JOHN TYLER (1790-1862). 10th President of the United States; Virginia Governor; U.S. Senator. Tyler was the first Vice-President to succeed to the Presidency upon the death of the President, and thus established the tradition of the Vice-President's assuming full Presidential powers instead of becoming merely "Acting President" at the death of a President. Unpopular with the Whigs, Tyler was the first President against whom impeachment proceedings were instituted. During his term, the bloody Seminole War in Florida was concluded and Florida was admitted to the Union. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Tyler was a member of the Virginia secession convention and voted for secession. He served in the provisional Congress of the Confederacy, and was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives, but died before he could take office.
To J. R. Hubbard, Esq., Atty. At law, Norfolk Virginia. Castleton North Shore Staten Island, N. York, Sept. 26, 1857. ALS signed post-presidency. 8” x 10” 2pps with attached integral address leaf free franked by Tyler. He details terms for payment of a bond that has been defaulted upon:
“My dear sir the purchasers from Mrs. Mathins have failed to pay anything towards the bonds and acknowledge their inability to do so. While I was ready to receive payment from anyone who would choose to pay yet I have I have refused to change my securities.
I shall therefore only look to the original purchasers from me and cannot consent to change them for others. If Mr. Wilson will pay up Mr. Corpreco’s proportion it would be a great accommodation to me and if he would afterword express his desire to me in writing that I would enforce the deed in trust I should feel myself obliged in justice to do so - or in fact to take almost any other course against his co-obliger’s by suit or otherwise that he might suggest. This would be but fair to him - but yet I desire it to be distinctly understood that I mean in no degree to release Mr. Corpreco’s estate from its responsibilities. The last bond you will remember falls due on the 29th instant when and if Mr. Wilson proposes to pay anything I hope he will do so. A certificate of Mr. Bowden that such payment has been made will be equivalent to a discharge pro tanto - Be pleased to write me immediately as my delay here will not extend beyond an early day in October. I am sir truly yours’ John Tyler”
“The other parties have paid up the interest to 29th instant.”
The recipient has penned his response at the conclusion of the letter. Folds, fine.
