JAMES BUCHANAN

JAMES BUCHANAN
(1791 - 1868) Fifteenth President of the United States whose hands-off attitude toward states' rights directly contributed to the start of the Civil War. A.L.S. 'James Buchanan' as U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1p. 4to., Washington, Mar. 27, 1838 to 'Peter Hagner'. In part: '…I enclose you two letter I have received from Enos Hook Esquire, a member of our State Legislature. I have not the least recollection that I ever received the documents to which he refers, nor can I find that in either House…any memorial has been presented…of Captain James Hook for commutation…I would thank you for to afford me any information you can on the subject, as well as concerns the right of Captain Hook of the Rev'y Army to commutation…' A pencil note in another hand appears at bottom indicating that Capt. James Hook was appointed on Dec. 19, 1776 and mustered out on Feb. 1, 1778. Further notes on verso state that he served with the 13th Virginia Regt., and resigned Apr. 21, 1778, dying on Jan. 23, 1824. Some water staining along folds and at margins, affecting only a few words of text. Peter Hagner (1772–1850) was a financier and civil servant who served in the Department of the Treasury for fifty-six consecutive years from 1793 to 1849 under every president from George Washington to Zachary Taylor and was known as the watchdog of the Treasury.'