Lewis Cass for President: Rare Unused Massachusetts 1848 Democratic Ballot

Lewis Cass
Michigan, ca. 1848
Lewis Cass for President: Rare Unused Massachusetts 1848 Democratic Ballot
Printed Document

A scarce and unused ballot from Massachusetts for the Democratic ticket naming Lewis Cass of Michigan for president and William O. Butler of Kentucky for vice president. 1p, 5" x 4.5", no place [Massachusetts], no date [ca. 1848]. The format suggests that this was printed to be an active cast ballot, although the absence of a cancellation hole or signature on the reverse suggests that this one was never used. Twelve additional names of candidates for presidential electors are also listed here in smaller type. Expected handling wear including toning, isolated staining, creases and light folds. Chipping to edges and corners. Overall, very good plus.

Lewis Cass (1782-1866) was a United States Army officer and politician. He represented Michigan in the United States Senate and served in the Cabinets of two U.S. Presidents, Andrew Jackson and James Buchanan. He was also the 1848 Democratic presidential nominee. A slave owner himself, he was a leading spokesman for the doctrine of popular sovereignty, which at the time held the idea that people in each U.S state should have the right to decide whether to permit slavery as a matter of states' rights. Cass is considered the toughest candidate of this era for whom to find campaign items, making this an especially desirable piece.

William Orlando Butler (1791-1880) was an American politician and U.S. Army major general from Kentucky. He served as a Democratic representative from Kentucky from 1839 to 1843, and was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee under Lewis Cass in 1848. Butler studied law after graduating from Transylvania University. He served in the War of 1812, after which he practiced law in Carrollton, Kentucky, and briefly served in the Kentucky House of Representatives. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1839 to 1843.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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5" x 4.5"