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Striving to be the best, not the biggest! |
Sale 120
Lot 353
United States, James Buchanan Exhibit, Historical Letters, 1836 Fiery John Calhoun Speech Letter, extremely interesting 3+ page letter with detailed description of a visit to Congress, Feb. 17, 1836, during Jackson Presidency, written to Dr. Elisha Bartlett, prominent medical Dr. and Professor, member of Mass House., in part: "I attended debates in the House on Monday, and there was more confusion, calls to order, stupid & silly speeches on points of order and gross personalities than I have ever witnessed in the Mass. H.R. in my life. There are undoubtedly men of talents in the Van Buren party in the House, but as a body they are a very light concern. The speaker appears to be a pretty fair sort of man, but you have no idea of the utter contempt that is manifest towards him by many of the members of the opposition party. On Monday, Mr. Wise of Virginia, in the course of a debate on a motion not to receive an Anti-slavery memorial, made a…furious attack the administration. There was not much eloquence or ability displayed on the occasion, but it was evident that the whole Southern feeling was aroused…I spent yesterday & today… in the Senate Chamber. There sits Van Buren with his whiskers primed up, … Clay looks noble, but mournful & disconsolate. Calhoun looks like a tiger just ready to break loose, and to devour everything in his way. Yesterday, Mr. Buchanan of Pennsylvania moved that each Senator might be permitted to introduce three ladies on the floor of the Senate Chamber. This was opposed by several members…Mr. Calhoun advocated the motion…Mr. Wright made some reply which I did not hear. Calhoun, upon this, rose in considerable agitation, & addressing himself to the Vice President, said 'Sir, I meant to be understood that there is now a great contest between the advocates of arbitrary power. My letters are opened before I receive them. This is the only avenue we have to the ears of the people. For God's sake let us extend this little accommodation as far as we can, to those who have come up from the remote parts of the country.' But he came out today still more furiously, on the resolution relating to the appropriation of the surplus of the treasury for the defence of the country. His manner is abrupt, his articulation rather indistinct. 'There is a storm ahead, Sir. I see it. The South are becoming united. They put Gen. Jackson into office. They couldn't put him out, for they were divided. Gen. Jackson was bold, courageous, he had done the state some service, but he was audacious, he did not keep his word. He has nominated his successor. He had a good deal of the lion and the tiger in him. His nominee has none of the lion or the tiger. He belongs to a different class of animals, to the fox, to the weasel. We of the South put down the last administration. We did it up in fine style. We put Gen. Jackson in, but we shall not put in his nominee. We shall put him out We shall do it, Sir.'…The galleries were crowded and the most perfect stillness prevailed. The Van Buren men looked blank & say that such things ought not to be tolerated. But I think it is fine sport", City of Washington cds with ms 25, very minor separations on letter, some staining on address panel, otherwise Very Fine. Partial of the content described.
Estimate $300-400.
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