(1798-1858) U.S. Army Major General during the Mexican-American war, strongly pro-slavery ‘Fire Eater’ congressman from Mississippi, died of dysentery contracted during the inaugural dinner of President James Buchanan. Scarce free-franking signature ‘J A Quitman M[ember] C[ongress]’ on a 5.5 x 3 in. letter, executing his surname a second time in addressing his son ‘F. Henry Quitman E[squi]r[e] Houma Terrebonne Louis[ian]a’. Postmarked at Washington, D.C., evenly toned and opened at the top edge, in very good condition overall. Sold with a period, color frontispiece engraving of Quitman, with his facsimile signature beneath the portrait.