Marcus Morton, Massachusetts Governor and Supreme Court Judge, 1851 Autograph Letter Signed.

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Exasperated letter from Marcus Morton (1784–1864), writing as a former Massachusetts governor and Supreme Court judge, decrying the state of the Democratic party. Morton opposed the extension of slavery in the Western territories and eventually split from his party to join the Free Soil party. Morton writes: “I feel inexplicable regret that the only truly Democratic Paper in Massachusetts is merged in an Hermaphrodite Free Soil semi Whig organ. ... There are a great many genuine Democrats in the Old Bay State, but they have no organ, no consent of action, and of course no efficiency of action. What shall be done?”

Morton writes to James M. Stone (1817–1880), a Massachusetts State Representative, newspaperman, and labor reformer from Charlestown. In the 1848 U.S. presidential election, Morton declined the vice-presidential nomination on the Free Soil ticket led by former President Martin Van Buren.

Price: $125.00