David Rice Atchison. Senator from Missouri and so-called "President for a Day", 1-1/2p autograph letter signed "D. R. Atchison" to Capt. J. W. Denver at Weston Mo., datelined "Senate Chamber Jan. 4th 1850" with buff cover bearing "free D. R. Atchison" free frank and red "Free Washington D.C. Jan. 4" circular datestamp

VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE DAVID RICE ATCHISON FREE FRANK, TOGETHER WITH AN IMPORTANT LETTER DESCRIBING FELLOW MISSOURI SENATOR THOMAS HART BENTON'S MUTED REACTION TO PRO-SLAVERY LEGISLATION -- "'OLD BULLION' BENTON WAS AS CALM AS A SUMMER'S MORNING, HE ROARED AS GENTLY AS A SUCKLING DOVE... IT WAS A COMPLETE PHISSLE OUT. HE DID NOT IMPALE CALHOUN AS HE THREATENED TO DO. INDEED HIS SPEECH WAS NOT WORTH A REPLY."

David Rice Atchison was President pro tempore of the Senate on Sunday, March 4, 1849, when President James K. Polk, according to his own diary, officially left office at 6:30 a.m. and attended church services. Vice President George M. Dallas had resigned as president of the Senate on Friday, March 2, leaving Atchison as President pro tempore, and on Monday, March 5, president-elect Zachary Taylor was sworn in -- more than 24 hours after Polk had vacated his office. The continuity of the office of President demands that in the absence of the elected President and his Vice President, the President of the Senate (at that time, it is now the Speaker of the House) shall assume office of the President. Thus, Atchison is regarded by some historians and collectors as the de facto 12th President of the United States -- the so-called "President for a Day."

Atchison's free franks and autograph letters are exceedingly rare; in fact, no free franks were known prior to the discovery of the Denver correspondence, from which this and one other example originates.

Accompanied by an article on the letter from Manuscripts. Ex Kantor

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