Handwritten letter by John Bidwell, marked "confidential," responding to a written request from R.N. Berry that he run for the United States Congress. Bidwell politely declines citing his defeat the previous year running for governor of California and his desire to attend to business on his farm and closing with, "I do not like to speak of the merits of candidates...but I am astonished...that any persons...should propose to send [Charles] Westmoreland to Congress...are we bound hand and foot by the 'ring' and delivered over to speculators and monopolists?" Includes a typescript transcription of the letter.