Prominent American politician (1782–1850) who served as vice president under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson and later wielded great power and influence in the Senate as a champion of Southern causes, including slavery. LS signed “J. C. Calhoun,” one page, 7.75 x 9.75, July 17, 1822. Letter to Yale professor B. Sillman. In full: “I had the pleasure to receive your report as a visitor to the Military Academy thro’ General Cadwallader. I am obliged to you for the pains you have taken in the examination of that Institution, and shall avail myself of your suggestions for improving the condition of certain branches of the sciences taught at West Point. It affords me much satisfaction that the establishment generally has met your approbation.” Along the bottom of the page, written in an unknown hand is “The name of Israel Holmes for the appt. off Cadet has been put on file & will receive due consideration in March next.” Reverse of second integral page bears a free-franked address panel, addressed to Sillman in another hand and franked by Calhoun, “Dept. of War, J. C. Calhoun.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, two through a single letters of signature, old tape reinforcement to reverse of a few of the folds, strip of toning along hinge, missing top right corner, and repaired paper loss from seal removal on second page.
As secretary of war under President James Monroe, Calhoun immediately focused his attentions on creating an effective navy and bolstering the size of the army. Among his plans for the latter was to create an expandable army—similar to that of France under Napoleon—in which a basic cadre of 6,000 officers and men could be expanded into 11,000 troops without adding additional officers or companies. That stance contradicted one taken by Congress, which wanted an army of adequate size in case American interests in Florida or the west led to war with Britain or Spain. In his role as secretary of war—and perhaps to curry favor with his plan—Calhoun had occasion to visit the US Military Academy at West Point. It was during an 1822 review of the troops, as mentioned here, that he received a report from Benjamin Silliman, a Yale alumnus who created a natural science program at the Ivy League school. Silliman must have envisioned similar programs for cadets—with Calhoun pledging to take under consideration “improving the condition of certain branches of the sciences taught at West Point.” In the 1824 presidential election, he would launch an unsuccessful attempt to lead the cadets as their commander in chief. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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