POLK, James K. Autograph letter signed ("James K. Polk"), as President, to Gideon Pillow (1806-1878), Washington City, 20 April 1846. 2½ pages, 4to .
POLK, James K. Autograph letter signed ("James K. Polk"), as President, to Gideon Pillow (1806-1878), Washington City, 20 April 1846. 2½ pages, 4to . SLAVERY AND THE MEXICAN WAR: POLK REVEALS HIS DETERMINATION TO BRING TENSIONS WITH MEXICO "TO AN ISSUE" AND GO TO WAR The three great issues of Polk's presidency are all here: slavery, the Mexican War, and the Oregon boundary dispute ("54/40 or Fight!"). Polk arranges to buy back an "unruly" slave from Gideon Pillow, talks about how "our Mexican relations...must be brought to an issue," and promises to "abrogate the Treaty of 1827" with Britain over the Oregon boundary. "You will remember," he writes the future Confederate general, "that when my man Hartuct became unruly and acted badly at Nashville, and I sold him to you, I requested that you would let me have him again if you ever sold him." Apparently Polk acquired this man through his wife's family, and "Mrs. Polk...has always had some feeling on the subject...As we own his mother, Mrs. Polk has still a desire that I should get him back." He is sending a relative, Col. Robert Campbell "to purchase him and pay you for him. If Hartuct has a wife or a wife and children I have authorized him to purchase them also, as I would be unwilling to separate them. He is authorized to pay you a full and fair price for them." Turning from the peculiar institution to national politics, he says "Our Mexican relations continue in an unsettled state. They cannot long remain so. Before the present Congress rises they must be brought to an issue." He was as good as his word. Less than three weeks later, on 11 May 1846, he requested a declaration of war against Mexico. He's also impatient to have Congress tear up the 1827 Treaty between America and Britain over the Oregon boundary. "I think it is most unfortunate that the question of the notice to abrogate the Treaty of 1827 has been so long delayed in Congress. It has increased the embarrassment of the subject..." A remarkable political and personal letter, from a pivotal moment in American history.
POLK, James K. Autograph letter signed ("James K. Polk"), as President, to Gideon Pillow (1806-1878), Washington City, 20 April 1846. 2½ pages, 4to .
POLK, James K. Autograph letter signed ("James K. Polk"), as President, to Gideon Pillow (1806-1878), Washington City, 20 April 1846. 2½ pages, 4to . SLAVERY AND THE MEXICAN WAR: POLK REVEALS HIS DETERMINATION TO BRING TENSIONS WITH MEXICO "TO AN ISSUE" AND GO TO WAR The three great issues of Polk's presidency are all here: slavery, the Mexican War, and the Oregon boundary dispute ("54/40 or Fight!"). Polk arranges to buy back an "unruly" slave from Gideon Pillow, talks about how "our Mexican relations...must be brought to an issue," and promises to "abrogate the Treaty of 1827" with Britain over the Oregon boundary. "You will remember," he writes the future Confederate general, "that when my man Hartuct became unruly and acted badly at Nashville, and I sold him to you, I requested that you would let me have him again if you ever sold him." Apparently Polk acquired this man through his wife's family, and "Mrs. Polk...has always had some feeling on the subject...As we own his mother, Mrs. Polk has still a desire that I should get him back." He is sending a relative, Col. Robert Campbell "to purchase him and pay you for him. If Hartuct has a wife or a wife and children I have authorized him to purchase them also, as I would be unwilling to separate them. He is authorized to pay you a full and fair price for them." Turning from the peculiar institution to national politics, he says "Our Mexican relations continue in an unsettled state. They cannot long remain so. Before the present Congress rises they must be brought to an issue." He was as good as his word. Less than three weeks later, on 11 May 1846, he requested a declaration of war against Mexico. He's also impatient to have Congress tear up the 1827 Treaty between America and Britain over the Oregon boundary. "I think it is most unfortunate that the question of the notice to abrogate the Treaty of 1827 has been so long delayed in Congress. It has increased the embarrassment of the subject..." A remarkable political and personal letter, from a pivotal moment in American history.
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
