MVB Papers (DLC)
"The Martin Van Buren Papers, one of twenty-three presidential collections in the Library of Congress Manuscript Division, contains more than 6,000 items dating from 1787 to circa 1910. The bulk of the material dates from the 1820s, when Van Buren (1782-1862) was a U.S. senator from New York, through his service as secretary of state and vice president in the Andrew Jackson administrations (1829-1837), to his own presidency (1837-1841) and through the decade thereafter when he made unsuccessful bids to return to the presidency with the Democratic and Free Soil parties. Included are correspondence, autobiographical materials, notes and other writings, drafts of messages to Congress in 1837 and 1838, and other speeches, legal and estate records, miscellany, and family items.
The collection primarily consists of letters received by Van Buren from other individuals, as well as copies, drafts, transcripts, and photocopies of letters written by him. Correspondents include George Bancroft, Thomas Hart Benton, Francis P. Blair, James Buchanan, law partner Benjamin F. Butler (1795-1858), Churchill C. Cambreleng, John A. Dix, John Fairfield, Azariah Cutting Flagg, Henry D. Gilpin, James Hamilton, Jr., Jesse Hoyt, Charles Jared Ingersoll, Andrew Jackson, Amos Kendall, William L. Marcy, Louis McClane, Richard Elliot Parker, James Kirke Paulding, Joel R. Poinsett, James K. Polk, Thomas Ritchie, William Cabell Rives, Andrew Stevenson, Levi Woodbury, and Silas Wright.
The Calendar of the Papers of Martin Van Buren created by Elizabeth Howard West for the Manuscript Division in 1910 provides a list and index for the general correspondence contained in the original collection up to that date. Some 150 letters received by the Library of Congress after 1910 are not represented in the calendar. These items have been interfiled within Series 2 of the collection. Typescripts of letters can also be found in Series 7, Miscellany. A finding aid to the current Van Buren Papers collection is available online.
Note that this site is limited to the Martin Van Buren Papers collection and does not include all documents by, about, or related to Van Buren in the Library of Congress. The Library’s Manuscript Division holds additional Van Buren-related documents pertaining to his family and his long and varied political career in New York and Washington, as well as his role in evolving party politics in his era. These documents are located in the collections of other individuals, including Andrew Jackson, Andrew Jackson Donelson, James K. Polk, William L. Marcy, William C. Rives, Charlotte Cushman, Duff Green, Reverdy Johnson, Andrew Stevenson, and Nicholas P. Trist, and in the family papers of the Blair, Bancroft-Bliss, Henry Clay, Samuel Smith, and Singleton families."
"This collection of Martin Van Buren Papers is arranged into eight series and oversize. Series 8 of the collection contains the newer additions. These are grouped by the year the addition was received or processed as part of the collection. The bulk of the collection was captured on 35 reels of microfilm, the scans of which comprise the bulk of this online collection. A list of the series follows.
- Series 1, Autobiography, 1854-1862 (Reels 1-3)
- Series 2, General Correspondence, 1787-1868 (Reels 4-34)
- Series 3, Additional Correspondence, 1811-1853 (Reel 34)
- Series 4, Messages, 1837-1838 (Reel 35)
- Series 5, Legal Record Book, 1807-1813 (Reel 35)
- Series 6, Estate Record Book, 1862-1863 (Reel 35)
- Series 7, Miscellany, 1814-1910 (not microfilmed; scanned from originals)
- Series 8, Addenda, 1799-1862 (Reel 36 and not filmed; some scanned from originals)
- Oversize, 1837-1839 (not microfilmed; scanned from originals)"
https://www.loc.gov/collections/martin-van-buren-papers/about-this-colle...
Print DocumentDocuments in this Collection:
The Democracy of Tennessee, acting through the Central Committee appointed by their State Convention, propose to hold a Mass Meeting at this place on the 24th of July ^15th Aug^ next. Their object will be, by an interchange of opinions and feelings, to animate each other in the great struggle which they are making in order to bring back the government to its republican track by the election of... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I was strongly in hopes of seeing you at Lindenwold—having determined to visit you on my route out west via Buffalo but have been detained by private affairs too long at Washington. That I must now wind my way westward as fast as I can.
