13 April 1791

Newspaper

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [Vol. 2, no. 100 (April 13 1791)]

Page four contains "A Proclamation" from President Washington that selects, in accordance with the powers afforded him by Congress, the location on the Potomac River to become the capital of the United States. The boundaries of the proposed federal district are described. Two unrelated congressional acts appear on the page, one supplementing an act providing for the reduction of the public debt and another providing compensation for government clerks. Other articles in the paper contain "Discourse on Davila. No. 29," the conclusion of Massachusetts representative Elbridge Gerry's speech on…

GLC08795

23 July 1790

Newspaper

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania packet and daily advertiser. [No. 3581 (July 23, 1790)]

Reports act in congress to establish a capital on the Potomac River (Washington, D.C.). Conclusion of bill before the senate to provide for the national debt. Extract from a letter from Captain Colnet, aboard the Supply, one of the ships on Nootka Bay seized by the Spanish on 11 July 1789. News from New York concerning a funding bill in the legislature. News from the House of Representatives in Philadelphia. Congratulations to President George Washington on his recent election, issued by President of the Convention of South Carolina Charles Pinckney, and Washington's response. Proposal…

GLC08821

9 April 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Broadside

Title: [Printed letter to General George B. McClellan]

Discusses the defense of Washington and Manassas Junction and a discrepancy with the number of troops under McClellan. Urges McClellan to strike soon, "By delay, the enemy will readily gain on you ... and once more let me tell you, it is indispensable to you that you strike a blow." Ends by instructing McClellan, "You must act." With provenance note on back.

GLC08850

January 26, 1791

Newspaper

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [Vol. 2, no. 78, (January 26, 1791)]

Proclamation: land for capital. Whole no. 182.

GLC08773

June 16, 1783

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses debts of Virginia, removal of enslaved individuals by the British, discussion of the possible removal of the seat of government to Georgetown, remarks of Jefferson on topic, and Craddock Taylor.

GLC00099.116

June 30, 1783

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses problems of maintaining the standing army, needing taxation, and Virginia proposals for the national capitol at Williamsburg or Georgetown. Also, raises the question of furloughing soldiers to save money. Note: This is the first letter in volume II of the albums in which the manuscripts were mounted. Through the end of volume I complete transcripts of the letters were made by Peter Force, and the Pendleton Papers used those as a text source. Material from volume II was not transcribed by Force, and the Pendleton Papers had to depend on the passages quoted in the Henkels…

GLC00099.117

July 21, 1783

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses the Army mutiny at Newburgh, suggests New York or Williamsburg for the new national capitol, Virginia House of Delegates, and treaty with Sweden. Watermark of Lion with sword facing away from soldier with tricorn hat on bayonet, both surrounded by picket fence. Countermark "GR" underneath an upside-down bell.

GLC00099.119

July 28, 1783

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses the resumption of commerce, and the question of the capitol. Docketed by Madison. Also mentions: Virginia crops, Virginia commerce, American Loyalists, and Philadelphia, PA.

GLC00099.120

August 11, 1783

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses the powers of Congress and need to define them. Suggests that a day may come when the junction of the Ohio and the Mississippi might be a central location for a capital. Also, writes about his hopes for the evacuation of New York.

GLC00099.122

August 18, 1783

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter mentions the discussion of the pretensions of Philadelphia to be capital, the preliminary peace, and Sir Guy Carleton.

GLC00099.124.02

September 1, 1783

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter

Title: to James Madison

Signature has been clipped-off but postscripts remain. Mention's powers of Congress, seat of government (Philadelphia, Annapolis), need for a Constitution, crops in Virginia, Edmund Pendleton's suggestions regarding the District of Columbia. A large section of this letter was clipped out, beneath this a postscript reading: "Between the first two stars [was] cut out on the 2d Dec. 30. for Mr I[srael].K[eech]. Tefft. S[avanna]h.Ga. as an Autograph. 'We have at length had very fine rains, but according to the state of all sublunary things, are now under great anxiety, lest our Crops should be…

GLC00099.125

October 6, 1783

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: standing army, French relations, prices in Virginia

The letter mentions the location of the Capitol, Germantown (Pa.), Philadelphia (Pa.), French trade, and the question of maintaining garrisons in peacetime.

GLC00099.127

October 6, 1788

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Pendleton urges the speedy adoption of the Constitution, undelayed by proposed amendments. He discusses the location of the capital, federal elections, war in Europe, and rumor of imprisonment of Marquis de Lafayette.

GLC00099.134

July 21, 1790

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: news, capitol coming to the Potomac

The letter discusses local news, Pendleton's pleasure with the capitol coming to the Potomac, discussion of American pre-war debts to Britain, and constitutional defining of treaties.

