BUCHANAN JAMES Autograph Letter Signed as President

Sale 2004 - Lot 102

Price Realized: $ 4,140

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 1,500 - $ 2,500

"WAR IS A DREADFUL CALAMITY" BUCHANAN, JAMES. Autograph Letter Signed, as President, to J. Perit of the New York City Chamber of Commerce, concerning their resolutions regarding the protection of private property at sea during war, discussing privateering and the weak U. S. Navy and the fear and power of a blockade. 21/4 pages, folded 4to sheet; usual folds, minor remnants of prior mounting along fold. Washington, 31 March 1860

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". . . War is a dreadful calamity, -- shocking to humanity & ought to be avoided by all honorable means; but whilst mankind continue in their present State, it will sometimes be inevitable. If with the small but gallant naval force of this country, we should be driven into a war with a nation possessing a navy far more numerous & powerful than our own, we should then be in a comparatively helpless condition without the aid of Privateers. We ought with almost as much propriety agree to abandon our system of Volunteers & Militia & trust alone to the regular army for our defense on the land . . . Neither would the abandonment of war against private property upon the ocean of itself afford freedom & security to our commerce. In order to accomplish this object, we must proceed & step further & obtain the consent of the powerful naval nations that merchant vessels shall not be blockaded in port; but be suffered to pass the blockading squadron & go out to sea. If they should remain blockaded in our harbors, there would be comparatively but little private property on the ocean to protect. A powerful fleet of blockading the mouth of the Chesapeake could effectually prevent any merchant vessel from going to sea from any port situate in that noble Bay or its tributaries. So in regard to New York, New Orleans, &c . . ."