February 14, 1873

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: A letter from the Hon. Gerrit Smith, to the Cuban Anti-Slavery Committee, New York.

Smith writes, "As I view it, our Government should, long ago, have conceded belligerent rights to the Cubans struggling for freedom from the yoke of Spain and from the yoke of Slavery... The world is too far advanced in a rational civilization and in an all-comprehending fraternal religion, that it should any longer be allowable for the nations to stand still whilst one of them continues to indulge in the horrid crimes of which, if they were ever guilty, they have thoroughly repented." Notes that Samuel Raymond Scottron served as the committee's president, and H. H. Garnet as vice president…

GLC04717.62

4 July 1873

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: Let crushed Cuba arise! Substance of the speech of Gerrit Smith, in Syracuse, July 4th 1873.

Smith writes, "In our Fourth of July celebrations there are two events, which, far above all other events, we come together to celebrate. One of these is the deliverance of our country, nearly a century ago, from political despotism, and the other is the practical recognition by our nation, a few years since, of the grand doctrine that 'all men are created equal.'"

GLC04717.63

1 December 1873

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: Spain. --- Cuba.

Discusses Spain's history of slaveholding and the role of other nations to end slavery in Cuba.

GLC04717.64

4 January 1850

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: to John Cochran, Isaac T. Hopper, Daniel C. Eaton, George H. Evans, and William Kemeys

Smith writes to prominent men he chose to designate the distribution of gifts of land and money among five hundred males and females from New York. Notes that he will not give the females land, but will instead bestow $50 upon each of them. Declares, "Alas, that good men should be so slow to see, that the acknowledged right of every generation, and the whole of every generation, to the use of the earth, as well as to the use of the sea, the light, and the air, is necessarily preliminary to that state of universal comfort... for which good men labor and pray!" Notes that most of the land is…

GLC04717.65

13 March 1871

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: The West Point mob.

Smith discusses recent mob activity at West Point, New York: "Nothing else is so frightful as a mob- that many-headed monster, whose every head refuses to be controlled. Mobs and their dramshop inspiration threaten the ruin of our country. Ours is emphatically the country of mobs. Slavery made it such." Judging from Smith's text, West Point cadets kidnapped and threatened to tar and feather several African Americans.

GLC04717.66

5 January 1855

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: Hon. H. C. Goodwin, M.C.

Smith writes, "I am happy to see, in the proceedings of the House of Representatives, the proposition to take up the Bill for the relief of the sufferers by French spoliations... We must remember the condition of our country in 1778, in order to estimate rightly the value to her of the Treaties, which she made with France, in that year..." Henry Charles Goodwin served as a United States Representative from New York 1853-1854 and 1857-1858.

GLC04717.67

February 1, 1845

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: Hon. F. Whittlesey of Rochester

Criticizes Whittlesey for advocating a plan for higher rates of toll on the Oswego River than on the western part of the Erie Canal. Smith calls it "discrimination in tolls." Whittlesey served as a United States Representative from New York 1831-1834, and as a justice of the State supreme court in 1847 and 1848.

GLC04717.68

24 May 1844

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: To the persons who derive title from myself or my late father to land in Charlotte River and Byrne's Tracts, in the Counties of Delaware, Otsego, and Schoharie

Discusses the authenticity of land titles, possibly for land he previously gifted to African Americans in need. Suspects that Native Americans told residents that the land titles were inauthentic in order to obtain timber from the property.

GLC04717.69

21 December 1857

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: From the New York Tribune. Mr. Gerrit Smith on the President's message. The currency and the hard times.

Smith writes, "There is nothing in the nature of civil government, and there is nothing in the Constitution, to justify the Federal Government in banking, or in undertaking to authorize it in others." Also criticizes economists' reference to slavery as an institution, or "an essential part of the basis of public and national credit."

GLC04717.70

22 June 1872

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: Speech of Gerrit Smith (to his neighbors) in Peterboro, N.Y., June 22d 1872.

Smith writes "The Democratic Party is my dread. The Republican Party is my hope... I need not say that it is not the original Democratic Party- the party of my childhood and youth... But this modern Democratic party- this degenerate Democratic party- is very unlike the original Democratic party." Defends President Ulysses S. Grant against criticism. Mentions United States Senator Charles Sumner's speech against Grant, accusing Grant of insulting Frederick Douglass. In closing asks, "Is there a black man either at the North or at the South, who is inclined to vote the Democratic ticket?…

GLC04717.71

1 October 1872

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: to Horace Greeley

Mentions Greeley's run for the Presidency, noting "It is surely not for me to question the propriety of your being upon an electioneering tour." Agrees with Greeley that the reconciliation of the North and South should be the focus of the campaign, but disagrees with Greeley's "mode of treating" the topic. Criticizes the Democratic Party, declaring that "Kukluxism and Democracy are one."

