July 20, 1862

Hay, John, 1838-1905

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Jay

Letter written while serving as Assistant Secretary to President Abraham Lincoln to a family friend. Writes of General George McClellan and his failed Peninsula campaign, "...What a wretched conclusion of all our little General's boasting addresses and orders have we seen on the bloody banks of the Chickahominy! Sad as is the result to himself and the country..." Mentions General David Hunter's attempt to emancipate enslaved people, "How gloriously General Hunter has justified my statement that the future would prove his soundness in hatred of Slavery..." Hints of the coming of Lincoln's…

GLC01569

November 6, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin F. Butler

Seeking details about "free black labor" in Union-occupied Louisiana.

GLC01570

June 19, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Letter signed

Title: to E. Malhiot

Signed as President, insisting that Louisiana will not be allowed to have an election until the new state constitution abolishes slavery. Demonstrates the hardening of Lincoln's attitude towards slavery.

GLC01571

June 15, 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ulysses S. Grant

Lincoln writes to Grant prophesying Grant's victory. Very brief telegram: "I begin to see it. You will succeed. God bless you all." A very famous letter.

GLC01572

January 27, 1863

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Pitt Fessenden

Letter written as Secretary of Treasury on department stationery. Discusses the national banking system and tax on circulation. States that against his urgings, Congress has insisted on a conversion clause. Writes that in his first report in July 1861, he suggested a tax on bank notes and other internal taxes but that no duties were imposed. In his second report, he says he proposed a national banking system and a tax on circulation. Remarks, "It is my considered judgment that had these views been adopted at the last session...there might have been comparatively little financial embarrassment…

GLC01574.01

April 14, 1825

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Letter signed

Title: to William C. Somerville

Secretary of State Clay informs Somerville of Somerville's appointment as Charge d'Affaires of the United States in Sweden. States that Somerville will replace Christopher Hughes, who will assume the post of Charge d'Affaires of the United States in the Netherlands. Refers to the inclusion of a letter of introduction addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Sweden, a copy of this letter, and of Somerville's Commission (not included). Offers instructions regarding the duties Somerville will assume at his new post. Informs that Somerville will receive more papers…

GLC01574.03

April 4, 1840

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Miller

States that he would be happy to assist him in procuring a loan but feels that now is not a good time. Remarks, "There is a want of Capital and a want of confidence." Explains that he would be able to represent him well but that there is a tendency to not lend money to distant borrowers. Offers to supply him or his agent with letters of recommendation. Comments that chances are good for the election of General William Henry Harrison, who won the Presidency in 1840.

GLC01574.04

March 29, 1808

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

This document refers to the Monroe-Pinkney treaty of 1806 (per Monroe Papers). The discusses sending the text of the treaty.

GLC01575

April 19, 1821

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Jefferson

Mentions funding appropriations for the University of Virginia, and states that he enclosed a report on the subject. Pledges continued support for the University. A discussion of foreign relations with Europe follows. Comments on an Austrian attack on Naples and its possible consequences, and tariff disagreements between the United States and France. Describes the people of Europe as "ripe for revolt."

GLC01576

December 17, 1810

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Header Record

Title: Letter and copied note from Timothy Pickering to James McHenry [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC01578

October 16, 1775

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holton

Letter written to fellow jurist Samuel Holton discussing the qualifications of a justice, the readiness of the American forces, and George Washington's opinion of his own army. Satirizes another judge who thinks all judges should have "the prime qualities of an executioner." He believes "the proper qualifications of a judge" are "integrity, ability, & knowledge of the law...a discerner between truth & falsehood, right and wrong." Believes that the colonies were not ready for war, and are still unprepared now, but insists in his full patriotism despite these doubts. Says Washington "…

GLC01579.01

26 September 1864

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Autograph document signed

Title: to William T. Sherman

In this telegram Stanton, Secretary of War, writes "The Richmond Enquirer of Saturday rejoices that 'Beauregard has been assigned to the Command of the Army in Georgia, that his star ever led to victory and his very name inspires confidence of success.' A report comes to the Navy Department via Memphis and Cairo that Mobile has surrendered. I do not credit it." Mentions Union General Philip Henry Sheridan's Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley.

