1857 Autograph Letter Signed by Justice William H. Battle Recommending Romulus M. Saunders for U.S. Judgeship | North Carolina Legal History | ALS
Item Description:
Offered here is an extraordinary Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by William H. Battle, Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, dated December 30, 1857, written in Raleigh. The letter is addressed to Romulus M. Saunders, a prominent political and legal figure, in support of his candidacy to fill the U.S. District Court vacancy left by the death of Judge Henry Potter.
This original handwritten letter offers a glowing personal and professional recommendation for Saunders, stating his qualifications and integrity for the federal bench. It is a valuable piece of 19th-century American legal and political history, especially for those interested in antebellum Southern jurisprudence, judicial appointments, and notable figures in North Carolina’s legal tradition.
Letter Content Summary:
Justice Battle affirms his longstanding acquaintance with Saunders since around 1830.
Commends Saunders legal talent, integrity, and professional credentials.
Written in the wake of Judge Henry Potter’s death, whose U.S. District Court seat Saunders was reportedly pursuing.
Signed clearly at the bottom: “Wm. H. Battle”.
Biographies of Key Figures:
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William H. Battle (1802–1879)
Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court & Legal Scholar
A pivotal figure in North Carolina’s legal history, Battle served as a justice on the state’s Supreme Court (1848–1865, reappointed briefly after the Civil War).
He helped codify state laws and was instrumental in legal education as a professor at the University of North Carolina.
Battles contributions include shaping the state’s jurisprudence and mentoring future legal minds during a turbulent era in Southern history.
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Romulus M. Saunders (1791–1867)
Attorney General of North Carolina, U.S. Congressman, and Minister to Spain
Saunders held numerous influential roles, including U.S. Representative, Attorney General of North Carolina (1828–1834), and Minister to Spain under President James K. Polk.
A staunch Jacksonian Democrat and states’ rights advocate, he played a notable role in Southern politics during the antebellum period.
As a legal and political heavyweight, Saunders was repeatedly considered for higher federal positions, and this letter reflects such a moment of ambition and political maneuvering.
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Judge Henry Potter (1766–1857)
U.S. District Judge for North Carolina
Appointed by President Thomas Jefferson in 1802, Potter served over 55 years, making him one of the longest-serving federal judges in U.S. history.
His death in 1857 created the vacancy for which Saunders was seeking appointment, sparking letters of support such as this one from Justice Battle.
Potters tenure reflects the longevity and transformation of the early U.S. judiciary during the republic’s formative decades.
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Condition:
Three full pages of ink manuscript, folded as originally sent.
Strong, legible handwriting with a clear signature from William H. Battle.
Typical folds, minor age toning, and edge wear. Very well-preserved for its age.
Provenance: From a private collection of early American legal and political manuscripts.
Shipping: Ships securely in archival-safe sleeve with tracked and insured delivery.
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This rare document captures a moment in pre-Civil War American legal history, featuring three towering figures from North Carolinas judicial and political past. A must-have for collectors of Southern legal history, judicial ephemera, or early American autographs.
