Description:

Jackson Andrew

1p ALS written in the third person and signed three times by 7th U.S. President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) as "The President". Bifold plain cream stationery in very good to near fine condition, with expected paper folds, scattered repairs, and minor loss to upper right corner of third blank page. Each page measures 6.375" x 7.45". Accompanied by 7 copies of ALSs, six copies from Andrew Jackson to John Boyle; and a letterpress from John Boyle to Martin Van Buren.

 

On May 17, 1831, President Andrew Jackson wrote to Acting Secretary of the Navy John Boyle: "The President with his respects to the acting Secretary of the Navy, acknowledges the receipt of his note, enclosing that of Honr. P. Zantzengers Esqr. + before he replies, wishes to see the proceeding of the courtmartial in this case, + the recommendations, on file, which the late Secretary of the Navy referred to in his conversation with the President on the subject of the reappointment of Mr. Zantzengers or it was upon the confidence the P. respond in the statement of the late Sec of Navy that he agree to present Mr. Z to the Senate. The President, from late disclosure, finds it necessary to see the recommendations, + to judge for himself."

 

Of the copies of letters included in this lot, six of the seven were sent by Andrew Jackson to John Boyle.

 

The first copy, dated March 19, 1831, appointed Boyle "Acting Secretary of the Navy during the necessary Absence of Mr. Branch … and until his return thereto."

 

Two copies of the same letter dated May 12, 1831 appointed Boyle Acting Secretary until a successor of 8th U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Branch, who had resigned following the Petticoat Affair, could be found. Jackson quotes from Branch's letter that "'business of a nature which forbids its neglect, or delay, requires him [Branch] to leave the city to day' and that he cannot give further attention to the duties of the Navy Department."

 

The next three letter copies dated August 10, 1831, July 23, 1832, and March 28, 1833 appointed Boyle Acting Secretary during the periodic absences of 9th U.S. Secretary of the Navy Levi Woodbury.

 

The last copy dated July 15, 1837 recorded Boyle's acceptance of the position of Acting Secretary of the Navy once again, this time at the bequest of 8th U.S. President Martin Van Buren (1782-1862).

 

John Boyle (1777-1849) served for almost thirty years in the U.S. Department of the Navy. Although he never held the post officially, these letters show us how frequently Boyle was appointed Acting Secretary of the Navy. Boyle was also a friend of Andrew Jackson's.

 

The Petticoat Affair of 1829-31 polarized Andrew Jackson's cabinet. 13th U.S. Secretary of War John Eaton and his wife Margaret O'Neill Eaton were systematically ostracized by other Jackson cabinet members and their wives upon suspicions of impropriety. Vice President John C. Calhoun and his wife Floride apparently galvanized the anti-Eaton clique. In the spring of 1831, Jackson pressured most of his cabinet members to resign; 8th U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Branch being one of them.


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