I had much to say to you relative to the "open day - and midnight transactions" at Baltimore, having been a witness of most of the actings and doings there,... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
My warmest acknowledgments are justly due & ^<illegible>^ freely rendered, to the Democratic Hickory Club of the City & County of Philadelphia, for the sentiments contained in the letter which you have written to me in their behalf.
The exalted opinion I entertain of the sterling qualities of the Democracy of the City & County of Philadelphia have been often expressed, & it... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Your friendly letter was duly received as were also your previous favors. The result at Baltimore ^of the Convtn^ has rendered ^a^ farther reference to their contents unnecessary, save only ^to my^ acknowledgmts for the friendly feelings which your conduct has evinced. These are, be assured, very sincerely rendered.
Nothing will I am sure ^confident^ be wanting on the part of the honest hearted... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
I owe you many thanks for your friendly letter. The principles it avows, & the feelings it indicates are such as my impressions of your character induced ^would have led^ me to expect. The imposition of such an immense journey upon you, as that from which you have just returned, was indeed an act of revolting injustice, which I hope Congress will ^I hope^ some day be honest enough to redress... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
You will see from the address of our committee in respect to the mass meeting here of the 15 August next, that the idea of a southern convention or a movement to give the Texas question a menacing aspect to the Union, has been promptly repelled. I may say to you with confidence that the sentiments of the committee on this subject are those of our people and that not the slightest pretext will be... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
A Democratic Mass Meeting, friendly to the election of Polk and Dallas, and to the liberation of Gov. Dorr from the State's Prison, in a legal manner, has been called, to be holden in this city, on Wednesday, the 4th of Sept. next. The undersigned, who have been appointed a Committee of Correspondence, respectfully invite you to be present on that occasion.
The Committee feel that the unjust and... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I send you by today's mail a copy of my principal speech & one of the short ones on the Tariff bill which has recently past. I have been trying for months to find time to write you, but as I wished to give you a long letter, presenting a full view of matters & things here, I have not found leisure to enter upon it. And this is another example of the truth, that in <illegible> to do... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I am allowed by the Committee the pleasure of adding to their circular letter of invitation, that it is not addressed to you, as a thing of forms merely, but in the hope of inducing your personal presence, if practicable; but if not, of receiving an answer, which will express your opinions on the subjects, which. it is the object of the proposed meeting to discuss.
A committee of the Democracy of... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
Mr. John Van Buren desires me to forward these letters to your address and I make available the occasion to send you my most cordial and friendly salutations. You perceive that we are again threatened with "Nullification, secession, and putting the state upon her sovereignty"—but it wont do this time. Our old friend at the Hermitage has settled this, as he had done other important questions, and... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I went to Washington at the beginning of the last session of Congress not only with conscious wishes but confident belief, confirmed by all the preliminary party measures there, that the Baltimore nomination would be not what it proved.
And I flatter myself that in the temperate and benevolent judgment which you form of men and things you will render justice to the very painful and perilous... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
You will have seen the result of our elections. We carry the state by a majority of about 4000. If we had retained our usual vote in the county of Philadelphia it would have given us a majority in the state not very far below the regular democratic strength. The result next month depends on the success or failure of the Whigs in the desperate efforts they are making to retain the native American... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I recd. your letter last Eveng whilst on the wing for this place.
