Description:

Henry A. Wise, Confed General, ALS Regarding Undertaking the "burthen of the day in the country's service of late"

A 1p autograph letter signed by politician and military commander Henry A. Wise (1806-1876), as "Henry A. Wise" at lower right. Written in Washington, D.C. on March 23, 1836 on a single leaf of watermarked paper. A thin vertical strip of shiny tape runs along the left edge, and a former collector has made an inscription at the upper left. Expected paper folds, else near fine. 8" x 9.875."

Henry A. Wise, then a U.S. Congressman representing Virginia's 8th District, wrote an unknown correspondent about the disharmonious state of the 24th U.S. Congress (convened March 4, 1835 - March 4, 1837). Political tensions boiled between the Jacksonian Democrats, then ascendant in the House of Representatives, and the National Republicans, or Whigs, who had just lost their majority in the U.S. Senate. While Wise had started his political career supporting Andrew Jackson, he had become a Whig after 1834. In 1836, Jackson was approaching the end of his second term as 7th U.S. President, and Wise was hopeful the Whigs could take over.

Wise wrote in part:

"I have been compelled to take upon me a part of the burthen of the day in the country's service of late, because when I came here in December I found upon looking around me many seats of many patriots, worthier to do battle than I am, empty - yes! empty. True, the seat of a Binney was filled by an Ingersoll, but who that could be called patriots sat in the seats of a Wilde + a Burgess.

We are on the Navy appropriation - bill - Bell is making a tremendous effort. I am confident that Virginia will go for White…"

Wise mentions six American politicians by name--and refers to two more indirectly--in a context of mostly disapproving regret. Disapproving, because true "patriots" (Whigs) from the 23rd U.S. Congress had lost their congressional seats to politicians of rival political parties. These objectionable Whig usurpers had stormed the 24th U.S. Congress, upsetting the balance of a bipartisan Congress and changing it to one of Jacksonian hegemony.

Politicians mentioned in Wise's letter are:

Members of the 23rd U.S. Congress (March 4, 1833 - March 4, 1835)

- "a Binney" referred to Horace Binney (1780-1875), a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania's 2nd District, a National Republican or Whig.

- "a Wilde" referred to Richard Henry Wilde (1789-1847), a U.S. Congressman representing Georgia at large, a Jacksonian Democrat.

- "a Burges" referred to Tristam Burges (1770-1853), a National Republican representing Rhode Island at large in the House of Representatives.

Members of the 24th U.S. Congress (March 4, 1835 - March 4, 1837), explicitly mentioned

- "an Ingersoll" referred to Joseph Reed Ingersoll (1786-1868), a National Republican who succeeded Binney in Pennsylvania's 2nd district.

- "Bell" referred to John Bell (1796-1869), a Whig U.S. Congressman from Tennessee's 7th District who had recently served as Speaker of the House between 1834-1835.

Members of the 24th U.S. Congress (March 4, 1835 - March 4, 1837), implied through context

- Thomas Glascock (1790-1841), a Jacksonian Democrat who had replaced Wilde as at-large representative in Georgia.

- William Sprague III (1799-1856), an Anti-Masonic representative of Rhode Island at large who had taken Burges's seat.

Wise ends his letter with the triumphant prediction that "Virginia will go for White" in the upcoming 1836 U.S. Presidential election. He was wrong; Virginia was carried by Jackson's successor Martin Van Buren by 56%. Hugh L. White (1773-1840), one of four Whig presidential candidates offered up at the polls, was Virginia's close second choice at 43%.

Henry A. Wise had a remarkable political career as a U.S. Congressman (1833-1844), Governor of Virginia (1856-1860), and U.S. Minister of Brazil (1844-1847). He is perhaps best known, however, as being a Confederate brigadier general during 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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