Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01162

Author/Creator: Crockett, David (1786-1836)

Place Written: Washington City

Type: Autograph letter signed

Date: 25 December 1834

Pagination: 2 p. ; 25.3 x 20.3 cm.

Summary of Content: Complains of Jackson and Van Buren, and of ”Volunteer Slaves” (i.e., paid industrial labor) in the North. Crockett writes that if Van Buren is elected President, ”I will leave the united States ... I will go to the wildes of Texas.”

Historical Era: National Expansion and Reform, 1815-1860

Full Transcript: Washington City , 25 Decr 1834, Dear Sir, I wrote you a Short time ago and as I have Cant a leasure moment I will write again although I can ad but littleTimes is still no report yet from the Committee of either house upon the French war recommendation. I expect when that report comes in to see the home strings brake the western & Southern men dare not to Sustain Jackson in his mad Carear, and when they refuse all the Blood hounds in the nation will be let loos [sic] on them, The time has Come that man is expected to be transfarable and as negotiable as a promisary note of hand, in those days of Glory and - Jackson & reform & co - little Vann Sets in his chair and [inserted: looks] as Sly as a red fox and I have no doubt but that he thinks Andrew Jackson has full power to transfer the people of these united States at his will, and I am truly afread that a majority of the free Citizens of these united States will Submit to it and Say amen Jackson done it. It is right If we Judge by the past we can make no other Calculations., I have almost given up the Ship as lost. I have gone So far as to declare that if he martin vanburen is elected that I will leave [2] the united States for I never will live under his king dom before I will Submit to his Governmint I will go to the wildes of Texas, I will consider that government a Paridice to what this will be in fait at this time our Republican Governmint has dwindled almost into insignificancy our bosted land of liberty have almost Bowed to the yoke of of Bondage our happy days of Repubican principles are near at an end when a few is to transfer the many this is Vanburen principles there is more Slaves in New York and Pennsylvana then there is in Virginia and South Carolina and they are the meanest kind of Slaves they are - Volunteer Slaves our Southern Slaves is of some use to the owner they will make support for their masters and those others is of no other use than to make mischief I must Close in a hope of Seeing better times , , I am with great respects your friend , & obt Servt, David Crockett, Charles Shultz, P.S will you get a paper from your editor that Contains the procedings of the day I Spent in your City last Summer on my way home pleas to get it and enclose it to me as soon as convenient and oblidge your friend D.C -, [written on margin of first page], Presented to Dr Cohen by his friend and oblged svt. , Baet. March 7, 1840 Mr. Ogden Niles

Keywords/Subjects: Industry, American West, President, Politics, Texas, Slavery, Westward Expansion

Sub Era: Age of Jackson

Background: In this selection, Crockett complains of Jackson’s sway with American voters, calling them ”Volunteer Slaves,” and announces his plans to leave the United States and move to Texas.

LOC Search Terms: slavery, African Americans, Texas

Resource: Davy Crockett on the removal of the Cherokees, 1834