Sold – Martin Van Buren Shows That, Out of Office, He Is Still Managing Patronage for His Support

In March 1831, Van Buren left his post as Andrew Jackson’s secretary of state to take the embassy in London, a place to which he was not confirmed. However, he remained a favorite of Jackson’s, and would in 1833 serve as Old Hickory’s vice president. Meanwhile, during the two years he was out of power, he remained as a powerful and influential figure and people continued to ask him for favors.

Autograph Letter Signed, New York, June 12, 1831, to Navy Secretary Levi Woodbury, seeking his intervention to aid young Llewellyn Jones of Van Buren’s home state of New York. “Mr. L. Jones will apply to you for an appointment in the Marine Corps. He has been a cadet at West Point & will doubtless explain to the satisfaction of government the cause of his leaving that institution. I believe him to be a young gentleman of worth & capacity. My friend Judge Marcy takes a close interest in his welfare & will be much gratified with anything that can with propriety be done for him. Do me the favor to show this to Mr. J. when he calls…”

It does not appear that Jones joined the Marines, as he went on to a long career in the cavalry. However, Van Buren’s confidence in him proved justified, as he served as an officer in the Mexican War, the Pacific Northwest, and finally as a major in the First U.S. Cavalry during the Civil War. The Marcy referred to was William L. Marcy, a justice of the New York Supreme Court who had just taken a seat as a prominent Jacksonian in the United States Senate. He is the man who coined the phrase, “To the victor belong the spoils.” “Mr. J.” is doubtless young Jones; Van Buren clearly wanted Jones to see how strongly he had come to bat for him, so it would get back to Senator Marcy.