February 8, 1836

United States. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: Slavery in the District of Columbia.

24th Congress, 1st Session, House of Representatives document no. 691. States that Congress cannot interfere with slavery in the district of Columbia or any other states in the Confederacy. Instead, Congress formed a select committee to deal with any issues in relation to the subject. Henry L. Pinckney was one of the committee members and the law became known as the "Pinckney Gag." Printed by Blair & Rives, printers. Partially uncut.

GLC00267.091

February 19, 1847

New Jersey Legislature

Printed document

Title: Resolution of the legislature of New Jersey, in relation to the extension of slavery.

29th Congress, 2d session, Senate document # 153. Resolution declares that the New Jersey legislature will make every effort to keep slavery out of newly annexed territories.

GLC00267.119.01

February 19, 1829

Missouri, Legislature

Pamphlet

Title: Resolution of the legislature of Missouri, declaring, in their opinion, that Congress has no power to appropriate moneys to aid the American Colonization Society.

20th Congress, 2d Session, document no. 89. Congress has no power to appropriate money to aid the American Colonization Society (based on strict construction of the Constitution). The resolution mentions the concern that the next step would be Congress buying slaves for the purpose of liberating and colonizing them.

GLC00267.046

February 19, 1847

New Hampshire Senate

Pamphlet

Title: Resolutions of the Legislature of New Hampshire in relation to slavery and the domestic slave trade.

29th Congress, 2d session, document no. 155. Opposes slavery in the territories, favors abolition in the District of Columbia and abolition of the domestic slave trade. Signed in print by John P. Hale as Speaker of the House, James U. Parker as President of the Senate, Anthony Colby as Governor, and George G. Fogg as Secretary of State. Approved 10 July 1846.

GLC00267.037

February 18, 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Lincoln endorsement on autograph letter signed of David Davis]

Autograph letter dated 14, February 1865 and signed by David Davis addressed to a man named Stuart. Davis informs Stuart of the death of Isaac Funk, Funk's wife, and his brother Jesse. States that Isaac died without a will and left a large estate. Requests that a son of the Funks, also Isaac Funk, be discharged from the army in order to settle the estate. The son Isaac is a corporal in Company G, 146th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. Requests that Stuart see President Abraham Lincoln about this matter. Also informs that four of Isaac Funk's sons were ill with the same disease that…

GLC00496.049

February 18, 1769

Maxwell, John, fl. 1768-1769

Document signed

Title: [Major Robert Roger's Account with John Ferguson]

Also signed by John Ferguson and Lieutenant Colonel Elias Jones. Receipt and account for Major Roger's board and lodging from 5 July to 8 November 1768 while on trial for treason against England. Signed by Maxwell that 43 pounds, five shillings and four pense sterling was paid 18 February 1769.

GLC01412.12

February 18, 1865

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Confederate act to authorize the exportation of produce and merchandise]

Passed by the Confederate Congress, Thomas Bocock as speaker of the House, and R.M.T. Hunter as president pro tempore of the Senate and approved by Davis as president. Authorizes the export of government-owned "cotton, tobacco, and other produce and merchandise." Docketed: "Secret." Passed by the Senate on 23 November 1864 and by the House of Representatives on 18 February 1865.

GLC00990

February 18, 1862

Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881

Document signed

Title: [Declaration to citizens of Roanoke Island to renew allegiance to Union]

Historically significant proclamation to the citizens of Roanoke Island, typifying the moderate approach to warfare of Ambrose Burnside, his patron George B. McClellan, and Northern Democrats. Promises not to "interfere with your laws constitutionally established, your institutions of any kind whatever, your property of any sort [i.e., slavery] …," if the citizens of this district returned their loyalties to the United States. Signed by Burnside as Brigadier General Commanding the Department of North Carolina and by Goldsborough as Flag Officer Commanding the North Atlantic Blockading…

GLC01886

February 28, 1716

Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Simon Bradstreet and Joseph Stevens

Inquires about a man named Rudgen (or Brigden), who had moved into the neighborhood of the Boston church Mather ministered. Some people from Charlestown came to Mather with information that Rudgen had libeled his mother and signed a confession to that effect, and that because of the confession Bradstreet and Stevens had expelled him from their church in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Mather cannot permit him to worship at his church because of the expulsion, and he is distraught. Entreats them to visit Rudgen when they are in Boston. He would like to help Rudgen and requests them to advise…

GLC02493

February 28, 1785

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Washington encloses letters "under flying Seals" to the Count de Rochambeau and the Marquis de Chastellux "introductory of Mr. Swan." Also includes certificates for Lieutenants Seaver and Henley (no documents included). Discusses suspending a building project in Alexandria, Virginia as his fiances were "not equal to the undertaking." Also discusses the use of stone versus oyster shell lime. Refers to laws passed by the Virginia and Maryland Assemblies regarding the improvement of navigation on the states' rivers. Virginia also passed an act to vest 100 shares in Washington and his heirs;…

GLC02437.09405

February 20, 1830

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Samuel L. Valentine for security on a debenture bond]

Countersigned by Secretary of State Martin Van Buren. Jackson orders Valentine's release because of his poverty and large family and on condition that he pay the costs of the suit.

