Handwritten draft of a biographical sketch of John Quincy Adams by Martin Van Buren, totaling 14 pages on 11 sheets, mostly 7.75 x 12.75 and inlaid into larger sheets, no date but circa 1854. Van Buren prepared this as part of his autobiography, which he began writing at Villa Falangola in Sorrento, Italy, on June 21, 1854. The manuscript would not be completed until after his death, when it was left in the care of his son and literary executor Smith Thompson Van Buren. After making a manuscript copy from his father's autograph draft, Smith completed the manuscript and presented it to the Library of Congress in 1905. The majority of the original copy was either dispersed or discarded, but fragments of chapters such as these can still be found. The section of the manuscript offered here is a portrait of John Quincy Adams, who, although a former political rival of Van Buren's, still appears to have commanded a great deal of respect from his successor.
On his one-time rival, Van Buren writes, in part: "John Quincy Adams was as honest & incorruptible as his father. He was equally bold and fearless in the avowal and maintenance of his opinions, & in his feelings, & habits more Democratic. In respect to the unaffected simplicity of his manners & the slight value he placed upon the pride & pomp of office, he did not fall behind any of our Democratic presidents, not excepting Mr. Jefferson, who, it will be remembered by a few, so outraged the sensibilities of the sticklers for official dignity by wearing red breeches & tying his horse to a peg, when he had occasion to visit the Capitol.
Brought up, as was at that day the universal custom, & is still too much the case, in the belief that there could be nothing good in our opponents, I entered public life with strong prejudices against Mr. Adams. Although I had not the good fortune to be in power with the administration, or to be partially regarded by himself whilst he was the head of Mr. Monroe's cabinet, and was ranked among opponents of his own administration, from first to last, my respect for his character as a straightforward, well meaning man, lasted from my first acquaintance with him in my Senatorial capacity till the close of his life. His personal demeanor towards me was invariably respectful & as cordial as I could desire. If personal antipathies were excited in his breast by political affectation towards others I never knew any reason to complain on that point, with in respect to himself or to his accomplices & excellent wife. His administration was encumbered by great difficulties from the moment it was formed to its close…
These were in part of his own creation & arose in part from obstacles rising from his political condition which it was difficult to deviate. The former consisted of the appointment of Henry Clay to the head of his Cabinet, & the character of his Inaugural & first annual messages; The latter resentments produced by the undoubted fact that his election had been effected against the wishes of a large majority of the people, resentments the virulence of which was greatly increased by the success with which suspicion was cast upon the purity of the means by which it had been accomplished & a dissatisfaction with the steps that were taken to avert them. The Inaugural address was the first in order in point of time. Mr. Adams had done much to conciliate the respect & new esteem of the Republican Party. He had assured Himself to the resentments of the Essex Junto by the support of the…Embargo recommended by Mr. Jefferson, and several of the war measures of Mr. Madison's administration." The pages have been paginated by Van Buren 374-375, 383-388, 397, 399-400, with numerous deletions and emendations. In fine condition. Accompanied by a custom-made presentation folder with gilt-stamped title. A superb and historic manuscript as one president evaluates the life and legacy of another.
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