Description:

James Buchanan ALS with Great Political Content Re: Democratic Presidential Nomination of 1852 & Referring to Cass, Scott, & Taylor

A 2pp autograph letter signed by future 15th U.S. President James Buchanan (1791-1868) as "James Buchanan" at lower right. Written at Wheatland, Buchanan's Federal style brick house near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on April 28, 1852. Inscribed on both sides of pale blue stationery paper, and including several cross-outs and other spontaneous edits. Expected light paper folds. Isolated areas of scattered color loss. A thin piece of Japanese tissue paper is adhered along the right edge verso. Else near fine. 7.625" x 10." Property of the Chrysler Museum of Art, Sold to Benefit Museum Acquisitions. Formerly a Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.

This letter is jam-packed with superb political content, and discusses many of the important events, people, and ideas which would shape American politics in the 1850s. Topics referred to in Buchanan's letter include: the two-party political system of Whigs vs. Democrats; the sectionalism which would anticipate the geographical divisions of the Civil War; the political ramifications of the co-existence of both free and enslaved states; and even the disastrous fall-out of negative press.

Buchanan mentions several important fellow politicians in the letter, including his 1852 Democratic presidential rival Lewis Cass (1782-1866), then a U.S. Senator from Michigan; and Whig presidential candidate Winfield Scott (1786-1866), who failed to secure his party's nomination in 1840 and 1848 but would in 1852.

Buchanan's letter also alludes to the 1848 presidential election in which Whig candidate Zachary Taylor won, and goes into some detail about the upcoming 1852 Democratic National Convention.

In late April 1852, Democratic presidential hopeful James Buchanan was confident but anxious about his political chances. He wrote his friend, John Renshaw Thomson (1800-1862), a Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey, to inquire about his popularity in that state. Evidently, Buchanan had taken it for granted that he would carry New Jersey, but new information suggested that Lewis Cass had an edge with Northerners. Buchanan's other Democratic challengers included Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire, William L. Marcy of New York, and Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois. Each Democratic nominee depended on the support of certain constituents and interests: Buchanan on Pennsylvania and the South; Cass on the pro-Compromise of 1850 advocates and the North; Marcy on New York; Douglas on the West and big business.

Buchanan wrote in part:

"Private + Confidential

Wheatland, near Lancaster 28 April 1852.

My dear Sir,

I have thought for some days of inquiring of you what are the prospects in New Jersey; but the immediate course of doing so at this time is the enclosed slip which I have cut from a letter of the notorious Grund in the Baltimore Sun of the 26th Instant which has been forwarded to me by a friend. I know that the paragraph is false in regard to the other States. Is it true with respect to New Jersey?

I am fully convinced that the party is doomed should General Cass be nominated. In this State, as against Scott, from present appearances it would be a perfect rout. The Whigs every where are exceedingly anxious for the nomination of Cass. This would be the signal for closing up the ranks. Should he be nominated, he shall receive my support, as he will of all the leading men in Pennsylvania of the party, but they cannot bring up the rank + file.

I confess I do not think his nomination possible; but it would be a severe blow to me, if New Jersey should now abandon me, when prospects elsewhere are so bright. I have paid no attention to your State, because I was taught to consider it secure; + my correspondence has been so immense with other portions of the Union.

I have but little doubt that I shall receive the vote of all the States, South of the Potomack + Ohio + East of the Mississippi in the Convention unless Kentucky may be excepted. The moral effect however which the opposition of Jersey to me, - a state which has always been considered friendly, might be unfortunate.

The prospect is now exceedingly fair. I have been growing brighter every day for the last two or three months, but I am to old a political navigator to rely, with implicit confidence, upon the present bright aspect of the skies. If the Jersey Blues have gone against me, with a rush, I rely upon your friendship to inform me of it, so that I may be prepared to encounter the shock.

I enclose you a document which I received from some person merely for the purpose of referring you to the vote in the Free States at the last Presidential election. I do not approve of its general tone. Was there ever such an astounding defeat?..."

Neither Buchanan nor Cass would seize the nomination at the 1852 Democratic National Convention held in Baltimore, Maryland between June 1-5, 1852. Rather, former U.S. Senator from New Hampshire Franklin Pierce secured his party's bid. Pierce appointed his fellow Democratic contender James Buchanan as U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom some sixteen months later, in August 1853. Buchanan would finally secure the Democratic Party presidential nomination four years later, in 1856. His reputation of being a "Dough face," that is, a Southern sympathizer, became ever more important on the eve of the Civil War, and he would serve as president between 1857-1861.

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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