GLC01837

1890/02/17

Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901

Broadside

Title: Proclamation: prohibiting herding or grazing on Cherokee strip

Printed document without seal or signature.

GLC01861

1802/10/19

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Nelson

Circular letter in which Secretary of State Madison, on behalf of President Jefferson, requests district attorneys forward explanations of how state laws apply to seamen deserting from foreign vessels. Seeks Nelson's reply on the laws of Virginia. A draft of Nelson's autograph response appears on pages 2-3, dated 3 November 1802 at Yorktown, Virginia.

GLC01870

1773/10/09

Hutchinson, Thomas, 1711-1780

Broadside

Title: A Proclamation for proroguing the General Court (Massachusetts Bay)

Printed by Richard Draper. With calculations on the verso.

GLC01872

1798/05/17

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph document signed

Title: [Affadavit for sworn statement of Andrew Jackson concerning money owed Pierce Butler]

An affidavit of Jackson's sworn statement that Pierce Butler was rightly owed money by David Allison and William Blount. Jackson was acting as Butler's lawyer in the case. The money owed was part of a land speculation plan that involved all four of the men. Allison had lost a great deal of money in land speculation, and had also lost a good deal of money for Blount, leaving both men indebted to Butler. Jackson was also involved in some of these land speculation schemes himself.

GLC01876

1832/12/10

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Broadside

Title: Proclamation, by Andrew Jackson, President of the United States.

Attacks South Carolina's plans of nullification, warns that "disunion by armed force is treason," and threatens harsh punishment. In 1832, South Carolina claimed that it had the right as a state to nullify federal law, in particular the federal tariff acts of 1828 and 1832. They also claimed the right to secede if the government tried to enforce the acts. This led to the Nullification Crisis. Jackson favored states rights, but not to this degree, and took a firm stand against the right to nullification and secession. In March 1833 a compromise tariff bill ended South Carolina's…

GLC01895

1844/06/25

Dorr, Thomas Wilson, 1805-1854

Broadside

Title: Speech of governor Dorr, in answer to the question by the court, why sentence should not be pronounced against him

Published by the Republican Herald Office. Appeals to the citizens of Rhode Island, arguing that the sentence given to him goes against the principles of a democratic Republic. Dorr was charged for treason and sentenced to life imprisonment and hard labor for his role in the Dorr Rebellion.

GLC02211

1808/02/17

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jean Guillaume Neuville re: whether foreigners can own land in the U.S.

Written as President to Baron Hyde de Neuville. Jefferson ventures an opinion but refers the question to lawyers, particularly in the several states.

GLC01960

1774/01/25

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document signed

Title: Bill for surveying and patenting land grant French & Indian War

Document signed for claim against James Ludlow with another Washington document, cosigned by William Crawford 2/25/1774, assigning the debt to Crawford.

GLC01963

1933/08/23

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Pamphlet

Title: Executive order relating to the hoarding, export, and earmarking of gold coin, bullion, or currency and to transactions in foreign exchange.

Orders all persons who hold gold coin, gold bullion, or gold certificates to file a report of same with the Secretary of the Treasury within fifteen days. Executive Order 6260.

GLC01983.02

1850/10/15

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Manuscript document signed

Title: Pardon of J. Walton Hopkins, convicted of counterfeiting.

Convicted of passing counterfeit coin. Pardoned after request from the jury and district attorney. (c/s W.S. Derrick) Pardon is framed with picture of President Fillmore.

GLC01986

1790/01/27

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Letter signed

Title: Circular letter re: conforming federal and North Carolina laws

Written after the adoption of the Constitution Written at the Treasury Department

GLC01956

1864/04/28

Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870

Letter signed

Title: to James A. Seddon re: disbanding company and reassigning officers

With docketing ANS of James Seddon, Confederate Secretary of State, on verso saying "I hope the Legislation of Congress will enable me to support your views. JAS."

GLC01957

1793/03/02

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: [An act appropriating funds to purchase two lots for building the Mint].

Signed as Secretary of State.

GLC01984

1844/02/03

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward D. Gazzam re: American interests better served by Texas independence

Written as Senator from Pennsylvania, regarding the bill for admission of Texas to the Union and South Carolina's opposition to another Tariff bill. Buchanan argues that an independent Texas would be better for America unless Great Britain were to annex it. He also dismisses South Carolina's (and Calhoun's) complaint that the Tariff impoverished the South by pointing to cheap cotton production in newer states like Mississippi or Alabama. (Recent historians agree with him.)

GLC02104