VAN BUREN, Martin (1782-1862), President . Autograph letter signed ("MVBuren") to Mr. Davidson, n.p., n.d. [1847]. 1 page, 4to, evidence of mounting (?) on verso, otherwise fine. "LITTLE VAN'S" LAST HURRAH: "I HAVE AS MUCH INTEREST AS ANY MAN IN THE SUCCESS OF THE PARTY BUT WE OUGHT TO PRESERVE OUR HONOR" A very remarkable political letter, marked "Confidential," written during ex-President Van Buren's final, doomed attempt to win the Presidency. Denied a second term as President by the election of William Henry Harrison in 1840 and having failed to secure the Democratic nomination in 1844, Van Buren had determined to seek the Presidency as the candidate of the anti-slavery Democrats and abolitionist Whigs, both opposed to the introduction of slavery into territories recently acquired from Mexico. But General Zachary Taylor, who had won public acclaim during the War, unexpectedly began to attract support as a candidate within these groups, which coalesced into the Free-Soil Party in 1848. Here, Van Buren expresses his displeasure at the movement within the third party to add Zachary Taylor to the ticket, voicing strong reservations about Taylor's character: "...I fear a portion of our friends will wish to take [Zachary] Taylor on our ticket in the hopes of gaining support by it. It would expose us to derision abroad and confirm all that has been said about N[ew] York politics. I hope it will be resisted, I have as much interest as any man in the success of the party but we ought to preserve our honor." In a telling afterthought, written above his closing, Van Buren writes: "And besides Taylor will cheat you." In the end, Van Buren was named the Free-Soil candidate for President, with Charles Francis Adams as his Vice-Presidential running mate. Taylor won the Whig party's nomination and, on the strength of his military record and southern support (due to the fact that Taylor owned slaves himself), was elected President in 1848. Van Buren, his political career at an end, returned to comfortable retirement on his Hudson River estate.
VAN BUREN, Martin (1782-1862), President . Autograph letter signed ("MVBuren") to Mr. Davidson, n.p., n.d. [1847]. 1 page, 4to, evidence of mounting (?) on verso, otherwise fine. "LITTLE VAN'S" LAST HURRAH: "I HAVE AS MUCH INTEREST AS ANY MAN IN THE SUCCESS OF THE PARTY BUT WE OUGHT TO PRESERVE OUR HONOR" A very remarkable political letter, marked "Confidential," written during ex-President Van Buren's final, doomed attempt to win the Presidency. Denied a second term as President by the election of William Henry Harrison in 1840 and having failed to secure the Democratic nomination in 1844, Van Buren had determined to seek the Presidency as the candidate of the anti-slavery Democrats and abolitionist Whigs, both opposed to the introduction of slavery into territories recently acquired from Mexico. But General Zachary Taylor, who had won public acclaim during the War, unexpectedly began to attract support as a candidate within these groups, which coalesced into the Free-Soil Party in 1848. Here, Van Buren expresses his displeasure at the movement within the third party to add Zachary Taylor to the ticket, voicing strong reservations about Taylor's character: "...I fear a portion of our friends will wish to take [Zachary] Taylor on our ticket in the hopes of gaining support by it. It would expose us to derision abroad and confirm all that has been said about N[ew] York politics. I hope it will be resisted, I have as much interest as any man in the success of the party but we ought to preserve our honor." In a telling afterthought, written above his closing, Van Buren writes: "And besides Taylor will cheat you." In the end, Van Buren was named the Free-Soil candidate for President, with Charles Francis Adams as his Vice-Presidential running mate. Taylor won the Whig party's nomination and, on the strength of his military record and southern support (due to the fact that Taylor owned slaves himself), was elected President in 1848. Van Buren, his political career at an end, returned to comfortable retirement on his Hudson River estate.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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")
