(ALS) Handwritten signed letter by Jefferson Davis, with envelope, as United States Secretary of War, dated April 17, 1853, writing to Eli Abbott regarding the position of United States Marshal for Northern Mississippi in which Davis seemingly laments his loss in the 1851 election for Mississippi governor to a candidate, who at the time, favored the Compromise of 1850, while most of the letter is a defense of states rights, Davis writing "to receive such approval from one of the 'old guard' who in the defense of Democracy, which is states rights, may die but never surrender, further my personal wishes I answer, that to advance the doctrine of states rights is my first wish and whatever will most promote this end will be most acceptable to me," the letter goes on to inform Abbott that as his letter arrived too late another had received the U.S. Marshal appointment, three pages, folds, holes, tears *Note 1: A copy of this letter appears at page 9, "The Papers of Jefferson Davis: 1853-1855". **Note 2: Jefferson Finis Davis (1808-1889), U.S. Military Academy, West Point, 1824-1828, U.S. Army, 1828-1835, U.S. Congress 1856-1846, U.S. Secretary of War, 1853-1857, U.S. Senator, 1857-1851, President of the Confederate States, 1862-1865.** ***Note 3: Eli Abbott (Pikesville, aka Egypt Station, Chickasaw County Mississippi, 1801-1879) Captain, Abbotts Company, Mississippi Cavalry, C.S.A.*** Start Price: $500.00

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