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Details
JOHNSON, Andrew, President. Autograph letter signed ("Andrew Johnson") as Senator from Tennessee to T.H. Herbert, Washington, D.C., 11 December 1857. 2 pages, 8vo, traces of mounting on left margin. Fine.
JOHNSON DETAILS HIS POLITICAL CAREER TO DATE: "MY HUMBLE HISTORY"
A fine autograph letter from the future president, responding to Herbert's questions about his earlier political career. Johnson writes: "I have to state that between the years 1830 & 1835 I was elected and served as Alderman and Mayor of the Corporation of the town Greenville. In the years 1835 & 6 and 1839 & 40 I served in the lower branch of the State Legislature. In the years 1841 & 42 I served in the Senate. In 1843 I was elected to the Congress and served until 1853, ten consecutive years. In 1853 & 1855 I was elected governor and served as such until the 3d day of November 1857. On the 8th day of Oct. last I was elected to the Senate of the US...During this period of time I served as Trustee of the Greenville femail [sic] academy for some four or five years. If it is information you desire in regard to my humble history I would call your attention to the Western democratic review which was first published at Indianapolis..." He concludes with reference to an arm injury he has suffered: "Pardon this imperfect scrawl for it is with great difficulty that I write at all."
A few months prior to writing this letter, Johnson had been in a railroad accident. Doctors reset the arm but it never healed properly, and troubled him for the rest of his life. It is probably the reason for the rarity of full autograph letters during his term as President and afterwards.
JOHNSON DETAILS HIS POLITICAL CAREER TO DATE: "MY HUMBLE HISTORY"
A fine autograph letter from the future president, responding to Herbert's questions about his earlier political career. Johnson writes: "I have to state that between the years 1830 & 1835 I was elected and served as Alderman and Mayor of the Corporation of the town Greenville. In the years 1835 & 6 and 1839 & 40 I served in the lower branch of the State Legislature. In the years 1841 & 42 I served in the Senate. In 1843 I was elected to the Congress and served until 1853, ten consecutive years. In 1853 & 1855 I was elected governor and served as such until the 3d day of November 1857. On the 8th day of Oct. last I was elected to the Senate of the US...During this period of time I served as Trustee of the Greenville femail [sic] academy for some four or five years. If it is information you desire in regard to my humble history I would call your attention to the Western democratic review which was first published at Indianapolis..." He concludes with reference to an arm injury he has suffered: "Pardon this imperfect scrawl for it is with great difficulty that I write at all."
A few months prior to writing this letter, Johnson had been in a railroad accident. Doctors reset the arm but it never healed properly, and troubled him for the rest of his life. It is probably the reason for the rarity of full autograph letters during his term as President and afterwards.