3 pp, 7 ¾ x 9 ¾, JAMES W. HAND, ALS, TO CHARLES W. FOLWER of Middleton, Connecticut, written on June 2nd, 1824. The 1824 election was held from October 26 to December 2, 1824. It was a unique election because it was the first-time popular votes were counted. The election was between Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay and William Crawford. It was also unique because no candidate won a majority of the electoral vote. Ultimately the House voted to elect John Quincy Adams as president.
The letter offered here presents some interesting observations about the presidential race in 1824, prior to the election.
In part, “...Mr. Adams is regularly and steadily advancing upon the other candidates in public opinion. He is unquestionably the strongest man & is gaining every day. It is becoming a common opinion among the best-informed politicians that he will be our next president...
“The Crawford party, by their own violence, and by their want of principles have greatly injured if not ruined themselves. Crawford is himself in a deplorable state of health. He has never recovered from the sickness of last fall – and probably never will...He has little chance...Jackson has become astonishingly popular in some sections of the country and in New England has some friends...His talents are exclusively military...”
The violence mentioned about Crawford is possibly a reference to a duel in which Crawford killed his dueling partner Peter Lawrence Van Allen. Crawford also had a duel with politician John Clark and, in that encounter, was wounded. He served as Secretary of War and Secretary of the Treasury. He later ran for U.S. president in the 1824 election.
Toning, folds, seal tear affects a few words. Integral address leaf with bold Washington, DC, postmark.
Everything we sell is guaranteed authentic forever to the original buyer. We also offer a 30-day return policy. If you discover a problem or are dissatisfied with an item, please contact us immediately. Our goal is to please every customer. We are pleased to be members of The Manuscript Society, Universal Autograph Collectors Club, The Ephemera Society, the Southern New England Antiquarian Booksellers and the Preferred Autograph Dealers and Auction Houses. [P 276]