GLC01583

July 1776

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Franklin

A cryptic but important letter written in the same month as the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, as commander in chief, in response to Franklin's letters. Possibly a draft since Washington has left the day and a name blank, but soon or shortly after July 30, when Franklin's response to Howe was delivered. Letter discusses belated peace initiatives of the Howe brothers. This letter responds to two letters from Franklin, one commended Washington for his work with the inventor Joseph Belton to…

GLC01588

April 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph manuscript

Title: Inaugural address [leaf from 1st draft of discarded first inaugural = pp.57-58]

Concerning trade and population growth, with allusion to the postal service, newspapers and manufactures. This was a first draft which Washington later discarded. The manuscript was disassembled by Jared Sparks (whose unsigned autograph note "handwriting of Washington" appears in the margin) and leaves or clippings were given away as samples of GW's handwriting. Sparks regarded the document as unimportant since Washington had not actually used this draft. See also GLC# 639.25 and 4443.01.

GLC01589

February 15, 1944

Baruch, Bernard M., 1870-1965

Book signed

Title: Report on war and post-war adjustment policies

Co-authored with John M. Hancock. Report on how best to demobilize soldiers and civilians after World War II, and return them to work. Also discusses how to return the government's workforce to peacetime leadership. Commissioned by James F. Byrnes, Director, Office of War Mobilization. Bound in blue cloth. Signed on free front endpaper by both authors. Printed, U.S. G.P.O.

GLC01592.01

February 18, 1945

Baruch, Bernard M., 1870-1965

Typed letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Mary L. Simon

Letter regarding "human demobilization." Typed on personal stationery.

GLC01592.02

July 18, 1864

Hooper, Samuel, 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Pitt Fessenden

Hooper, a United States Representative from Massachusetts, discusses the prospect of obtaining bank loans for the United States Treasury. He informs Fessenden, Secretary of the Treasury, that "... I have become strongly impressed with the idea that an appeal to the people would be cheerfully responded to and if encouraged by liberal subscriptions the banks would furnish more money…I do not regret your failure to make a negotiation with them in New York." Hooper notes that he will be in New York for a day and will meet with Mr. Cisco. Also discusses the death of Lt. Mason, evidently in…

GLC01596.01

April 12, 1850

Clayton, John Middleton, 1796-1856

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Woodruff Buel

Letter regarding passage of U.S. ships on the St. Lawrence river. In response to a letter from Buel, Clayton writes, "[I]t is believed the Canadian Government has recently announced its determination not to grant this privilege [of American ships passing on the St. Lawrence river to the Atlantic Ocean] to our citizens during the pending of the Canadian Reciprocity Bill which is now before Congress. The Department, however, has no official knowledge of this fact, but derives its information on the subject from the journals of the day."

GLC01596.02

March 2, 1870

Badeau, Adam, 1831-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry T. Tackerman

Badeau thanks Tackerman for his photographs of President Ulysses S. Grant and for a pleasant note Tackerman wrote, and declares that Grant was gratified and appreciative. Letter written on Executive Mansion stationery.

GLC01596.05

February 5, 1861

Conkling, Roscoe, 1829-1888

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C.G. Burke

Discusses their friendship and his "political fate." Mentions a speech that Burke said was "passionately condemned" which related to the Civil War: "the preservation or partition of a great empire, the fate of a nation the greatest in the future, the world has ever seen." Notes a "sinister purpose" Burke and others have warned him of. Marked "In Confidence." Conkling was then a Republican U.S. representative from New York.

GLC01596.06

January 1864

Sickles, Daniel Edgar, 1819-1914

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Birney

Discusses a congressional investigation into General George G. Meade for disciplining officers who testified before the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War after Meade let Lee escape after Gettysburg. Tells Major General Birney to give his true opinion to Congress and that he will urge his contacts in the Congress and the Secretary of War to back off. Also mentions having dinner with President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, where he also met Henry Halleck and Meade. Meade was later exonerated and received a vote of thanks from Congress.

GLC01599

March 18, 1806

Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849

Letter signed

Title: to William Few

Informs that he has directed the Treasurer to remit to Few $240,000 to be used for discharging the interest on stocks. Addressed to Few as the Commissioner of Loans at New York City.

GLC01602.01

December 12, 1808

Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849

Letter signed

Title: to John Pooler

Gallatin informs Pooler that he has directed the Treasurer to remit to Pooler $1000 to pay the dividends on stocks. Letter addressed to Pooler as the Commissioner of Loans for Georgia.

GLC01602.02

March 2, 1877

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wallace

Appears to allude to the count of electoral votes for president. Declares, "I have just got out of bed (10 1/2 hrs) having got home from the final count at 4 1/2 this morning. Tired to the bone." Letter written on House of Representatives stationery.

GLC01603

January 30, 1879

Hayes, Rutherford Birchard, 1822-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Hayes agrees with his recipient that public business "ought to be conducted on business principles." He seclares, "A public officer can in no way serve the party of his choice more effectively than by thoughtful and efficient performance of his office duties." Letter written on Executive Mansion stationery.

GLC01607