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:
You must excuse me if my anxiety to avoid any movement that may impair our present good prospects leads me to say what under different circumstances might seem officious. I see by the Telegraph that it is desired to bring you to Washington next winter and my reading of the paper is confirmed by letters from the Editor of that paper to those of the Argus & Enquirer in this state. The reasons... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Andrew Jackson
Your letter of the 11th instant is just received, its contents duly observed & noted. I have only time to say to you that I am well pleased with the spirit in which it is written. One point we have settled that the deposits are to be removed, and on Tuesday next ^will be^, as to the day to be named. This will be settled at as early a day as it is assertained we can make the necessary... Continue Reading
Sender: Andrew Jackson
Recipient: MVB
Knowing the interest you take for Nelson and his real friendship for you I owe it to him to send the enclosed. I have written to him that there is not, in my opinion, any chance of old A's resigning immediately. I should not be surprised, however, if he were forced to do so before the autumn. In that case surely there is no man more fit in all points than Nelson to fill the place. His success at... Continue Reading
Sender: Louis McLane
Recipient: MVB
I was absent from the city when your letter reached it, or I should, ere this, have rendered my acknowledgement of your kind remembrance of me. I have no doubt the situation proposed would be a mostly agreeable one to me, had not the lapse of years, by affecting my hearing, thrown a damp over my social pleasures. I have considered it my duty to decline the appointment, and have written to the... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I have thought proper to write to you on the subject of the next Presidency! In the west public sentiment has began to enquire into that matter, and the prominent men spoken of, are yourself and John McLain. It is daily agitated, and to that end new parties are now forming. In Ohio and this state, McLain will, no doubt have many friends, owing to local feelings in his favor: But ^its^ so thought... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
There are two questions arising upon the case submitted by the gentlemen who take interest in the privileges <appertaining> to the Stockholders of the Bank of North America viz
1st The rights ^condition^ of the company in the state of Pennsylvania
2d. Its rights in the State of Newyork by the act of the 11th. of April 1782.
<illegible> the consideration of the question of the house of... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
I will am very unwilling to be troublesome to you, but there some reasons why I desire to see this morning if for 10 minutes only. Perhaps you come & call, therefore, at the office on your way up, where I shall be engaged till 12.
Sender: Louis McLane
Recipient: MVB
At a respectable meeting of the friends of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren, assembled at the Town Hall, on Tuesday Evening, March 12th, agreeably to public notice, Gabriel Holmes was called to the Chair, and P.W. Fanning appointed Secretary.
The Chairman briefly stated the object of the meeting; when, on motion, it was
Resolved, That a Committee of twelve persons be appointed to draw up... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
The stand thus taken by the President has drawn upon him the ^utmost^ vengeance of that powerful institution. Identifying its fortunes with the <hatreds> the hopes & the associations of disappointed ambition it has instigated an attack upon the President & his administration of unprecedented violence. Every thing that an immense money power aided by political leaders of great... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
At a very numerous meeting of the Democratic Republican Electors of the Fourth Ward, held at Harmony Hall on Wednesday Evening, January 29. 1834, pursuant to the recommendation of the Democratic Republican General Committee, to express their opinions in relation to the recharter of the present Bank of the United States and the restoration of the Deposites, Eldad Holmes was Chairman, and Morgan L... Continue Reading
I am particularly anxious to see you this morning, before you go to the Senate; and I will thank you to inform me if I can have an opportunity of doing so, either by calling at your house, or by your calling at mine on your way to the Senate; and at what hour.
Sender: Louis McLane
Recipient: MVB
When the debate closed, & before putting the question on the motion made by the Senator Mr Clay that the memorial should ^not^ be received, the Vice President rose & observed in substance. <illegible> That the it was with much regret that the Chair felt itself comd compelled to detain the Senate at so late an hour, by any observations of its own, upon a subject which had been... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
If you and the Major happen to be disengaged, suppose you take your sunday dinner with us, at 5 o'clock? I hope to have some of the vintage of 1775. If you come I will ask Mr. Forsyth to join you.
