Autographs
James K. Polk Letter Regarding His Run-In with Political Opponents: John Bell, Balie Peyton & Judge Hugh L.White
JAMES K. POLK (1795-1849). Eleventh President of the United States (1845–1849). Polk represented Tennessee as a Democrat, and served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives (1835–1839) and Governor of Tennessee (1839–1841), the surprise (dark horse) Candidate for President in 1844, defeating Henry Clay of the rival Whig Party by promising to Annex Texas!
October 10, 1836-Dated Autograph Letter Signed Twice, "James K. Polk" plus a second time he Initials, "J.K.P.” as United States Speaker of the House of Representatives, together with Additional Integral Free Frank Signature, 6 pages, measuring 7.75” x 9.75”, Choice Very Fine. Free Franked Integral Address Leaf is Signed, "J. K. Polk”, at Columbia [Tennessee]. Speaker Polk penned this Letter to Colonel Samuel H. Loughlin, and is marked as "Private." Polk discusses a recent “run-in” with political opponents John Bell and Balie Peyton (Tennessee Congressman, whom were often at odds with Polk), and Judge Hugh Lawson White.

There is a lengthy 9-line Postscript is Initialed, "J.K.P.". The address panel is completely penned in Polk's hand with his additional free frank, "Free J. K. Polk." Some separation of the main vertical fold of page five and six at the upper edge. Remnant of the original wax seal of address leaf where torn when opened resulting in a 2” long tear at its center, not effecting any of the Letter’s text. James Polk discusses his “run-in” with a political opponents, including Judge Hugh Lawson White, who was running as one of the four Whig Party Candidates for President. Polk writes, in part:

“My Dear Sir --- Private --- I addressed one of the largest assemblages of the people I have ever met; ate a dinner, drank toasts, etc. [John] Bell and [Balie] Peyton had been there a few days before and made instant speeches against the President, and especially against myself. They were not disturbed or molested. The effect which they had produced was to turn scans from White to J.B. My constituents chose to make a dinner and invite me. I accepted, and as the procession -- numbering it was said from four to five hundred on horseback, were on a march and in sight of town on Saturday morning, I learned with astonishment, and for the first time ... that Judge White would be there on that day, and that effects were there and had him making all the morning, by the Whites, to organize a few to ride out and meet him. Our procession proceeded, passed through the town to the square, where the dinner table was spread & where the speech was made; the immense multitude of people, who were in town, but had not joined the procession on horseback, many soon sprinkled in the grass. As we passed through town, there were a few of the antics, those who have always have him seen on horseback making the preparations to meet Judge White. I am told that about 60 of them went out; and about 3 o'clock brought him to town; He arrived in the midst of my speech. The news was immediately sent out & circulated in the crowd that Judge White was in town. The calculation no doubt was, that the people from curiosity would be drawn off, and run to see him. There were mistaken. They remained and at the close of my speech near 4 o'clock I never had a larger or more attentive audience. After dinner was over, & the toasts given, we returned to town, where we had the roust frolic I have ever witnessed. I did not participate in it but could not help observing it. Our people had possession of the cannon at the dinner table -- and kept it during the night -- firing one round after another, 'till midnight, and paraded the square shouting for V. Buren. A White-Bell pole had been planted on the square with a flag in the morning. Opposite to it, and near it, was a hickory and Polkstalk -- with a flag -- placed by our friends in the top of a house &c. &c. Our people seemed to have complete possession of the town. … I have never witnessed so indignant a crowd. ... It was in the mouth of almost every one that Bell & Co. had come to my District ... and had failed. ... The effect has been any thing but to advance the Judge ... or to injure me. ... Judging from all I could hear, the re-action in the County produced by Bell & White ... is tremendous. --- Yours In Haste -- (Signed) James K Polk".
Judge Hugh L. White (1773-1840) was once a political ally of Andrew Jackson and, by extension, Polk. The relationship began to fragment in the last year of Jackson's first term, but worsened in 1833 during the Nullification Crisis, after White appointed a Henry Clay ally to a select committee organized to consider the Clay compromise. White further angered Jackson through a series of speeches questioning Jackson's withdrawal from the Democratic Party's core principles and his ever increasing power as President. In 1835, Jackson's home state of Tennessee endorsed White for President. Jackson was furious, as he had chosen his Vice President, Martin Van Buren, as his successor. By 1836, White had broken with the Democratic Party altogether, and became a Whig, and running as one of their four Candidates for President in 1836. White came in third, with twenty-six electoral votes, behind both Martin Van Buren and William Henry Harrison.