Description:

ANDREW JOHNSON
(1808-1875) Seventeenth President of the United States who came to office following the death of Abraham Lincoln. A squabble with Stanton along with his Reconstruction policies led to an impeachment by Congress. Superb content, lengthy A.L.S. 8pp 4to., Washington, Feb. 9, 1851, to his close friend and confidante Sam Milligan in the throes of his hotly-contest race to maintain his seat in Congress. John marks his letter ‘Confidential' at top, and writes, in part: ‘…I have read your letter carefully and think I have comprehended the whole matter as you do…There is nothing that Mr. Haynes and the clique he is connected with could do that would surprise me in the slightest degree for I consider them capable of condescending to any kinds of means that would enable them to attain their end fair or foul. By the same mail I received several letters from Hawking Co. all of much of the same tenor of yours, manifesting much interest and giving unsaid encouragement so far as the people are concerned, all assuring me that a large majority of the democracy are decidedly for me…The letter referred to by you as being to Col. Moore will not avail them much if anything. I know full well what that letter contains. Col. Moore wrote to me on some business and alluded to politics incidentally…In reply to Col. Moore, I wrote…a long letter, much of which was not very flattering to Mr. Haynes…I told Col. M. that I desire to be a candidate again that I wish to occupy my present position till after the next presidential election…but should as I ever and had been be controlled by a majority of the democracy in the district that I had no disposition to set up and run nolens volens and subject myself to defeat and a loss of the little reputation I have been trying so long to make, that I intended to make no rash step etc. etc…If Col. M. has been making any impression in the letter I will have the whole of it published. I wrote the letter to have a certain effect and I am still inclined to think it will do it…From the letters I have received within the last week form Hawkins Co. from whigs as well as democrats the cur [?] be beat to death in that co and especially if there should be no whig candidate…Mr. Haynes…is made to believe by some of the whigs that they will not run a candidate and that the contest will be between him and myself and that he will obtain their support…'. Johnson grows angrier and his prose more forceful as the letter progress: "…Whigs shall never use me, but if they have votes to throw away on someone they had as well he picked up by…anyone else. I care nothing about his little R.R. coalition, for in a short time it will all turn to ashes on his lips. If he believes in what he has been doing why abandon the project when it is in the greatest need of his aid, does he feel that the whole cannon will blow up and it is the last policy escape in time? Why not stand by it and go through the Legislature with it and see that it succeeds! Often he has made all the money of it he can, does he wish to abandon it…I am travelling so far from the conclusion of what I started to write that I will brake [sic] off right here…Milligan, now it is time to dispose of this fellow if it is done now in a proper manner he will be out of the way hereafter. Whether I succeed or no, I desire the district to be rid of him…'Delanda est Carthago'. He must be defeated. He is not intitled to the confidence of the people, the honor of the station nor the emoluments of the office…I will…'God willing' go into the fight…I will come for him…in any way, mentally or physically. In a single contest I can beat him easily and am more than willing to try it in that way…'. In 1851, a large faction of Tennessee Democrats, displeased with Johnson's performance in Congress, convinced Landon Carter Haynes to run against him for his seat in the general election. Johnson's mis-ordering of the phrase ‘Carthago delanda est' (Carthage must be destroyed) only serves to underline his anger at his constituents' apparent betrayal and set the tone for his entire, fractious campaign. Indeed, this proved to be one of Johnson's toughest campaigns as he and Haynes canvassed the districts together engaging in fierce debates in front of large crowds about subjects as wide as Johnson's alleged opposition to railroad construction to Haynes having voted for Whig governor in the past. Although Johnson ultimately prevailed on the platform of his Homestead Bill which would have made it possible for individuals to acquire government land, he did so by a margin of only 1,600 votes. Ironically, he would see the ratification of this act in 1862…as soon as he left his seat in Congress! Boldly penned and in near fine condition, and quite possibly the longest and most vitriolic Johnson letter extant!

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January 19, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

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