ALS signed “H. Clay,” one page, 8 x 10, January 15, 1850. Clay writes to the Honorable Mr. Meredith regarding a professional recommendation, in full: “Understanding that the office in the Treasury Department, lately filled by Mr. Penrose, remains vacant, I take the liberty of presenting for consideration the name of Mr. Thomas B. Stevenson of Cincinnati as a suitable person to fill it. I have long known this gentleman most intimately. And I can with great truth and pleasure testify that he possesses uncommon ability, is remarkable for untiring business capacity, is distinguished for honor and unsullied probity, and is in the prime of life, being about thirty five years of age. He is more over a religious man, being a member of the Methodist Church. A member of the Profession of law, he has practiced, although not extensively both in Kentucky and Ohio. Most of his time has been in recent years, employed as as Editor. I am sure you will excuse me for submitting, whether public satisfaction is not most likely to be given by appointing the assistant of the Secretary of Treasury from some other State than that of the residence of the Secretary himself.” Intersecting folds, some light soiling, two small areas of paper loss towards the beginning of the letter, reparative tape to the reverse of the blank second integral page, otherwise fine condition.
Just two weeks before he was to speak in front of the Senate and present his resolutions to reconcile Northern and the Southern interests, which would later be called the "Compromise of 1850", Clay wrote this letter to Secretary of the Treasury William Meridith. While the letter refers to filling the Assistant Secretary position, Meridith himself filled the Secretary position just ten months earlier and would resign in six months along with the rest of Taylor's cabinet following Taylor’s death. Though Stephenson didn't get the Treasury position, he did go on to edit a collection of Clay's speeches and correspondence. A prime example of Clay's ability to state his case convincingly: a skill that lead to the passage of both the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850 and which lead Senator Henry Foote of Mississippi to say, "Had there been one such man in the Congress of the United States as Henry Clay in 1860–61 there would, I feel sure, have been no civil war." Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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