The Nathaniel P. Tallmadge Papers, 1812-1862, include correspondence, speeches and writing, clippings, and legislative reference materials.
The correspondence is arranged in two sections--incoming and outgoing. Both sections are arranged alphabetically by correspondent and chronologically thereunder. A descriptive calendar listing each item is included as Appendix I of this finding aid and also appears before each section on the microfilm edition.
The Incoming Correspondence, which spans the years 1812 to 1862, comprises a virtual Who's Who of political figures from the Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison, and Tyler administrations. Among them are James Buchanan, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, Horace Greeley, John Tyler, Nicholas Biddle, and Andrew Jackson. While some of this correspondence is important chiefly for its autograph value, the collection does partially document Tallmadge's leadership of the conservative opposition to the Jacksonian monetary policies, 1837-1840, through his correspondence with Thomas Allen, William Rives, and Hugh Legare. Mail from Thurlow Weed, William Marcy, and William Seward indicates Tallmadge's influence on politics in the state of New York. In addition, the correspondence from James Duane Doty and Stoddard Judd provides information on Tallmadge's administration as territorial governor of Wisconsin, 1844-1845, and on his interest in land development in Illinois and Wisconsin.
The Outgoing Correspondence, 1821-1859, which is a much smaller section, consists of drafts of letters later copied by a secretary for mailing. Of particular interest are several letters to President Tyler protesting the president's position on the tariff and re-establishment of a national bank. Tallmadge's letters to Governor Doty are important sources for Wisconsin political history.
Speeches and Writings, 1835-1853, consists of handwritten drafts and final copies of several Senate speeches and a published account of Tallmadge's experiences with spiritualism in the 1850's. A descriptive list of these items is included in Appendix I. The Congressional Record, 1833-1844, affords an index and source for Tallmadge's Senate speeches and remarks for which no record is included in the papers.
The section of Clippings, 1835-1859, has been compiled from a large volume of unsorted clippings which referred to the general political events of the period. Those which have been microfilmed refer to issues with which Tallmadge was directly involved.
The Legislative Reference Material includes research notes written by Tallmadge and several unidentified individuals on the independent treasury plan of 1837-1840, the two treasury bills vetoed by Tyler in 1841, the bankruptcy law of 1841, the Florida treaty, and relations with Texas.