Sender: Louis McLane
Recipient: MVB
PUBLIC MEETING
At a meeting of the subscribers to the memorial presented to Congress against the restoration of the deposites, and against the renewal of the Charter of the United States Bank, held at Tammany Hall on Wednesday, the 19th inst., Stephen Allen was called to the Chair; John H. Howland, and M. M. Quackenboss, were selected as Vice Presidents; and Prosper M. Wetmore, and James I.... Continue Reading
Sender: James I. Roosevelt Jr.
At a meeting of Merchants, Mechanics, and others, Citizens of New York, held pursuant to public notice, the Honorable Stephen Allen, presiding, the following Resolution was unanimously adopted:
Resolved.
That the democratic republican Citizens of New York, have witnessed with feelings of pride and satisfaction, the dignified and manly course of the Honorable Martin Van Buren, Vice Presidt. of the... Continue Reading
Sender: James I. Roosevelt Jr.
The Crisis
We this day lay before our readers a document of deeper interest, one which in ^from^ its character ^nature^ & cons probable consequences is more eminently calculated to test ^probe test^ the character of the american people and to test ^probe^ the fo very foundation upon which our hitherto successful ^their political^ institutions are based than any state paper which ^which has... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
A public dinner will be given on the 4th of July next, at this place, by the Democratic Republican Citizens of Fredericksburg, Falmouth, and their Vicinities; and the undersigned have been appointed a Committee of Correspondence to invite such Members of Congress, and other distinguished persons agreeing with them in sentiment, as we might deem expedient:—In executing this duty, we take pleasure... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I propose to leave here by the 10th of July at the farthest, & possibly a little before. Unless therefore you see (the resolution for adjournment rescinded,) an event not probable you must be here in season to accompany me. I say you must because I have made my calculations upon it & cannot now be disappointed. Affairs are extremely well here in all matters except the Post office &... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: John Van Buren
To the honorable, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States.
The undersigned, members of Congress respectfully request, that the practise of sending or dealing out, ardent spirits, in the Capitol may be abolished, & that the introduction of it, into any of the rooms or other place or places in or about the capitol, may be prohibited... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I regret that the exceedingly that my ^previous^ arrangements in regard to time put it out of my power to accept your kind invitation for the 4th. Instant. There are ^is^ certainly no portion of my Fellow Citizens with whom it would give me more pleasure to unite in the celebration of a day always dear to us & to which the character of the times ^condition of the Country at the present moment... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
From the establishment of despotic power by ^through^ the arbitrary assumption of ^authority by^ any one man or any set of men ^means ^^assumptions^^^ which have proved to so fatal to liberty in other countries^ we have I thank god nothing to fear. To satisfy you of this <illegible> truth it is only necessary to invite your own reflection before what you do know, argument cannot be... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
I make to you Mr President & to the Convention over which you have the honor to preside my <illegible> sincere & grateful acknowledgments ^as well^ for the gratifying compliment which has been paid to me in inviting me to a personal presentation to its members as for the very flattering opinion which you have in their behalf been pleased to express of my public conduct. Combining as... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
A sense of duty which we owe the Democratic party in the United States in reference to the approaching presidential contest must be our apology if any be needed for addressing you at this time and on the present subject.
Our state elections are just through, and in despite of the unprecedented difficulties thrown in our way under the influence which the Bank of the United States has succeeded in... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
I am provoked to address you, under the privilege allowed by our Free Institutions of Government, by having under my eye, a paragraph in the United States Gazette dated Washington December 7th viz. “Very probably it may be determined to hold a Convention of the Friends of all the Anti-Van Beuren Candidates, at which, it will be decided, who shall be received, in the Electoral Coleges. This... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
Some part of the good mans letter you will perceive is confidential.
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Andrew Jackson
I do not doubt that you will properly appreciate my motives,— which have reference solely to your feelings,— in apprizing you that Mr. Archer was invited, at the same time with you, to the dinner to-day and accepted. Things are so much exaggerated that I cannot pretend to know accurately the extent of the occurrence yesterday, with which no doubt you are better acquainted, and it is but one... Continue Reading
Sender: Louis McLane
Recipient: MVB