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:
Having formed a partial acquaintance with you during the sessions of Congress, and presuming that you are the political friend of Mr Van Buren, I am induced to write you on the Subject of the next Presidency. We are here at the commencement of a new political war. The old lines are broken down, and new parties are about being formed. I have heretofore supported Mr Clay, but in the Coming Contest... Continue Reading
Recipient: Churchill Caldom Cambreleng
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th. inst. asking my opinion upon ^of in respect to^ the subject connected with the recent movements of the abolitionists & desiring to be informed whether (or not they) are not generally opposed to my elevation to the Presidency.
In reply to the first branch of your inquiry by enclosing a copy of a letter recently written by... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
OPINIONS
OF
MARTIN VAN BUREN,
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
UPON
THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF CONGRESS,
IN REFERENCE TO
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
EITHER IN
THE SLAVE-HOLDING STATES OR IN THE DISRICT OF COLUMBIA.
MR. VAN BUREN’S OPINIONS.
__________
from the richmond enquirer.
MR. VAN BUREN—NO ABOLITIONIST!
We lay this morning before our readers the following frank, manly, masterly letter of... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
I enclose the letter you desired. You will observe that I have confined the extract to the immediate subject before you. It appears to me that it would be unwise now to promulgate the strictures on the conduct of Virginia &c but even if this were not the case that it would be especially impolitic that you should be the publisher of such charges. Whether correct or not the People are ignorant... Continue Reading
Sender: John Church Hamilton
Recipient: MVB
At the commencement of the session of Congress when the election was made by the house Mr Clay told me in the presence of F. that if we could understand what W. meant we could do more than he could & used several expressions indicating great want of confidence <illegible> & dislike.
Dec 30th 1826. Mr B. of P. told me that at the same session when the Bill making appropriation for... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
From a recent publication and a subsequent purchase of the 10 feet of Mr Boyd's lot by Mr Blatcford it does appear to me that he is in fact the Customs House Commissioner therefore to save all parties any further trouble I tender my resignation he being a more suitable person
I have recd. your letter of the 5th instant. Your prompt & <illegible> attention to my request affected my feelings and yet it was what I ought to have expected from my knowledge of your kind & benevolent heart and the generous ardor which always activates you when you can serve your friends.
I do not doubt Mr. Van Buren's friendship for me nor but that he thinks quite as well... Continue Reading
Sender: Jabez Delano Hammond
I congratulate you on the delivery of your maiden message, to the Legislature. I have read it with attention, and am much pleased with its matter and style, and equally so with its frankness, and independence of character. I think it must prove very acceptable to the great body of your Constituents. Allow me to add my hearty wishes that your administration, thus happily begun, may be... Continue Reading
Sender: Robert Troup
Recipient: MVB
The enclosed letter came to me open, of course I am cognizant of the contents. I presume you have correspondents <here> yo who give you the little rumors which circulate.
I send you a set of Resolutions, which I mean to support some day in a sort of a Speech. This subject of In. Imp. must be regulated, and upon the basis of justice to all the states. It is not in nature that one set of... Continue Reading
Sender: Thomas Hart Benton
Recipient: MVB
Do me the favor to hand or send the enclosed to our mutual & interesting friend. I cannot in any event leave here before about the 15th of March. I should have expected to hear from you but for the reasons you assign. I hope & believe our anxious friend will be gratified. If he is not it will not be my fault. Let me hear from you two or three times & as fully as you can before you... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Churchill Caldom Cambreleng
A distinguished federalist in this State well known throughout the US. and an intimate friend of Daniel Webster of Mass: informed me some time since that W. told him a short time after the result of the last Presidential election all about the letter which operated upon Warfield of Mad. & Van Rensellear of NY, & which in fact gained Mr Adams his election.
My informant is a citizen of the... Continue Reading
Recipient: Thomas Ritchie
SUBSTANCE
OF
MR. VAN BUREN’S OBSERVATIONS
IN
THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
On Mr. FOOT’S amendment to the Rules of the Senate, by which it was proposed to give the Vice President the right to call to order for words spoken in debate.
