Jefferson Davis* to Martin Van Buren,† March 25, 1844

(near) Warrenton Missi.        

25th March 1844

M. Van Buren
        Ex President of the U. S.

Sir,

Though I have often recurred to the period when I had the honor to enjoy your personal acquaintance and have always remembered it with pleasure, the probability of your having forgotten me is not the less understood—To excuse myself for the liberty I take in thus addressing you, I will state that the democratic convention of this state which decided in your favor as the candidate of the Democracy for the next presidency, placed me on the electoral ticket for the state-and in view of the approaching presidential canvass, and with no doubt of the ratification by the National Convention of so much of our action as refers to yourself, I have determined to call upon you for answers to three points which I expect to be opened and think could not be otherwise as well closed

With great respect I am etc., etc., yrs.

Jeffn. Davis

Jeffn Davis                

Mississippi        

25th March 1844

(endorsed on Sheet No. 15)
        His Excellency M. Van Buren
            Ex President of the U. S.
                   Kinderhook
                        New York

_______________

* During a visit to Washington in 1838 Mr. Davis had been a guest of President Van Buren.

† Van Buren, Martin (1782-1862), eighth President of the United States, was born, of Dutch descent, in Kinderhook, N. Y., December 5, 1782; was educated in the common schools and Kinderhook academy, studied law in New York City, and was admitted to the bar in 1803. He was a member of the New York Senate, 1813-1820; Attorney General of New York from January 1 to March 12, 1829; Secretary of State from March 12, 1829, to August 1, 1831; Vice President of the United States from March 4, 1833, to March 4, 1837; and President from March 4, 1837, to March 4, 1841. Van Buren was appointed Minister to Great Britain in 1831 but the Senate refused to confirm the appointment. He was defeated in the presidential campaign of 1840 for re-election and was the unsuccessful antislavery candidate in 1848. He died in Kinderhook, N. Y., July 24, 1862. Consult Edward M. Shepard, Martin Van Buren, 499 pp., Boston, 1900.

SOURCE: Dunbar Rowland, Editor, Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: His Letters, Papers and Speeches, Volume 1, p. 11