GLC00099.144

August 1841

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to H. H. Carroll

Writes as a member of the United States Senate from New Hampshire. Discusses the Whig party's chances in the election. "The great Universal Whig Party is undoubtedly smashed -- broken up - Who does not perceive a wise, beneficient overruling Providence in these great events?" States that the Bank Bill passed the House by a majority of 31 votes. Believes that President John Tyler will veto the bill. "The clouds of doubt in which everything here has been enveloped are rolling away. - Gentlemen will now show their hands- positions will be re-defined - In a word Tyler will veto the bill." Reports…

GLC00096.01

December 14, 1861

Jackson, Thomas J. "Stonewall", 1824-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Eggleston Johnston

General Jackson, in command of Valley of the Virginia (Shenandoah Valley) discusses his attempts to damage the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. He informs General Johnston, Commander of the Department of Northern Virginia, that he has not been successful in damaging the Canal, but has captured several prisoners from the 17th Indiana Regiment. Jackson hopes to reverse the flow of water through a dam, or to make a small break in the canal. He plans to march with Gannetts' brigade the following Monday and hopes to prevent Washington, D. C. from receiving coal from Cumberland, Virginia during the…

GLC00046

January 13, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Henry Buschrae, who had been convicted in the District of Columbia of larceny in June 1861].

Buschrae was pardoned by Abraham Lincoln because he had served nearly all of his sentence, because he had been well behaved in prison, because he had been of good character and was drunk when he committed the larceny, because he had "served faithfully as a volunteer soldier in the defense of his country," and because many citizens of the District of Columbia had petitioned him on his behalf. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC00044.02

20 November 1863

Raymond, Henry J. (Henry Jarvis), 1820-1869

Newspaper

Title: The New-York times. [Vol. 13, no. 3794 (November 20, 1863)]

Front-page article describes Lincoln's address at the Gettysburg Battlefield to dedicate the cemetery. Also prints on page two the speech Edward Everett gave at Gettysburg. Other front page articles detail Civil War news, such as the rebels advancing upon Knoxville and the speech of Reverend Henry Ward Beecher at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Prints news on affairs in France, specifically Napoleon, and updates from Washington D.C. Contains public notices and advertisements.

GLC00339.01

April 16, 1865

Stonehouse, John B., 1813-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John B. Stonehouse Jr.

Writing to his son, John B. Stonehouse describes the interruption of the Washington, D.C. celebration of Lee's surrender by the assassination of President Lincoln and stabbing of Secretary of State William Seward. He then continues to give a detailed description of the events surrounding the attack on Seward and the assassination of Lincoln. He is first informed of Secretary Seward's stabbing by an unidentified man. Stonehouse then goes to Ford's Theatre where he describes people rushing from the building. Also includes his account of the knife Secretary Seward was stabbed with and the pistol…

GLC00368.01

circa 1848

Pamphlet

Title: Inconsistency and hypocrisy of Martin Van Buren. On the question of slavery.

An anonymous author criticizes Van Buren and the Free Soil Party, which nominated him as candidate for the 1848 Presidential election: "No event in the history of political parties in this country since the establishment of the government, has excited more surprise, than the recent nomination of Martin Van Buren by the Buffalo Convention, as the Free-Soil, or Anti-Slavery Candidate for the Presidency." Claims Van Buren will be against the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. Bound with string. Edges slightly worn.

GLC00267.185

13 August 1856

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: to the Senate

Based on a report from Captain M.C. Meigs, Pierce requests that the Senate appropriate $750,000 for "the Capitol extension."

GLC01188

1862-1864

Photograph

Title: Photo album with 39 carte de visite Civil War photos, including Brigham Young

With fore-edge painting. Includes views of Jim Bridger, Brigham Young, Ute and Shoshone Indians. Album presented "By the Boys" [troops] at Camp Douglas, to their commanding officer, Capt. E.B. Grimes, Q.M. Includes a few Washington DC scenes at end. Written at Camp Douglas.

GLC01261

1932

Markham, Edwin, 1852-1940

Typed document signed

Title: Lincoln, the Man of the People

Signed and dated poem by Markham. Document states that this poem was chosen to be read at the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC in 1922. President Warren G. Harding delivered the address and the author read his poem. "Up from log cabin to the Capital, One fire was on his spirit, one resolve,- To send the keen ax to the root of wrong, Clearing a free way for the feel of God, The eyes of conscience testing every stroke, To make his deed the measure of a man." Copyrighted 1900, 1919.

GLC01367

1825

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Album autographed by John Quincy Adams and Marquis de Lafayette].

A note by Lafayette dated January 23, 1825 indicates he was an "old friend" of the parents of the young lady who owned this album. Adams writes a seven-line poem dated March 10, 1825. A note from William White dated March 23, 1825 quotes Proverbs. Three other notes, New Haven, Buffalo and New York, 1865 news clipping on Palmerston death, one small broadside concerning $1 contribution to the Washington Monument and piece of embroidery. Bound by P. Thompson, Washington City, in red ribbed morocco binding with gilt decorative board.

GLC01826

August 22, 1814

Beall, William Dent, 1757-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Lieutenant Colonel Beall reports on the British advance into Marlboro, Maryland, and the strength of the British force. Also requests money. Adds in a postscript: "It is of great importance that Col. Hood should march immediately. The Flotilla is in ashes & the men with General Winder." Letter written in the field two days before the Battle of Bladensburg, where Beall commanded. The American defeat at Bladensburg allowed British forces to enter Washington, D.C.

GLC01836.01