Description:

John Breckinridge Thrice Signed Lengthy Letter to Henry Clay

BRECKINRIDGE, JOHN. Autograph Letter Thrice Signed, “John Breckinridge”, “J. Breckinridge”, and “JB”, to Henry Clay, 4 pp. on one leaf, March 19, 1806, Washington, 7.5" x 9”. Remnants of red wax seal on original franked envelope, expected mailing folds with some separation, toning. Accompanied by the Manuscript Society article, “John Breckinridge Mentors A Young Henry Clay”, Manuscripts, Vol. 67, No. 2 (Spring 2015), pp. 117–128.

Breckinridge writes in the last year of his life using a conversational manner, discussing 19thcentury political news, gossip, the health of the president, and relations with Great Britain.

Excerpts:

“It is but two days past, that the sense of the House of Repr’s has been so manifested, as to enable us to form any opinion what course they would pursue with respect to our relations with G. Britain. Last week Greggs res’s. were postponed by a very large majority, for the purpose of taking up Nicholsons … yeas 87 nays 35. I have not seen the yeas and nays, but am informed, that the minority contained but eleven republican members.”

“A Bill is before the Senate for encouraging emigration to the territory of Orleans, by allowing a bounty of land to every able bodied militiaman who will settle there, by a particular day. One hundred & sixty acres is spoken of as a bounty. Should this measure be adopted, it will not only effectually protect that, at present, very defenceless & vulnerable part of the union, but enable the people there to carry on their civil government with more ease & harmony …”

“From present appearances, I do not think that Congress will adjourn sooner than one month; consequently it will not be in my power to attend the Court of Appeals; & should they sit even one month more, I shall not be able to attend the Gen’l Court, for it will take me 20 days to ride out. I want therefore my dear sir commit my concerns to your care in both these courts …”

“The president has been a good deal indisposed for a few days; but is again perfectly recovered …”

John Breckinridge (1760-1806) was a lawyer, slave-owning planter, soldier, and politician in the U.S. states of Virginia and Kentucky. He served several terms each in the state legislatures of Virginia and Kentucky before legislators elected him to the United States Senate. He also served as United States Attorney General during the second term of President Thomas Jefferson. He is the progenitor of Kentucky's Breckinridge political family and the namesake of Breckinridge County, Kentucky.

Henry Clay (1777-1852) was an American attorney and statesman who represented Kentucky in both the Senate and House. He was the seventh House Speaker and the ninth Secretary of State. He received electoral votes for president in the 1824, 1832, and 1844 presidential elections. He also helped found both the National Republican Party and the Whig Party. For his role in defusing sectional crises, he earned the appellation of the "Great Compromiser".

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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