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Lot 235: James A. Seddon Signed Letter 1846

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Lot  235: James A. Seddon Signed Letter 1846
<b>Autographs</b><hr><b>'James A. Seddon' Signed Autograph Letter</b>

<b>JAMES A. SEDDON, Confederate Secretary of War.</b>
Autograph Letter Signed, 'James A. Seddon,' May 17, 1846, (Washington), 9.75' x 7.5,' Choice Extremely Fine. To Robert J. Walker, recommending a Virginian, W. McArthur, 'who is an applicant for a clerkship in your department.' Double set of folds and lightly penciled notes at top edge and lower left corner, otherwise, boldly penned and signed. Seddon was twice a member of the House of Representatives (1845-47 and 1849-51) before retiring for the first time from public life. A Virginia delegate to the Washington peace conference, he proposed that any State should be allowed to withdraw peacefully from the Union. He was elected to the first Confederate Congress and served as C.S.A. Secretary of War from November 21, 1862 until February 16, 1865, when he resigned. Seddon was crushed by the fall of the Confederacy and considered his life a failure. He was briefly imprisoned by the North but soon released. He retired to his home, 'Sabot Hill,' and engaged in agricultural pursuits as far as his health would permit. Seddon left few papers, apparently having destroyed them himself.