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| Lot # 11 PRESIDENT FRANKLIN PIERCE - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED 07/24/1854 CO-SIGNED BY:WILLIAM L. MARCY - Document 254011 |
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FRANKLIN PIERCE and WILLIAM L. MARCY. Rare
Manuscript Letter of State signed: "Franklin Pierce" as 14th U.S.
President and "W.L. Marcy" as Secretary of State, 1½p,
10½x16¾. Washington, 1854 July 24. to the President of the Republic of
Chile (Manuel Montt). In full: "I have made choice of David A.
Starkweather, one of our distinguished citizens, to reside near the Government
of the Republic of Chile in the quality of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America. He is well apprized of
the friendship which we bear to your Government and of our desire to cultivate
the harmony and good correspondence so happily subsisting between us. From a
knowledge of his fidelity, probity and good conduct, I have entire confidence
that he will render himself acceptable to Your Excellency, and give effect to
our desire of preserving and advancing on all occasions the interest and
happiness of the two Republics. I beseech Your Excellency therefore, to give
full credence to whatever he shall say on the part of the United States, and
most of all when he shall assure you of their friendship and wishes for the
prosperity of Your Republic. And I pray God to have Your Excellency always in
His safe and holy keeping." U.S. Minister DAVID AUSTIN STARKWEATHER
served in Chile from 1854-1857. Starkweather was formerly a Representative
from Ohio in the U.S. Congress (1839-1841 and 1845-1847) and was Chairman of the
Democratic National Convention at which Pierce was nominated in 1852. U.S.
formal relations with Chile date back to March 8, 1822, when President James
Monroe recommended to Congress that the U.S. should formally recognize the
independent Latin American republics. On May 4, he signed a bill authorizing
diplomatic missions be established. Colombia was the first country that the
President received and shortly thereafter relations were established with Chile,
Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Central America. With the opening of diplomatic
relations came the formulation of commercial treaties. From 1825 to 1850 large
quantities of cotton goods were exported from the United States to Chile,
Colombia and Brazil. South America, in turn sent hides, wool, sugar, grains and
copper. MANUEL MONTT (1809-1880) was President of Chile from 1851 to
1861 (two five-year terms). His administration was marked by progress in
education, construction of railways, telegraphs and tax reform. He went on
to serve as President of the country's Supreme Court (1861-1880). FRANKLIN
PIERCE, who had hoped to become an expansionist President like Polk,
looked beyond U.S. borders to expand the nation and establish trade. He was
aided in his endeavors by his appointment of WILLIAM LEARNED MARCY,
who had previously served as Secretary of War in Polk's Cabinet. Marcy, who
would be instrumental in opening trade with Japan, negotiated 24 treaties.
They included the important Gadsen Treaty with Mexico, the Reciprocity Treaty
with Great Britain and pacts with the Netherlands, Denmark and the Argentine
Confederation. Letters of state between world leaders are rarely on the
market. Shaded at folds on verso. Vertical folds touch Marcy's first name
and the first "n" in Franklin. Mounting remnants at upper blank portion on
verso. Slight vertical tears at blank bottom edge (all paper intact). ¼-inch
separation at upper blank right horizontal fold on verso. Slight horizontal tear
at lower left blank edge on verso. Overall, fine condition with large, bold
4½-inch signature of Pierce.
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