Beschreibung:

POLK, JAMES K., President . Autograph letter signed ("James K. Polk") as President, TO VICE-PRESIDENT GEORGE M. DALLAS, Washington, D.C., 31 October 1846. 1 1/4 pages, 4to, 250 x 205mm. (10 x 8 in.), a few spots, formerly tipped to another sheet , in fine condition. POLK TURNS TO MADISON'S CONSTITUTIONAL PAPERS President Polk discusses routine government patronage appointments and asks his Vice-President for research assistance: "...I must remind you of your promise to give me a reference to that part of the Madison Papers , which goes to show the intention of the [Constitutional] convention -- reserving to the States -- the power to lay a tonnage duty on vessels with the consent of Congress. If you will give me a reference to the page it will save me the labour of searching for it...I wrote to Dr. Sturgeon that I would nominate his friend to the Senate, early in the next session..." Polk and Dallas were undoubtedly consulting Madison's Constitutional notes in connection with the proposed Walker Tariff of 1846, a tariff which Dallas had previously opposed. The edition of James Madison's notes on the proceedings of the 1787 Philadelphia Convention was without an index, so Polk needed Dallas's assistance in finding the necessary passage. Dallas supported Polk and cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate in favor of the tariff. This so outraged citizens of his home state of Pennsylvania that he was hung in effigy.