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James Madison ALS

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
James Madison ALS
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Fantastic, historically important autograph letter signed by James Madison, fourth President of the United States, regarding the election to determine the second President. According to Madison, late returns filed by the state of Virginia resulted in John Adams securing more votes than his opponent, Thomas Jefferson. Apparently, Jefferson did not contest the results, and took the second position of Vice President instead -- the only time in our nation's history when the President and Vice President were from opposing political parties. Letter dated 18 January 1797 to an unnamed recipient reads in part, ''Dear Sir, W. Mason and myself lately recd your packets of London papers by Mr. Alex. Hamilton, which were very acceptable as they brought in the the earliest accounts of the important articles contained in them…This country is extremely agitated by pecuniary distresses, and the mercantile ones which begin to thicken on it. The unfortunate Treaty intended to appease our nation is bringing us into trouble with several. You will see that Mr. H. of Rep. is engaged on the question of a direct tax. The result is a problem not yet to be solved. It is expected that the executive will communicate in a few days a [?] of the embassy with France. After a warm contest for the succession to Gen'l W[ashington] the vacancy will be filled by Mr. Adams. He has 71 votes & Mr. Jefferson 68. The division would be still even but for a failure of one of the returns from a County of this State [Virginia] in time to be counted. Other casualties in other States had a hand in favoring Mr. A. Mr. Jefferson, it is now known, will serve in the secondary place allotted him…'' Signed at the conclusion ''J. Madison Jr.'' This first Presidential election (George Washington was uncontested) set the stage for acrimonious, or ''warm'' political contests, with a purported covert campaign by Alexander Hamilton to sway southern voters to pledge their second vote to Thomas Pinckney, which Hamilton and his supporters hoped would catapult Pinckney to the Presidency over Adams. Though unsuccessful, the election was extremely close and, as this letter shows, should have resulted in a tie with Thomas Jefferson perhaps becoming the 2nd President of the United States should there have been a recount! Exceptional, museum-worthy letter from America's embryonic days as a democratic republic. Two page letter, front and verso, measures 8'' x 10''. In very good to near fine condition with bleedthrough of ink and expected mailing folds.