nowhere.” Miner is very worried that his wife will end up being ashamed of him, so this is his way of reassuring her. It becomes clear that Miner cares greatly about others, especially his wife and family. Miner’s wife wrote him back on February, 2, 1826 reassuring him that his speech was successful, “It was very appropriate, well-timed. The administration is pleased with it and so am I.I was afraid you would meddle with the subject of slavery; I thought it a dangerous one, but did not wish to discourage you.”

The issue of slavery eventually came up again when a Congressman from Massachusetts named Edward Everett made a speech in favor of it on March 9, 1826. The speech’s main point was that slavery was just a condition of life. Miner was obviously against this viewpoint but was so astonished with the speech that it almost led him to agree with it. Miner’s letter from March 11, stated that, “Every word was made to weigh as much as ten from an ordinary man. Ah, it was surprising and delightful-except this, I had almost said foolish confession of faith respecting slavery and in favor of it.” Even though Miner was against slavery he never told Everett about it until he was confronted by him. “Since Mr. Everett delivered his great speech, I have not spoken to him till today, though we sit near. We met on committee and after adjourning and the rest went out, he chide me for not speaking, and said he was afraid I was offended at his declaration in favor of slavery. I told him that when it came to declare his sentiments on the subject of slavery, it was like pouring cold water down our backs.”  Miner was starting to become more involved as a result of this incident.

On December 4, 1826 Charles Miner made his first speech solely targeting slavery and proposed resolutions on it. The sense of excitement and growing confidence can be seen in his letter to his wife written on December 27, 1826, “The House was in the highest possible state of excitement. After some effort I got the floor. Fortunately I was cool- self-possessed- spoke sad things to hear, yet in the mildest and most persuasive manner I possibly could. The House listened with all the attention. I introduced the subject of the enormities of the slave-trade, etc., in the District. When I got nearly to the end Mr. Brent called me to order, not angrily. I do think, pardon me for saying so, that from my mild tone and manner, though I said most unpleasant things, yet the feelings of irritation were soothed.” Miner’s speech was successful at getting the idea of the gradual abolition of slavery started, but when a bill was introduced shortly after it was quickly rejected. Charles Miner still as determined to get his views across.

On March 24, 1828 Charles Miner gave his next major speech on slavery. Miner asked his friend, Jacob Cist, an artist from Wilkes-Barre, to make engravings that portrayed the slave-trade. Miner wanted all the different aspects of slavery portrayed, such as men being chained together and mothers being torn away from their children. “I mean to bring the matter before Congress, and I wish to be armed at all points for offence and defense.” It was an interesting and possibly effective way to get his point across in debates. His speech was called “Memorial of the Inhabitants of the District of Columbia, Praying for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia”. Miner goes against the whole institution of slavery saying in his speech that it has “an evident tendency to corrupt the morals of the people, and to damp the spirit of enterprise by accustoming the rising generation to look with contempt upon honest labor, and to depend, for support, too much upon the labor of others.” Miner proposed many laws preventing any use of slave in Washington D.C. There would be a gradual end to slaves where “all children of slaves born in the District of Columbia after the fourth day of July, eighteen hundred and twenty-eight, shall be free at the age of twenty-five years.” The resolutions were obviously rejected and Miner’s resolve was beginning to fade. He was beginning to lose motivation in what he was doing.

Miner wrote to his wife on February 12, 1828 explaining this, “I sacrifice a great deal in my business at home, I neglect so much. I am from my family, and have no countervailing pleasure here. It is perfectly fair some other Federalist should have a chance to come. I shall gain no further favor here.” Miner only served two terms in Congress, but his actions were extremely influential. Even after he was done with working in politics; he still wrote and gave speeches against slavery. His idea of the abolition of slavery eventually became true with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. He was a different type of politician, with a relatively simple and humble upbringing. Miner was never boastful and always did what he believed was the right thing to do; he didn’t let politics change the way he was.

Sources

Richardson, Charles F., and Elizabeth Miner Thomas Richardson. Charles Miner, a

     Pennsylvania Pioneer. Wilkes-Barre, PA: n.p., 1916. Print.

Miner, Charles. The Olive Branch or, The Evil and the Remedy. Philadelphia, PA. 1856.          Print