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1824 OLIVER WOLCOTT JR Superb Content ALS Elector Selection for President and VP

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
1824 OLIVER WOLCOTT JR Superb Content ALS Elector Selection for President and VP
Autographs
Superb Presidential Election Historic Content

Twice Signed Oliver Wolcott, Jr. Autograph Letter

Giving His Opinion on the Selection of Electors for President & Vice President

on the Upcoming Contentious Election of 1824
OLIVER WOLCOTT JR. (1760-1833). American Revolution Soldier, Officer and Patriot, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury succeeding Alexander Hamilton.
May 19, 1824-Dated, Remarkable Political Content Autograph Letter Signed, “Oliv. Wolcott”, measuring 7.5” x 9.75”, 3 pages on two sheets, New Haven (Connecticut), Very Fine. Minor edge splits and corner tip chipping. Includes a complete transcript of this Letter, minus the Post Script. Highly important Political Content, Oliver Wolcott, Jr. Handwritten Letter regarding the manner of Election of President and Vice President of the United States in the contentious historic upcoming election of 1824 and the constitutionality of the same.

In the United States Presidential election of 1824, John Quincy Adams was elected President on February 9, 1825, after the election was decided by the House of Representatives. The election was the only one in history to be decided by the House of Representatives under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution after no candidate secured a majority of the electoral vote. Oliver Wolcott writes to Judge Ogden Edwards, in full:

“My dear Sir, - Understanding from you, that my highly respected friend Governor Yates, has intimated a request to know my sentiments respecting the most prudent course of extricating the State of New York, fromthe embarrassments occasioned by the disagreeing resolutions of the Senate and House of Representatives on the Electoral Bills, I comply with your request for this opinion, which I comit to you upon this sole condition, that no use shall be made of this letter unlessat the desire of Governor Yates, and before the knowledge that I have communicated any opinion, is made known by you, to any other person whatever. This caution is demanded by my respect for his character and station, and to prevent suspicion that I wouls willingly and without solicitation, interfere in the political concerns of another State.

On one point I think Governor Yates ought to form his own independent unbiased judgement: in, whether a decided popular opinion is formed, that the choice of Electors ought now to be entrusted to the People, in conformity with the Bill which passed the House of Representatives. If no public opinion is formed, or if the people appear to be greatly divided respecting the details of the Bill; then I think the ensuing Election of the Electors of a President and Vice President, ought to be governed by the existing rule.

A practical construction has hitherto been settled by the different States, that Electors may be appointed by the State Legislatures; by the people, voting on a General Ticket, or by District Elections; or according to rules compounded of the priciples of a General and District Ballot, as I understand was proposed by the House of Representatives of the State of New York. Personally I have no doubt, that a choice of Electors, by the People, is most conforable to the Constitution of the United States, and the unnecessary restraints upon the Elective Franchise, are the most dangerous errors which Legislators can commit.

If the Electors are chosen by the People, I have but little doubt, that they will concur in giving an united and effective vote for the State of New York. It may, and probably now is altogether uncertain, upon whom the votes will fall, but the People will tranquilly acquiesce, in any decision made by persons chosen by themselves: they will not be equally submissive, to decisions made by Electors appointed in any other manner. In so great a State as New York, dangerous and permanent factions may be created, which may occasion much trouble or paralize the Government. Men of every grade and character in this country must submit to the public will; the People wil submit to be advised, but they will not be commanded, or directed in the choice of their Magistrates and Officers.

My opinion is, that Governor Yates, ought to ascertain in the best manner he can, what the popular desire respecting the principles of the Electoral Bill is, and without regarding the wishes of the partisans of any of the Candidates, pursue the dictates of his own honest convictions in respect to this single fact, and give effect, so far as depends on him, to the public will. I have no doubt that this course will best advance the public interest, his own honour, and future tranquillity. -- I am very respectfully - Dear Sir, - Your Obedt. Servt. - (Signed) Oliv. Wolcott.” Wolcott then adds, in full:

P.S. “Mr. Edwards has informed me, that I misapprehended his meaning, when I wrote the first part of this letter & that he intended merely to convey the idea, that my opinion would be acceptable to Governor Yates.” - (Signed) “O Wolcott”.

Ogden Edwards (1781-1862) was a Jurist and Legislator, a native of Connecticut, he moved to New York in the early 1800s. Edwards served as surrogate of the County of New York (1807), member of the New York Assembly (1814 and 1817), counsel for the Corporation of New York (1816-1822), member of the N.Y. State Constitutional Convention (1821), and Judge of the 1st Circuit in the State of New York, 1822-1841. In 1846, he unsuccessfully ran for Governor of New York on the Whig ticket. He died on Staten Island, N.Y., April 1, 1862.
The United States presidential election of 1824 was the tenth quadrennial Presidential election, held from Tuesday, October 26, to Thursday, December 2, 1824. John Quincy Adams was elected President on February 9, 1825.

The election was the only one in history to be decided by the House of Representatives under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution after no candidate secured a majority of the electoral vote.

It was also the first U.S. Presidential election where the popular vote was reported, and the only Presidential election in which the candidate who received a plurality of electoral votes (Andrew Jackson) did not become President, a source of great bitterness for Jackson and his supporters, who proclaimed the election of Adams a corrupt bargain.

Prior to the election, the Democratic-Republican Party had won six consecutive presidential elections. In 1824 the Democratic-Republican Party failed to agree on a choice of candidate for president, with the result that the party effectively ceased to exist and split four ways behind four separate candidates.

Later, the faction led by Jackson would evolve into the modern Democratic Party in the 1828 election, while the factions led by Adams and Henry Clay would become the National Republican Party (not related to the current Republican Party) and then the Whig Party.