POLK, James K. (1795-1849), President . Autograph letter signed ("James K Polk," with flourish) to Samuel H. Laughlin, Columbia, Tennessee, 30 April 1844. 1½ pages, 4to (9 9/16 x 7 9/16 in.), integral address leaf neatly inlaid , very fine. A DARK-HORSE CANDIDATE EYES THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION AND INSISTS UPON "A FULL ATTENDANCE OF THE DELEGATES FROM THIS STATE" A letter, written a month before the Democratic Party's national Convention in Baltimore, which manifestly displays Polk's ambition to win the Democratic nomination for President in 1844. Polk anxiously reports to Laughlin, editor of the Nashville Union , on the status of several Baltimore-bound delegates who supported his candidacy. One key delegate, Aaron Brown, had not yet arrived as expected, and Polk is worried that "that Genl [Gideon] Pillow talks of declining to go to Baltimore. The cause assigned is that Mrs. Pillow has been somewhat indisposed for a few days." Convinced that Pillow's attendance was essential for his chance to win the nomination, he enlists Laughlin: "I hope you will write to him a strong letter urging him to go. It will be very important that there should be a full attendance of the Delegates from this State, otherwise the impression will be made on the convention that but little interest is felt upon the subject here. It is especially important that the Delegate from my immediate District should be present. He has been looked to, & relied upon, until it is now too late to appoint another. These and other considerations that may suggest themselves, you can urge upon him. I hope he may yet consent to go." Noting that he plans to come to Nashville before making the journey with other delegates to Baltimore, he adds "I hope Donaldson [Andrew Jackson Donelson] is in readiness to leave. If not gone, I must see him whilst at Nashville. I will desire to go to the Hermitage [home of Polk's political mentor, Jackson] on Friday. Armstrong and yourself must go with me." At the Democratic National Convention, Martin Van Buren was the clear frontrunner at the outset, but his neutral position on the annexation of Texas offened many southern politicians who sought the admission of an additional slave state. Unable to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority, Van Buren's strength gradually eroded. Polk was not even mentioned as a possible candidate until the eighth ballot. It was Pillow, who had left his sick wife behind, who placed Polk's name in nomination, and with the energetic action of Aaron Brown, who wooed the Calhoun block, southern delegates soon rallied around Polk as the candidate from a slaveholding state. On the very next ballot, Polk tallied 233 votes to Van Buren's 2 and Lewis Cass's 29, becoming the first dark-horse candidate for the Presidency. Provenance: Mrs. Philip D. Sang (sale, Sotheby's, 31 October 1985, lot 172).
POLK, James K. (1795-1849), President . Autograph letter signed ("James K Polk," with flourish) to Samuel H. Laughlin, Columbia, Tennessee, 30 April 1844. 1½ pages, 4to (9 9/16 x 7 9/16 in.), integral address leaf neatly inlaid , very fine. A DARK-HORSE CANDIDATE EYES THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION AND INSISTS UPON "A FULL ATTENDANCE OF THE DELEGATES FROM THIS STATE" A letter, written a month before the Democratic Party's national Convention in Baltimore, which manifestly displays Polk's ambition to win the Democratic nomination for President in 1844. Polk anxiously reports to Laughlin, editor of the Nashville Union , on the status of several Baltimore-bound delegates who supported his candidacy. One key delegate, Aaron Brown, had not yet arrived as expected, and Polk is worried that "that Genl [Gideon] Pillow talks of declining to go to Baltimore. The cause assigned is that Mrs. Pillow has been somewhat indisposed for a few days." Convinced that Pillow's attendance was essential for his chance to win the nomination, he enlists Laughlin: "I hope you will write to him a strong letter urging him to go. It will be very important that there should be a full attendance of the Delegates from this State, otherwise the impression will be made on the convention that but little interest is felt upon the subject here. It is especially important that the Delegate from my immediate District should be present. He has been looked to, & relied upon, until it is now too late to appoint another. These and other considerations that may suggest themselves, you can urge upon him. I hope he may yet consent to go." Noting that he plans to come to Nashville before making the journey with other delegates to Baltimore, he adds "I hope Donaldson [Andrew Jackson Donelson] is in readiness to leave. If not gone, I must see him whilst at Nashville. I will desire to go to the Hermitage [home of Polk's political mentor, Jackson] on Friday. Armstrong and yourself must go with me." At the Democratic National Convention, Martin Van Buren was the clear frontrunner at the outset, but his neutral position on the annexation of Texas offened many southern politicians who sought the admission of an additional slave state. Unable to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority, Van Buren's strength gradually eroded. Polk was not even mentioned as a possible candidate until the eighth ballot. It was Pillow, who had left his sick wife behind, who placed Polk's name in nomination, and with the energetic action of Aaron Brown, who wooed the Calhoun block, southern delegates soon rallied around Polk as the candidate from a slaveholding state. On the very next ballot, Polk tallied 233 votes to Van Buren's 2 and Lewis Cass's 29, becoming the first dark-horse candidate for the Presidency. Provenance: Mrs. Philip D. Sang (sale, Sotheby's, 31 October 1985, lot 172).
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
