Dec. 22, 1838 letter from Pennsylvania Senator John Strohm to Issac Strohm, regarding the crises in the Pennsylvania legislature, "We are still in trouble here and are not yet fully organized. Tis true, we are no longer molested with lawless intruders, nor in danger of personal violence, but we have two bodies each claiming to be the house of Representatives, and neither yet recognized by the Senate. There is great excitement throughout our once peaceful commonwealth, and we really seem to have been, or are yet, on the eve of a revolution, although I flatter myself that I have it now in my power to prevent it, and restore peace and harmony to my native state. This you may think an enviable situation, but it is far from it my dear sir. It cannot be done wihtout frustrating the designs of Stevens, Ritner and Burrowes, and thereby bringing down on my devoted head the bitter excoriations of those worthies, and what is still worse, the denunciations and contempt of many who were my friends, and whose good opinions I highly esteem. You may expect to see me branded as a coward and a traitor..." The letter, of three pages, goes on in detail, mentioning Stevens, Ingersoll, Burrows, the Loco Soco party, the importance of separation of powers, and much more. In closing, he reflects, "I am disgusted with politics and sick of public life. Let no man enter into either without his conscience hang so loosely around him that he can lay it off without inconvenience."