To the Whigs of Virginia - 1848

The Whig Party was preparing to select a candidate for the presidency in the election of 1848, with their choices appearing to be between Mr. Henry Clay and General Zachary Taylor. The Whigs of Virginia seemed to be leaning towards General Taylor, and Mr. Botts wrote his letter To the Whigs of Virginia (written by John M. Botts and dated March 8th, 1848) in his attempt to convince the Virginia Whigs that Mr. Clay, who was the Whig candidate in 1844, was far superior to General Taylor as a presidential candidate.

The letter is contained in a 16 page booklet (15 pages of text), without covers, that measures approximately 5 ¾ x 8 ¾ inches. The booklet is a first edition, as printed by J. & G.S. Gideon, printers. The pages are tanned, but the text is easily read. The first and last pages of the booklet are detached. The overall condition of the item is good.

The illustrations accompanying this description show the first page of the letter and an additional 2-page spread of text. .

John Minor Botts (1802 - 1869) was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1839-March 3, 1843); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1842 to the Twenty-eighth Congress; elected to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849); chairman, Committee on Military Affairs (Thirtieth Congress); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1848 and 1850 to the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Congresses, respectively. [Wikipedia]