1850 · [New York
by Payne, John Howard; Benton, Thomas Hart
[New York, 1850. Folio, 15-1/2" x 12-3/4" sheet folded to 7-3/4" x 12-3/4". [1], [2 blank] [1] pp. Caption title [as issued]. The final page begins with caption title: FROM THE NEW YORK EVENING POST OF NOVEMBER 19, 1850. EXTRACT FROM SENATOR BENTON'S SPEECH, DELIVERED IN ST. LOUIS, SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 9TH... Light horizontal folds, Very Good plus.
John Howard Payne [1791-1852] was an author, poet and actor-- the writer of "Home, Sweet Home"-- when President Tyler appointed him U.S. Consul to Tunis in 1842. Tyler's successor, James K. Polk, replaced him with Samuel D. Heap [1781-1853]. Payne tried without success to secure reappointment by Polk's successor, Zachary Taylor, whose sudden death brought Millard Fillmore to the presidency. "No sooner was he dead," says Senator Thomas Hart Benton, "than Howard Paine [sic] puts in again for Heap's place" with President Fillmore, who nominated him for the job.
Benton [1782-1858] opposed Payne's bid, claiming that Payne, in his lust for office, had published false charges against Heap. Payne says the charges were "very grave and serious." He denies Benton's charges, defends the Fillmore administration against Benton's allegation of party proscription, and asserts his qualifications for the job. Finally confirmed, Payne died two years later at Tunis. [Brainard, Charles H.: JOHN HOWARD PAYNE: A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH... Coolidge: 1884, pp.43-50.] Benton says that Heap, Payne's successor, had been the "successful protector of every American interest." Indeed, Payne had been appointed only by virtue of a "histrionic connexion and proclivity in Mr. Tyler's family" for the stage, and Mr. Payne was a "composer of good song, and of some poor plays."
BAL 15803. Sabin 4787n. OCLC 78304506 [1- Harvard], 1053967473 [1- AAS], 31084568 [1- U VA] as of July 2019. (Inventory #: 35355)
John Howard Payne [1791-1852] was an author, poet and actor-- the writer of "Home, Sweet Home"-- when President Tyler appointed him U.S. Consul to Tunis in 1842. Tyler's successor, James K. Polk, replaced him with Samuel D. Heap [1781-1853]. Payne tried without success to secure reappointment by Polk's successor, Zachary Taylor, whose sudden death brought Millard Fillmore to the presidency. "No sooner was he dead," says Senator Thomas Hart Benton, "than Howard Paine [sic] puts in again for Heap's place" with President Fillmore, who nominated him for the job.
Benton [1782-1858] opposed Payne's bid, claiming that Payne, in his lust for office, had published false charges against Heap. Payne says the charges were "very grave and serious." He denies Benton's charges, defends the Fillmore administration against Benton's allegation of party proscription, and asserts his qualifications for the job. Finally confirmed, Payne died two years later at Tunis. [Brainard, Charles H.: JOHN HOWARD PAYNE: A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH... Coolidge: 1884, pp.43-50.] Benton says that Heap, Payne's successor, had been the "successful protector of every American interest." Indeed, Payne had been appointed only by virtue of a "histrionic connexion and proclivity in Mr. Tyler's family" for the stage, and Mr. Payne was a "composer of good song, and of some poor plays."
BAL 15803. Sabin 4787n. OCLC 78304506 [1- Harvard], 1053967473 [1- AAS], 31084568 [1- U VA] as of July 2019. (Inventory #: 35355)