In that spirit of entire candour which has hitherto ^& ever shall^ distinguished, ^& ever shall^ our intercourse I must say to you that it has caused me not a considerable embarrassment, and not a little pain. If any honest and unbiased Democrat in the U. States was ^had been^ asked in view of the ^circumstances^ of the... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
I presume that there is a disposition to attack Ingersolls history of the War of 1812. It is said to abound with errors of fact & errors of opinion. Commodore Stewart is out in the Courier & Enquirer of the 18th, (Saturday last,) in defence of himself & Bainbridge for ^against^ the statements of Ingersoll relative to their motives in <dodging> the employment of the navy &c.... Continue Reading
Sender: Gorham Akin Worth
Recipient: MVB
I thank you kindly for your two letters. I have found them full of interest and regard them as the commencement of a new series designed to shew forth the diversified talents of their author. If any one should hereafter presume to advance the opinion that my old friend Mr Worth cannot write gravely on grave subjects I shall possess the evidence to refute so unfounded an opinion. As some proof of... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Gorham Akin Worth
Frequent conversations lately with our mutual and excellent friend Gilpin in which you were often mentioned, recalled me, as I told him, to a resolution of long standing, tho' long suspended too, to address your letter from these supposed headquarters of News Not that I have any news to tell: for between the very little, if any, which I learn from my station and ought not to mention, and the... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
As a friend of your respected father—one who fell with him, politically, in 1840, and ardently desired his nomination and re-election 1844—I take occasion to address you for the purpose of placing you in possession of some facts connected with the machinations of an intriguer, who under the guise of professed friendship, done more than any other man in the United States to defeat the nomination... Continue Reading
Recipient: John Van Buren
I returned home last evening from a visit to Tioga, one of the Counties of my District, and found awaiting me, your acceptable letter of the 13th inst. I feel the death of Mr Wright at this time, as all overwhelming an irreperable calamity. There was more moral & political power united in his person, than in that of any other American Citizen. Silas Wright has left behind him no living man in... Continue Reading
I take the liberty of sending to you an address recently made before a portion of my constituents. Convinced as I am, that the principle involved in the "Proviso" is right, and that the sanction of Legislative Extenssion is absolutely necessary to preserve the Territory we may acquire, from the in-roads of Slavery, I cannot but hope, that you view it with favour, and at a proper time, and under... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I should have thanked you several days since, as I now do very sincerely for the copy of your admirable speech. It is ^a^ simple, ^eloquent^ argumentative & patriotic throughout ^production^ & does you much credit. You do me but justice in believing that of the proper ^<the> of the a proper^ time & ^under proper^ circumstances should come in which it would ^there would <in... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Your letter of this memorable 22nd was received on Saturday. You judged rightly in supposing that I would concur in the view you take, differing widely as they do from the suggestions of <illegible> letter. I did not hope from the misgivings expressed by some of the most strenuous of the Barnburners that the true Democracy of New York, were prepared for the bold, decisive stand indicated by... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I am very sensible of your kindness in the expressions and in your note of the 31. ult in respect to my Dred Scott argument. I will not fail to send you the opinion of your old friend Taney if he gives one. It seems to be the impression that the opinion of the Court will be adverse to my client & to the power of Congress in the Territories, but I am assured that the Court has not as yet held... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I return your pencil with some leads to match. Cowen had none in boxes. He says that yr. pencil is of home manufacture, and that the boxes with leads are English & all too small. The box cost only 12 1/2 cents so I return 25.
I have not yet been able to get our good Federal President's inaugural. In the <globe> enclosed you will find an extract from his recent letter to the New Haven... Continue Reading
Sender: Benjamin Franklin Butler
Recipient: MVB
The enclosed came this morning. I have heard from no one since you left. In fulfilment of my promise to apprise you of any change, or modification that might take place in the views I expressed to you, I can only say, that the opinion then avowed—that we Ex Presidents, whilst we held ourselves ready to exert whatever of influence our past positions are supposed to have conferred upon us, to... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Trunk contained
I Official Muster Rolls, <Num>
2d. Correspondence with the Secy of War touching the expedition & the War
3d. Reports & returns of the State & condition of the North Western Army
4th
The Boat contained Sick Soldiers & the principal part of the Military hospital Stores of the army.
Sender: MVB
I am reminded by a letter from your friend & neighbour Mr. Balch of the propriety of apprising you of the State of public opinion with us. It was my intention to do so as soon as I could possess myself of the requisite information. I have recently been through many of the Counties respecting which I felt the most anxiety, have seen most of the leading men from others & the Legislature are... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Andrew Jackson