Debate in the Senate, on the Nomination of Martin Van Buren, to be Minister of the United States to Great Britain

n.p.: n.p.. paper foxed & browned, 1st two leaves chipped not affecting text. ca.1832. sm.8vo 55 closely margins cropped, rebound in cloth with gilt spine lettering, binding very good, internally a good readable copy. Van Buren was nominated by President Andrew Jackson on December 7, 1831 with the main portion of the confirmation debate taking place on the 24th & 25th of January 1832. Calhoun, the presumed vice-presidential nominee, & probable heir to the presidency if Jackson refused a second term, had lost the confidence & support of Jackson through, among other things, political intrigue, and had been replaced by Van Buren as the president's favorite. In April 1831, Van Buren, along with other cabinet members in loyalty to Jackson, had resigned his post as Secretary of State to allow the President to reoganize his cabinet and eliminate Calhoun's supporters. Van Buren was then nominated to the post of Minister to the Court of St. James in which he had been serving for several months. The Senate, however, rejected his confirmaion by a majority of one - Calhoun's was the deciding vote - whereupon, Van Buren accepted the vice-presidential nomination. Calhoun was left to stew, and to join the growing secessionist movement in South Carolina. Jackson served a second term, and Van Buren succeeded him as President. The debate took place in secret secession, according to the Senate rules, but the secrecy was lifted in this case & the debate published in various newspapers. This report was extracted from the Senate Journal. .