[Rarebooks] FS: SIGNED James Polk MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, 1848, on California Gold Rush & War with Mexico

[Charles Agvent]

POLK, James. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE TWO 
HOUSES OF CONGRESS AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 
THIRTIETH CONGRESS. DECEMBER 5, 1848: Polk's Final State of the Union 
Address. Washington: Wendell and Van Benthuysen, 1848. First Edition. 
Original wraps bound in later cloth-backed boards with a gilt-lettered 
leather spine label, retaining original endpapers; 44 pages. Housed in a 
calf-backed brown cloth slipcase, spine lettered in gilt. INSCRIBED by 
the president on the title-page “With the Respects of J. K. Polk.” From 
the 30th Congress, Second Session, Ex. Doc. No. 1. House of 
Representatives, this is Polk's final State of the Union Address. Among 
the subjects covered by Polk are the California Gold Rush, which had 
begun in January of 1848 and of which Polk states: "It was known that 
mines of the precious metals existed to a considerable extent in 
California at the time of its acquisition. Recent discoveries render it 
probable that these mines are more extensive and valuable than was 
anticipated. The accounts of the abundance of gold in that territory are 
of such an extraordinary character as would scarcely command belief were 
they not corroborated by the authentic reports of officers in the public 
service who have visited the mineral district and derived the facts 
which they detail from personal observation." Polk also comments 
extensively on the successful completed war with Mexico and the 
acquisitions of new land: "The acquisition of California and New Mexico, 
the settlement of the Oregon boundary, and the annexation of Texas, 
extending to the Rio Grande, are results which, combined, are of greater 
consequence and will add more to the strength and wealth of the nation 
than any which have preceded them since the adoption of the 
Constitution." Light dampstaining to upper inner corners throughout; 
holes affecting the word "With" in the inscription. Spine label partly 
eroded. Very Good in a Fine slipcase.

The first "dark horse" candidate in presidential history, Polk was 
nominated on the 9th ballot at the Democratic convention and narrowly 
defeated Henry Clay in the Presidential election of 1844 becoming, at 
the age of 49, the youngest president to date. Vowing to serve only one 
term, he was possibly the least corrupt and most effective president in 
American history, having established an independent treasury, confronted 
the British, conquered Mexico, and seized the western third of the North 
American continent creating the land mass that would ultimately become 
the contiguous United States. (#021490)        $7,500

https://www.charlesagvent.com/pages/books/021490/james-polk/message-from-the-president-of-the-united-states-to-the-two-houses-of-congress-at-the-commencement-of

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