Mr. VAN BUREN said, he had not been disposed to partake largely in the present debate. He did not believe that any difficulty was likely to arise from... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
What I advised you of some time ago by a letter from Harrisburg to Mr. Gilpin is fully manifested in a letter in Keystone from Mr. Johnston a leading member of Assembly (from Armstrong County) which in many places discloses the naval project confidentially and seductively imparted to me as I have no doubt it has always been designed and still is to carry ^it^ into execution if possible The author... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
Lieut Ogden has furnished the enclosed copies which he thinks may aid in determining the question of rank, now under consideration by the Prest. & as such I have the honor to transmit them &
Recipient: MVB
Mr. Blair tells me that a very respectable friend of yours, (a neighbor of Genl. McKean's) informed him that McKean, in his conversations endeavors to support the public letter he wrote against you, by pretending that you <illegible> interfered, when Bernard & himself was spoken of for the nomination of Governor of Pennsylvania. He says you wrote an anonymous article in the Albany Argus... Continue Reading
Mr Taney has just left me. He has selected three Banks in the city of Newyork, to wit, the macanics, the Bank of north america and mcHatten Bank. These being all at present that we were prepared to select, a fourth is intended to be added, but until farther advised cannot in safety make a selection. I therefore am requested by Mr Taney to ask your advice as to the fourth Bank. Give it to me at as... Continue Reading
Sender: Andrew Jackson
Recipient: MVB
I received last eveng. your letter of the 12 inst, in which you apprize me of your intention to unite with some of the friends of the present adminis Bank in an application to Congress for the incorporation of a new one, to have its principal seat at NYork. I will not conceal from you, My dear Sir, my regret that you should have been able to bring your mind to this conclusion. Of The right to... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
I have recd. your letter transmitting to me the resolutions of the <illegible> <members> adopted at ^by the^ a meeting of Cordwainers of the City of Philadelphia ^which was held^ at <illegible> Hotel on the 4th instant, expressing also on ^which expressed on my^ behalf of a number of the craft the high esteem in which they do me the honor to hold me and requesting also ^inviting... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Allow me to express to you in the sincerity of grief my heartfelt regret at the disastrous state of affairs the recent elections have produced, and for the deep and lasting injury our beloved country and the cause of true principles have sustained in the overthrow of the noblest party that ever existed in the world.
For you sir personally (independently of your feelings as a patriot) I cannot but... Continue Reading
Recipient: MVB
At a respectible meeting of the Citizens of Upper Mount Bethel, Northampton County Pa on the 22d Feb’y, John R. Chambers in the Chair & A.P. Long Sec’y. It was resolved: That Jacob <Utt>, Francis Hagerman & Jacob Lamb Esq’rs, be a Committee to report to this meeting, the best expression of the Publick feeling, in this vicinity upon the measures of our Gen’l Gov’t
The Committee soon... Continue Reading
Sender: John R. Chambers, Sender: Abram P. Long
Had it not been for the improvement in our social relations I would not say to you what I am about to say; and I would not even now if I were not quite certain that it will be recd in the proper spirit. You see the attempts which have been made & are making all over the Union to impress the belief that I am involved by the in consequence of the failure of Mr Knower. No sooner is one story put... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Gorham Akin Worth
Your letter of the 27th ult. was handed to me yesterday by Mr. Butler.
The view which you have presented of the case of the Vice President coincides with public feelings & opinion.
I have no clue by which I can even offer a rational conjecture of the decision which the President will make. The only time the subject has been mentioned by him in my presence he stated that from motives of... Continue Reading
Sender: William Harris Crawford
Recipient: MVB
The use made of your late letter on the subject of the immediate annexation of Texas to the United States, may, it occurs to me, place you in a false position before the Democratic National Convention which is to assemble in Baltimore on the 27th inst. Though opposed to immediate annexation, you avow your readiness if elected President, to obey the will of the people on that subject, as it may... Continue Reading
Sender: Amos Kendall
Recipient: MVB
Memorandum
I recd. this letter on the evening of the 26th. Feby at Lindenwald. Deeming it indispensable to consult Mr Wright before I replied I sent my son Martin to Albany the same night to give Mr Wright time to <try> reflect & give me his opinion. The next day ^28th^ I wrote by mail to Mr Polk that I had prepared a communication in reply, which my son Smith would convey to him to... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
I am much gratified by your letter to an unsuccessful candidate but believing that I understand your character, it does not surprise me.
Although you are a politician, I believe you want the faculty which most of them have, of cutting friends whose popularity seems to be on the wane—but even with this draw back upon your advancement you have qualified yourself by example as well as precept, to... Continue Reading
Sender: Edward Livingston
Recipient: MVB
Our Legislature convened again on tuesday & have hitherto ^are^ proceeding with composure & propriety. The Convention bill has been under discussion for two days & will tomorrow be rejected, by the <understanding> <proper> it requiring two thirds to pass it. The whole business will then be sent to a committee who will probably report a bill directing the sense of the... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Rufus King