GLC04717.72

25 April 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written from camp near Franklin. Has not received a letter in over a week. Next Tuesday [28 April 1863], a man from the 125th Ohio will be shot for "desertion, stealing and using threatening language" (see GLC05241.43). In Franklin, Tennessee, six more rebel families were ordered outside the Union lines. Also describes a military funeral for a cavalry lieutenant. Mentions a rumor that Generals [Braxton] Bragg and [Earl] Van Dorn will attack. McCandles is doing well.

GLC05241.40

26 April 1863

Magie, Charles, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Two Magie family letters]

Consists of two letters: one from Charles Magie to his father; another from Abraham to James. Four pages total. Both letters were written at Terre Haute, Indiana, 26 April 1863. Grandfather Abraham does not want the money that James Magie tried to loan him. Mother [Mary] said that Magie was unable to get a pass for him to join his father [James]. Also discusses planting and mentions uncle Ambrose. [Second letter: Abraham M. to James] He does need the money from his son [James Magie] but Ambrose and two other men want to open a blacksmith and wagon shop and could use the money.

GLC05241.41

26 April 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written from camp near Franklin. Magie is writing in the doctor's tent and mentions the many sick soldiers who appear at the tent for medicine. He writes about his newspaper business and other men who speculate in food. Magie bought himself a watch and wants to get his picture taken, which could cost $1.50. He discusses pay and the bounty money owed by the army. He wants to find a doctor for Eddy's feet.

GLC05241.42

28 April 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written from camp near Franklin. The cavalry captured 136 Confederate prisoners. Mentions widespread sickness in camp. He shipped out a box and plans to send more money. Writes, "That man Jones was not shot yesterday. He was, by order of the president, sentenced to the Penitentiary during the war" (refer to GLC05241.40).

GLC05241.43

1 July 1863

Magie, Mary, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James K. Magie

"No. 14." Extensively details every aspect of her day. A sketch James drew has been printed in Harper's Weekly [see # 49]. The Doctor measured Eddy's feet for special shoes. Another child in town has a foot just like Eddy's.

GLC05241.44

circa July 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

Describes a battle of the Army of the Cumberland, and his regiment's valiant behavior. Details the bravery of certain individuals, especially a sergeant whom he credits with keeping their line from breaking. He promises to send a list of the wounded in a week (possibly GLC05241.46). Includes a list of newspaper subscriptions for the Macomb Journal. He notes that he has received the Journal up to 1 July 1863. Date inferred from content.

GLC05241.45

1861-1865

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: List of soldiers' names

List of soldiers and units that they served with. Later pencil note reads: "T[his] report might have been made at home when Allie died." Possibly related to GLC05241.45.

GLC05241.46

circa 1858

Pearson, T.P., fl. 1858

Print

Title: [Print of Abraham Lincoln photograph by Pearson]

Print of Abraham Lincoln (by "Joyce"). On glossy paper. Original photograph is an ambrotype by T. P. Pearson, Macomb, Illinois, 26 August 1858. O-8 [refers to Ostendorf identification number].

GLC05241.47

1861-1865

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Document

Title: Business card.

"The Canton Weekly Register. James K. Magie, Editor, Canton, Illinois."

GLC05241.48

4 July 1863

Harper & Brothers, 1833-1962

Newspaper clipping

Title: Harper's weekly a journal of civilization [Vol. 7, no. 340 (July 4, 1863)] [incomplete]

Consists of the top half of the front page of Harpers, volume 7, number 340. Lead article expresses thanks to James K. Magie for supplying a sketch of the execution of two Confederate spies, Williams and Peters (sketch not included). Includes an accout of the incident from a letter written by the surgeon of the 85th Indiana regiment.

GLC05241.49

3 April 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Newspaper clipping

Title: [Newspaper clipping reporting activities of the 78th regiment]

Possibly a printing of one of Magie's letters home. Accompanied by paper wrapper.

GLC05241.50

1861-1865

Newspaper clipping

Title: [Newspaper clipping announcing a speech given by James K. Magie at Lincoln Post Hall]

Mentions a speech by Magie as a candidate for the Illinois senatorship. Magie gave the speech at the Lincoln Post Hall (possibly in Topeka, Kansas).

GLC05241.51

2 November 1871

Rowan, Stephen Clegg, 1805-1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Lewis Maury

Attests to Maury's character as an officer and as a gentleman. Rowan writes as commander of U.S.N. Flag Ship Congress. A U.S. vice admiral, Rowan served the Union during the Civil War. Post-war, he was commandant of the Norfolk and New York Navy yards, commander of the Asiatic Squadron, governor of the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia, and superintendent of the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.

GLC04572.33

2 December 1871

Davis, Edward T., fl. 1850-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to R. H. Maury

United States Navy Paymaster General Davis recommends William Lewis Maury to superintend the James River project.

GLC04572.35