Details
TYLER, John (1790-1862), President. Autograph letter signed ("John Tyler") as President, to Henry A. Wise (1806-1876), Williamsburg, [VA], 2 November 1841. 1½ pages, 4to (10 x 7 1/8 in.), signature slightly smudged, otherwise fine.
TYLER REBUILDS HIS CABINET IN THE WAKE OF THE FAMOUS MASS RESIGNATION
William Henry Harrison's unexpected death a month after taking the oath as President thrust Vice President Tyler unexpectedly into the White House. He assumed the full powers of the Presidency, refusing to accept the title "acting president," which some urged, and demonstrated considerable independence. When he twice vetoed Whig-sponsored bills to create a Third Bank of the United States, he fatally alienated many within his own party and set off a mass resignation of his Whig cabinet (all except Daniel Webster). Throughout the remainder of his presidency, Tyler was vilified by his former Whig colleagues as a traitor to Whig principles.
Here, in a cryptic letter to a Democratic congressman, Tyler discusses his hopes that Wise will aid in marshalling support. Noting Wise's illness, Tyler assures him that his constituents: "are most anxiously looking for you and my opinion is that your presence among them will unite them as one man. Every artifice has been resorted to to prevent their judgements but I find things here in a good state and I doubt not but that your presence would produce a general rally."
Tyler was endeavoring to fill the cabinet posts vacated by the departed Whigs and mentions several candidates he is considering and his desire to appoint a member of Wise's family: "When I wrote my last letter to you I had contemplated (on McLain's refusal) to appoint [Charles] Wickliffe Secretary of War and Whittlesy P.M. General which would have created a vacancy for your relative Mr. Wise, but circumstances turned up which I will explain to you on sight to prevent this arrangement." Although the particulars are obscure, Whittlesy was never appointed while Wickliffe was named Postmaster General. He continues: "Since then I have been urging [Secretary of the Treasury, Walter] Forward to create a vacancy in an auditorship somewhere in his office so as to enable me to return my promise...I shall return to the City the first of next week, and if not executed before, it shall promptly claim my attention."
Henry Alexander Wise (1806-1876) was later elected Virginia's Governor and played a key role in the secession of the state from the Union. During the Civil War he served as a Confederate general.
TYLER REBUILDS HIS CABINET IN THE WAKE OF THE FAMOUS MASS RESIGNATION
William Henry Harrison's unexpected death a month after taking the oath as President thrust Vice President Tyler unexpectedly into the White House. He assumed the full powers of the Presidency, refusing to accept the title "acting president," which some urged, and demonstrated considerable independence. When he twice vetoed Whig-sponsored bills to create a Third Bank of the United States, he fatally alienated many within his own party and set off a mass resignation of his Whig cabinet (all except Daniel Webster). Throughout the remainder of his presidency, Tyler was vilified by his former Whig colleagues as a traitor to Whig principles.
Here, in a cryptic letter to a Democratic congressman, Tyler discusses his hopes that Wise will aid in marshalling support. Noting Wise's illness, Tyler assures him that his constituents: "are most anxiously looking for you and my opinion is that your presence among them will unite them as one man. Every artifice has been resorted to to prevent their judgements but I find things here in a good state and I doubt not but that your presence would produce a general rally."
Tyler was endeavoring to fill the cabinet posts vacated by the departed Whigs and mentions several candidates he is considering and his desire to appoint a member of Wise's family: "When I wrote my last letter to you I had contemplated (on McLain's refusal) to appoint [Charles] Wickliffe Secretary of War and Whittlesy P.M. General which would have created a vacancy for your relative Mr. Wise, but circumstances turned up which I will explain to you on sight to prevent this arrangement." Although the particulars are obscure, Whittlesy was never appointed while Wickliffe was named Postmaster General. He continues: "Since then I have been urging [Secretary of the Treasury, Walter] Forward to create a vacancy in an auditorship somewhere in his office so as to enable me to return my promise...I shall return to the City the first of next week, and if not executed before, it shall promptly claim my attention."
Henry Alexander Wise (1806-1876) was later elected Virginia's Governor and played a key role in the secession of the state from the Union. During the Civil War he served as a Confederate general.