Author: POLK, James
Title: 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
Description: Washington, Wendell and Van Benthuysen, 1848. First Edition. Hardcover. 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.

Keywords: Signed, California Gold Rush, Texas, Rare, Americana, Presidents, Presidential Autographs Signed Presidents Americana Presidential Autographs


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