Gallatin Albert

Albert Gallatin on John Quincy Adams & Andrew Jackson, 4pp ALS--Best Letter by Him We've Ever Seen!

4pp autograph letter fully engrossed by Albert Gallatin (1761-1849), the influential Swiss-born politician, and signed by him as "Albert Gallatin" on the last page at lower right. Written in Baltimore, Maryland on March 16, 1824. On bifold paper, docketed by Gallatin's correspondent on the last page. With expected paper folds, including a vertical one affecting Gallatin's signature. A few chipped edges and minor closed tears along the hinge. Traces of mounting tape found along the top edge, else near fine. 15.75" x 9.75". Ex-Forbes Collection.

Albert Gallatin wrote this letter to Walter Lowrie (1784-1868), his friend, fellow Pennsylvanian, and political colleague (Lowrie served as a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania between 1819-1825). In March 1824, Gallatin was at large; he did not know it, but he was in between terms serving as U.S. Minister to France (1816-1823) and U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom (1826-1827).

In advance of the 1824 presidential election, Gallatin was unexpectedly nominated to serve as the vice presidential running mate of Georgian William H. Crawford (1772-1834), then serving as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Gallatin won the nomination by an overwhelming majority of voters from the special congressional caucus. By all accounts, Gallatin was very distressed by this nomination. He did not want it, and indeed, he had dropped out of vice presidential contention by October 1824. But Gallatin also didn't want other more dangerous men in positions of authority--men like Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) and John C. Calhoun (1782-1850) (see below).

In the fall of 1824, the presidential election failed to yield a clear majority in the Electoral College. Though the Andrew Jackson / John C. Calhoun ticket officially garnered the most Electoral College votes among the four sets of candidates, as well as 41% of the popular vote, the House of Representatives decided John Quincy Adams and John C. Calhoun the winners. (Jackson would be elected President during the next national election.)

Selected Excerpts (with unchanged spelling and punctuation):

"I believe the nomination of Gen. Jackson by the Harrisburg Convention to have been the genuine expression of the existing popular feeling. The principal men of the old Republican party do not participate in it but cannot control it at this moment. Divisions may arise amongst his supporters and the fever may pass over: but the organisation of the combination by committees &c will probably keep it alive till the election; and great care must be taken not to give it additional strength by any premature attack against the man. I had no expectation of being nominated by the convention: but I had not anticipated the vote for Calhoun, which is clearly artificial and the result of intrigue…

I fear that the attempts to carry Mr Crawford by an electoral vote in the New England States will be fruitless…Supposing you should obtain there 12 or 20 votes it would not elect him and would place Mr Clay instead of Mr Adams on the return…In short, to keep the friends of Mr Adams & also those of Mr Clay in good temper & to habituate them to the idea of considering Mr Crawford as next to their own candidate, appears to me indispensible to secure his election.

With respect to the Vice Presidency, the first object must be to keep out Mr Calhoun who if he succeed in that first step will infallibly be President at the ensuing election of 4 or 8 years hence. Indeed I do not know whether his being chosen V. Presidt would not be as dangerous to the Republic as Gen. Jackson's election to the Presidency. At all events to prevent his (Calhoun's) election is the primary and to elect me but a secondary object…

I think it probable that no credit is given me for those services [Gallatin's diplomacy after the War of 1812, and his support of the Mississippi River fisheries] & that I have very little choice in succeeding in either of those quarters [New England and the West]. Indeed it is very evident to me that I am out of date, have very little popularity any where and do not bring the least accession of strength to Mr Crawford. All this is mentioned in order that you may duly consider whether you do not run a great risk in continuing to hold me up, when there is a great danger of it promoting Calhoun's election…

If I shall continue as the Republican candidate, it will be important to induce as far as practicable the Eastern & Western members to persuade those of their Electors, who will not or in obedience to local prejudices dare not vote for me…"

Provenance:


Priced by Paul Richards in 1981 for $750.


Ex-Forbes Collection. Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), the American owner-publisher of Forbes magazine and a consummate collector, amassed one of the most substantial autograph collections of such breadth and depth that it filled a half-dozen residences on three continents. Many of his manuscripts were sold in a series of multi-million dollar sales by Christie's in the early 2000s. The Forbes name is considered to be the apex of provenance, especially when attached to an item like the above. We are honored to have been chosen by the family to sell at auction the substantial balance of the collection.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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