Description:

James Buchanan
n.p., n.d. but ca. 1859
Buchanan wants to be not "too warlike" but "military affairs point too directly to war" -- on Eve of Civil War
ALS
Fine content autograph letter signed, 1p., 8" x 10" "Tuesday morning" [n.d. but ca. 1857-59], to Lewis Cass. Expected folds and wrinkles, as well as isolated pinholes and a few minor closed tears. One ink blot, and a thin vertical strip of paper reinforces the left edge verso. Overall light toning, else very good to near fine. Ex: Matz, with the collector's minuscule green hand-stamp "BM" at bottom right corner on verso, slight show-through.

In part:

"…I return your resolutions. They are of the right character. If I were disposed to make a suggestion, it would be not that they are too warlike; but that those to be referred to the Committees of Naval & Military Affairs point too directly to war. The Country & the world will understand their meaning without any very direct allusion. But they are very good as they stand…"

Lewis Cass served as Secretary of State in the Buchanan administration from March 1857 - December 1860. Although this letter is undated, it possibly it pre-dates Buchanan's presidency (and also Lewis Cass's Secretaryship of State) because, in other presidential letters, Buchanan addressed his cabinet members by their official titles. Here, Buchanan addresses Cass with the honorific "Hon.," which was given to members of Congress - in which Cass served as Senator from Michigan between 1845-1848 and 1849-1857. At the same time, Buchanan closes the letter with a warm sign-off indicative of their close relationship. Worthy of further research.

James Buchanan (1791-1868) was a trained lawyer who gained his first political experience in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He transitioned to the U.S. House of Representatives in the early 1820s, and later served as a minister to Russia, U.S. Secretary of State, and U.S. Ambassador to Britain under the Jackson, Polk, and Pierce administrations respectively.

Buchanan served as the 15th U.S. President between 1857-1861. A hard-line Democrat, Buchanan opposed a federal banking system, supported western expansion, and lobbied for states' rights. He was often accused of being a "Dough face," or a Northerner with Southern sympathies. His inability to mitigate regionalism left his successor Abraham Lincoln to deal with the Civil War.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 10"
  • Medium: ALS

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