Rare ALS as president, signed “Z. Taylor,” one page, 5 x 8, November 27, 1849. Boldly penned handwritten letter to Secretary of the Interior Thomas Ewing, in full: "Permit me to introduce you to my friend Mr. Henry Waller of Louisiana, who has business connected with your dept., as he informs me any facility you may be able to afford him in transacting it, will oblige your, ob't serv't." Addressed on the reverse of the second integral page in Taylor's hand, "Hon. Tho's Ewing, Secr'y of the Interior, Washington, Politeness of Mr. Waller." In very good to fine condition, with several old pieces of tape to the edges, and a light block of toning from prior display.
The Department of the Interior, which consolidated bureaus such as the General Land Office from the Treasury Department and the Indian Bureau from the War Department, had been created by Congress on the eve of President Taylor’s inauguration. In crafting his cabinet Taylor aimed to represent the geographic diversity of America, choosing the Hon. Thomas Ewing—who hailed from the politically ripe state of Ohio—as the new department’s first head. This letter introduces the secretary to Henry Waller, a surveyor from Taylor’s home state of Louisiana. Waller’s “business connected with your dept.” was presumably in relation to Land Office operations. Handwritten letters from Taylor’s presidency are rare, as he passed away just sixteen months into his term and wrote little during that time. A scarce and exceedingly desirable letter from a sitting president to a cabinet member.
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