James Buchanan ALS About "adjournment of the Legislature"

A 1p autograph letter signed by James Buchanan (1791-1868), future 15th U.S. President, as "James Buchanan" at lower right. Written in Washington, D.C. on March 3, 1837 on cream paper. Expected wear including flattened folds, isolated minor loss confined to corners and edges, and old tape binding along the left edge verso. Else near fine. 7.875" x 8.875".

Accompanied by a handsome engraved portrait of James Buchanan on cream stock paper, 6" x 7.875," stamped verso: "This portrait is sold by the U.S. Government for 10 cents and is not to be resold for a larger sum." Near fine. Comes with a full transcript of the letter as well as a Certificate of Authenticity from Shafran Collectibles (East Meadow, New York).

James Buchanan, then a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, wrote this letter to Thomas Elder (1767-1853). Elder was a lawyer, businessman, and one of the leading citizens of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Buchanan's letters to Elder spanning from the late 1810s to the 1830s can be found in various historical society and university repositories.)

Buchanan wrote Elder in part: "If possible, I shall be in Lancaster the latter end of next week. If not + whether or not, I intend to visit Harrisburg before the adjournment of the Legislature…I must remain here for a few days after the close of the session to bring my business up…"

The 24th U.S. Congress would adjourn the following day, on March 4, 1837. (The session had officially commenced two years earlier, on March 4, 1835.) Buchanan served as one of 52 U.S. Senators in the 24th U.S. Congress, and the junior one from Pennsylvania after Samuel McKean. Buchanan served as U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania from 1834-1845.

James Buchanan, a trained lawyer, gained his first political experience in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Buchanan transitioned to the U.S. House of Representatives in the early 1820s, and later served as a minister to Russia, 17th U.S. Secretary of State, and U.S. Ambassador to Britain under the Jackson, Polk, and Pierce administrations respectively. A hardline Democrat, Buchanan opposed a federal banking system, supported western expansion, and lobbied for states’ rights. Buchanan was often accused of being a "Doughface," or Northerner with Southern sympathies. His inability to mitigate regionalism left his successor Abraham Lincoln to deal with the Civil War.

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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