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Document 4828 MARTIN VAN BUREN Former President recalls recipient's speech in Congress after a colleague was killed in a duel by a fellow Congressman. ALS: "M. Van Buren", 1½p, 7¾x9¾. Lindenwald, 1843 January 23. To "His Excellency Jno Fairfield". In full: "I owe you many thanks for the copy of your excellent message which you had the goodness to send me & for the satisfaction which I have desired from its perusal. Believe me that you have no friend who has observed your success since the noble stand you took in Congress upon the occasion of poor Cilleys death with more pleasure than myself. If you see or have a communication with our excellent friend Anders or Waldo do me the favor to remember me very kindly to him." JOHN FAIRFIELD (1797-1847), Democratic Congressman (1835-1838) from Maine, was Governor of his state (1838-1843) when the former President wrote him this letter. Maine Senator Reuel Williams resigned three weeks later on February 15th, and Fairfield was appointed to succeed him on March 3rd, serving from March 3, 1843 until his death on December 24, 1847. Van Buren refers to the death of 35-year-old Maine Congressman JONATHAN CILLEY. The Democrat had served in the House from March 4, 1837, until February 24, 1838, when he was killed in a duel on the Marlboro Pike, near Washington, D.C., by 32-year-old Kentucky Whig Congressman William J. Graves. Fairfield's speech was documented in the "Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States", Monday, February 26, 1838: "Mr. Fairfield rose and announced the death of Jonathan Cilley, one of the Representatives of the State of Maine, which took place on Saturday last, and moved the following resolutions; which were read, and adopted by the House, viz: Resolved, That the members and officers of this House will attend the funeral of Jonathan Cilley, deceased, late a member of this House from the State of Maine, at 12 o'clock to-morrow. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to take order for superintending the funeral of Jonathan Cilley, deceased. Resolved, That the members and officers of this House will testify their respect for the memory of Jonathan Cilley, by wearing crape (sic) on the left arm for thirty days. Mr. Evans, Mr. Atherton, Mr. Connor, Mr. Whittlesey of Ohio, Mr. Coles, Mr. Johnson of Louisiana, and Mr. Fillmore [future President], were appointed the committee to take order for superintending the funeral, in pursuance of the second resolution. Ordered, That a message be sent to the Senate to notify that body of the death of Jonathan Cilley, late one of the Representatives from the State of Maine, and that his funeral will take place at 12 o'clock, meridian, to-morrow, from the Hall of the House of Representatives. And then, as a further mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, The House, at a quarter past twelve o'clock, adjourned until to-morrow, twelve o'clock meridian." After the funeral, Fairfield introduced a resolution calling for a committee of seven members to be appointed "to investigate the causes which led to the death of the honorable Jonathan Cilley, late a member of this House, and the circumstances connected therewith". One of the committee's recommendations resulted in a law signed by President Van Buren on February 20, 1839 prohibiting the giving or accepting of challenges to duel within the District of Columbia. Shaded blank edges. Folds do not touch signature. Chipped at blank edges at horizontal folds. Diagonal stray pencil mark at lower left corner on front page touches 2 words. Lightly creased. SEE IF DOCUMENT 4828 IS FOR SALE RIGHT NOW!!
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