Sam Houston and James Buchanan signed letter and two prints. 1st item: Tennessee Congressman Sam Houston signed letter addressed to John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, Washington, D.C, dated May 15, 1824, also signed by PA Congressman James Buchanan, and by six other congressmen including John W. Taylor, Isham Talbot, Joseph Hemphill, Samuel Breck, Joseph Kent, and Daniel H. Miller. The letter of petition pertains to William Cottringer, a current clerk in a mercantile house in Philadelphia and asks for a clerkship in the War Department, due to their interest in the welfare of the widow Mrs. Cottringer, William's mother. Additional writing en verso, partially obscured by conservation tape. 9 3/4" H x 7 3/4" W. Note: Samuel "Sam" Houston (March 2, 1793-July 26, 1863) was a Tennessee Congressman from 1823 to 1827, re-elected in 1824, and was the 6th Governor of Tenessee, October 1, 1827-April 16, 1829. Houston moved to Texas and became a member of the Texas House of Representatives from the San Augustine district (1839-1841). He was twice elected President of the Republic of Texas (December 21, 1841-December 9, 1844 and October 22, 1836-December 10, 1838), served as United States Senator from Texas (December 18, 1847-March 4, 1859), and then went on to become the 7th Governor of Texas (December 21, 1859-March 16, 1861). James Buchanan, Jr. (April 23, 1791-June 1, 1868) was the 15th President of the United States (1857ñ61), serving immediately prior to the American Civil War. He was the 17th United States Secretary of State (March 10, 1845-March 7, 1849) and served in the United States Senate (December 6, 1834-March 5, 1845), and United States House of Representatives (March 4, 1821-March 3, 1831). 2nd item: Steel plate engraving depicting the portrait of Sam Houston, engraved by George E. Perine, after a daguerreotype by Blanchard P. Paige (District of Columbia, c. 1818-1894), New York, 1884. From "Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas" by William Carey Crane. Facsimile of Houston's signature, below image. Sheet – 9" H x 6" W. 3rd item: Steel plate engraving depicting the portrait of James Buchanan, engraved by Henry Bryan Hall, Jr., after a daguerreotype by Mathew B. Brady (New York, 1822-1896), printed by D. Appleton and Company, New York, c. 1892. Facsimile of Buchanan's signature, below image. Sheet – 10 1/8" H x 6 3/8" W. Private Knoxville, TN collection. CONDITION: 1st item: Overall very good condition. Toning lines, horizontal creases of shee reinforced with conservation tape. Losses to lower left corner. 2nd item: Overall very good condition. 1/4" light brown stain, top right of sheet. 3rd item: Overall good condition. 8 1/4" trace of glue residue from removal from book, left edge of sheet. Toning, edges of sheet. Minute foxing spots, surface of sheet, visible en verso.