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March 5, 1846 JOHN TYLER ALS Having Left Washington with Two State Dept. Books

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
March 5, 1846 JOHN TYLER ALS Having Left Washington with Two State Dept. Books
Autographs
March 5, 1846 “John Tyler” Autograph Letter Signed Having Left Washington with Two State Dept. Books
JOHN TYLER (1790 - 1862). Tenth President of the United States (1841-1845) following the death of William Henry Harrison, Annexed Texas from Mexico, and he remained loyal to Virginia following its Secession from the Union.
March 5, 1846-Dated Post-presidency, Autograph Letter Signed, “John Tyler”, measuring 8” x 11.25”, 1 page, Charles City, VA., Choice Very Fine. Tyler writes this clean, fine quality, boldly written letter on wove period paper from his home, “Sherwood Forest”, renamed by him since he was "Outlawed" by the Whig Party, and he considered himself to be a latter day “Robin Hood”. Tyler writes to a Mr. Greenhow, likely a government librarian, regarding his returning two books he erroneously took home from the Library of the State Dept., including one volume of Thomas Jefferson’s correspondence. It reads, in full:

"My Dear Sir, --- In looking over my books a few days ago I find that in the hurry of packing on leaving Washington two volumes belonging to the Library of the State Dept. were put with my books. Although a year has elapsed since then, a discovery is better made late than never and by the mail which will bring you this I have forwarded these to your address. With the request that you will present the salutations of Mrs. Tyler and myself to Mrs. Greenhow, I tender you my best wishes for your health and happiness. - (Signed) John Tyler”. The President then concludes by listing the volumes below, as: "I Vol. Langhomes Plutarch IV Vol. Jefferson's Correspondences".

Tyler retired to a Virginia plantation, originally named Walnut Grove (or "the Grove"), located on the James River in Charles City County. He renamed it Sherwood Forest, in a reference to the folk legend Robin Hood, to signify that he had been "outlawed" by the Whig Party. His neighbors, largely Whigs, appointed him to the minor office of “Overseer of roads” in 1847 in an effort to mock him. To their displeasure he treated the job seriously. This scarce “John Tyler” Autograph Letter Signed is Accompanied by a handsome period Engraving measuring 6.5” x 8.5” of Tyler with the (White) “President’s House” vignette and signature in facsimile below. (2 items).
President Harrison's death in office was an unprecedented event that caused considerable uncertainty regarding presidential succession. Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the United States Constitution, which governed intra-term presidential succession at the time (now superseded by the Twenty-fifth Amendment), states that:

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President....

Interpreting this Constitutional prescription led to the question of whether the actual office of president devolved upon Vice President Tyler, or merely its powers and duties. The Cabinet met within an hour of Harrison's death and, according to a later account, determined that Tyler would be "Vice-President acting President".

However, Tyler firmly and decisively asserted that the Constitution gave him full and unqualified powers of office and had himself sworn in immediately as President, setting a critical precedent for an orderly transfer of power following a President's death. The presidential oath was administered by Judge William Cranch in Tyler's hotel room. He considered the oath redundant to his oath as vice president, but wished to quell any doubt over his accession. When he took office, Tyler, at 51, became the youngest president to that point.

"Fearing that he would alienate Harrison's supporters, Tyler decided to keep the dead President's entire cabinet even though several members were openly hostile to him and resented his assumption of the office." At his first cabinet meeting, Noah Webster informed him of Harrison's practice of making policy by a majority vote. The Cabinet fully expected the new president to continue this practice. Tyler was astounded and immediately corrected them:

I beg your pardon, gentlemen; I am very glad to have in my Cabinet such able statesmen as you have proved yourselves to be. And I shall be pleased to avail myself of your counsel and advice. But I can never consent to being dictated to as to what I shall or shall not do. I, as president, shall be responsible for my administration. I hope to have your hearty co-operation in carrying out its measures. So long as you see fit to do this, I shall be glad to have you with me. When you think otherwise, your resignations will be accepted.

Tyler delivered an inaugural address before the Congress on April 9, in which he reasserted his belief in fundamental tenets of Jeffersonian democracy and limited federal power. Tyler's claim to be president was not immediately accepted by opposition members of Congress such as John Quincy Adams, who felt that Tyler should be a caretaker under the title of "Acting President", or remain vice president in name.

Among those who questioned Tyler's authority was Henry Clay, who had planned to be "the real power behind a fumbling throne" while Harrison was alive, and intended the same for Tyler. Clay saw Tyler as the "vice-president" and his presidency as a mere "regency".

Ratification of the decision by Congress came through the customary notification that it makes to the president, that it is in session and available to receive messages. In both houses, unsuccessful amendments were offered to strike the word "President" in favor of language including the term "vice president" to refer to Tyler. Mississippi Senator Robert J. Walker, in opposition, stated that the idea that Tyler was still vice president and could preside over the Senate was absurd.

Tyler's opponents never fully accepted him as president. He was referred to by many mocking nicknames, including "His Accidency". However, Tyler never wavered from his conviction that he was the rightful president; when his political opponents sent correspondence to the White House addressed to the "vice president" or "acting president", Tyler had it returned unopened