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JOHN VAN BUREN SEEKS THE "FREE SOIL" NOMINATION FOR HIS FATHER

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Political Memorabilia Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 400.00 USD
JOHN VAN BUREN SEEKS THE  FREE SOIL  NOMINATION FOR HIS FATHER
JOHN VAN BUREN (1810 - 1866) Second son of President Martin Van Buren, an infuential politician and campaigned for his father. Fine content A.L.S., 3pp. 8vo., [n.p.], to "Mr. Butler", likely Benjamin Butler illustrating the strength of the Van Buren political machine in New York. . In part: "...My father will write a letter to be laid before the Utica Convention...in reply to one from the City delegation to Utica asking him to...permit his name to be used for the Presy. but intimating that they can hardly allow this...If he cannot allow this then to favor them with his opinion & advise as to the action of the Balti. Convention...& the duty of supporting Cass & Butler...We want an address fro the Utica Convn. Will you write it? Get whatever you can from Tilden Benton here will add some views about debt, honoring money...We ought to raise about $2,000...Cass's reception today was a painful spectacle even to me. 20 blackguards on horseback...Literally nothing and nobody...our whole action at Utica should aim at our own State...". Fine. In 1848, John Van Buren was the leader of the Barnburner faction of the Democratic Party, which repudiated the 1848 Democratic Convention held in Baltimore. The Barnburners met for a State Convention in Utica, New York and nominated Van Buren's father as their presidential candidate. On August 9 the Free Soil Party endorsed this nomination, as Van Buren had hoped. However, Lewis Cass ended up on the Democratic ticket and Van Buren failed to win a single state. Zachary Taylor won the presidency, but Van Buren’s votes in New York cost Cass the election.