SUPERB CONTENT 1832 WASHINGTON DC LETTER - ANDREW JACKSON BATTLES BANK OF U.S.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

SUPERB CONTENT 1832 WASHINGTON DC LETTER - ANDREW JACKSON BATTLES BANK OF U.S.:
$63.00

1832 WASHINGTON, D.C. LETTER FROM BARNABAS BATES - THE \"FATHER OF CHEAP POSTAGE\" - TO JAMES PRENTISS IN NYC - A NOTABLE IN EARLY TEXAS HISTORY - WITH SUPERB CONTENT CONCERNING THE BATTLE BETWEEN CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON OVER RE-CHARTERING THE BANK OF THE UNITED STATES.

Lengthy, 3 pg. letter, approx.7-3/4\"x 9-7/8\", dated at Washington, D.C., June 25, 1832, from Barnabas Bates, to James Prentiss in New York City.

Stampless folded letter has red \"CITY of WASHINGTON\" cds postmark, and manuscript \"18-3/4\" rate.

A scarceautograph letter signed (ALS), of BARNABUS BATES, (1785-1853), America\'s most notable postal reformer who worked tirelessly to reduce the rate of postage, and became known as \"The Father of Cheap Postage\" - an epithet which is on Bates\' grave monument.He had avaried career before embarking on his postal reform mission. Born in England, he came to the U.S. as a child, and became a Baptist preacher in Rhode Island, where he also served for some time as Collector of the Port of Bristol, RI, under President John Quincy Adams; Became a Unitarian in 1825, and established in New York City a weekly paper called the \"Christian Inquirer\"; During the administration of President Andrew Jackson, he received an appointment as a Special Agent for the Post Office Department, serving in that capacity from June, 1832 (when this letter was written), to April, 1833, and then was appointed Assistant Postmaster of New York City, serving 1833-1836, serving some of that time as acting Postmaster. Here he became interested inthe cheapening of letter postage, and after investigating the subject thoroughly, he tirelessly campaigned for cheaper postage rates through writing articles, letters, and speaking in public for several years. He finally succeeded, with the first major reduction in postage rates in 1845, and then in 1851, when the 3c rate went into effect.

The letter is written to JAMES PRENTISS, (1782-1857), a notable in early Texas history who bought up huge quantities of Texas land scrip from the Galveston Bay & Texas Land Company in the early 1830\'s, and was involved in Texas land speculation with Sam Houston.Like Barnabas Bates, he has a varied career. Born in Massachusetts, he was in business in the Boston import firm of Bond & Prentiss from 1803-1811, but was financially ruined by the Embargo Act; He moved to Lexington, KY, and went into the wool business, and owned the largest flock of Mexican sheep in the U.S.; During the War of 1812, he made large profits through Army contracts, but the end of the war brought another financial ruin to him; He then entered into land speculation in Hindostan, Indiana with his brothers, John M., Thomas G. & Henry B. Prentiss, but the deaths of two of his brothers in 1820 ended that enterprise.He then moved to New York City, to work as a land broker & speculator.In Dec., 1830, he founded the first of two land companies to speculate in Texas: the Union Land Company, for which he purchased scrip covering 28 leagues from the Galveston Bay & Texas Land Co., and in Jan., 1834, he founded the Trinity Land Company, which was based on scrip for 142 leagues of land, bought from the Galveston Bay & Texas Land Co. In July, 1835, Prentiss claimed to be in possession of nearly all the Texas land scrip on the market, and asked the American Charge d\'Affaires in Mexico, Anthony Butler, to offer the Mexicangovernment $10 million dollars for the cession of nearlyall of Texas (with the exception of the Austin, DeWitt & Robertson grants). In 1849, he claimed to have invested over 1.5 million dollars in his efforts to populate Texas. Although his claims to Texas lands were considered invalid by the U.S. & Mexicangovernments, he received $122,438 in 1851 for both is land companies. Sam Houston began corresponding with Prentiss in April, 1832, and on June 1, 1832 (shortly before this letter was written), he became associated in business with Prentiss in purchasing Texas land scrip.

The letter offered here has superb content, in which Barnabas Bates provides information to Prentiss on the goings on in the U.S. Congress over theBank of the U.S. and the Tariff, and as to when it may be expected that Congress will pass Bills on these important issues, and notes that once passed, it is expected that President Andrew Jackson will veto them.The Bill to re-charter the Bank of the United States passed both Houses of Congress in early July, 1832, about a week after this letter was written, and on July 10th, Andrew Jackson vetoed it, and sent his famous veto message back to Congress.Andrew Jackson won hisbattle with the Bank of the UnitedStates, ultimately destroying it by removing itsdeposits, and placing them in \"pet banks\".As for the Tariff Bill of 1832, Jackson let that stand, but it failed to satisfy the South, and led to the nullification crisis in South Carolinathe next year. He also writes of the rising power of the anti-Masonic party and the \"national\" party, which he predicts will give NYGovernor Marcy a \"hard run\".

The letter includes:

\"On my arrival on Saturday, I wrote you a line saying that nothing had transpired which was worthy of your notice, and as I could gather nothing yesterday, I did not write you last evening. Your letter of the 23, enclosing one to your son, I rec\'d from Col. J. this morning, and I called at Mrs. Polk\'s, where he boards, immediately, & learned that he had gone to \'Old Point Comfort\' & had not yet returned. Mrs. P. said that he had possibly been ordered to join the Army, but if that had taken place, he would be re-called by Gov. Cass [U.S. Secretary of War, Lewis Cass]. I left the letters & myaddress.

I have conversed with Col. J. on the subject of the Bank, and also with relation to the suggestion contained in your letter of the 23d respecting the probability of Congress adjourning without acting upon the question, but from all that I can learn in every quarter, it appears very certain that the Bill will pass, and that the President will veto it. To this course, he has been advised by all his Cabinet, and there is not the least probability whatever that he will be diverted from it. Indeed, I am more than ever confirmed in the opinion that he cannot do differently & yet preserve his reputation for consistency.

I feel deeply the responsibility which I have incurred, & therefore will not give opinions, but facts as they may come to my knowledge, which will enable you to judge correctly for yourself, & everydegree of information I can obtain from any quarter shall be communicated. In conversation with a member of Congress from Mass., he stated that if the Tariff was not disposed of satisfactorily, the members of the south & Mr. McDuffie would care nothing about the Bank & would either adjourn without doing anything with it, or vote against the Bill. But there are others who say they will act upon the Bank & the Bill will pass at any rate, let the Tariff go as it may. So much for their opinions.

It is thought that the Tariff will not be disposed of until the close of this week, yet I cannot but hope it may be by Wednesday night. Should it be so, the Bank Bill will soon be settled.

Congress has just adjourned without coming to any decision upon the Tariff, & I fear they will prolong the decision several days longer before coming to a final decision. From what I can discover, I am of opinion that both the Tariff and Bank questions will be settled before the final adjournment - and the President will put his quietus upon it.

I seen the nationals & anti masons have agreed upon their Ticket for Governor & Electors. The anti-masons & Nationalshere are confident of success, & should they continue united, Marcy will be hard run.

Our friend Col. J. is in good health.

Truly & sincerely yours, &c.,

Barn. Bates\"

Very Fine.

COMBINED SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.