16 August 1841

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Broadside

Title: President Tyler's Veto Message [of the bill to incorporate the Bank of the United States]

Broadside printed on off-white silk and mounted on a wood backer board. Three columns of type with floral border and an eagle at top with a banner reading "E Pluribus Unum." Noted at top "For D.D. Davis." Tyler writes that he has always felt that Congress should not establish a Bank of the United States. Discusses the failure of previous national banks in the United States. Dimesions of the backer board are 45.5 x 30 x .8 cm.

GLC05491

January 24, 1963

Kennedy, Robert Francis, 1925-1968

Typed letter signed

Title: [Report to President John F. Kennedy regarding civil rights]

A signed carbon copy. Robert Kennedy, Attorney General, describes 1962 as "a year of great progress in civil rights, in large measure because of the responsibility and respect for law displayed by the great majority of the citizens of the South." Summarizes civil rights from the standpoint of the Department of Justice. Cites voting as the most significant civil rights issue, due to a lack of local compliance during federal investigation of voting procedures in specific areas. States that lawsuits were filed in Louisiana and Mississippi "challenging the constitutionality of the state voter…

GLC05630

7 January 1840

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Document signed

Title: [Orders for transport of the Amistad captives]

Countersigned by John Forsyth as Secretary of State. President Van Buren writes to Norris Wilcox, Marshal of the District of Connecticut. States: "The Marshal of the United States for the District of Connecticut will deliver over to Lieutenant John S. Paine, of the United States Navy, and aid in conveying on board the schooner Grampus, under his command all the negroes late of the Spanish schooner Amistad, in his custody under process now pending before the District Court of the United States for the District of Connecticut. For so doing this order will be his warrant."

GLC05636.01

30 October 1839

Grundy, Felix, 1777-1840

Letter

Title: to William S. Holabird

The body of the letter appears to be clerically written; the signature has been clipped and someone has written "Felix Grundy" in a different hand beneath. Grundy, Attorney General of the United States, informs Holabird, District Attorney of Connecticut: "It is necessary that I should know, what legal proceedings are now pending in your District, in relation to the negroes and vessel Amistad- You will be good enough to give the information at your earliest convenience- You named to the President, that you intended to visit Washington; will you do so, and when? Where was the Amistad, when…

GLC05636.03

1829-1853

Header Record

Title: Papers related to the Amistad mutiny [Decimalized .01-.59]

This collection contains the papers of William S. Holabird, who served as United States District Attorney for the state of Connecticut during the Amistad trial. These materials include a letter of Judge Andrew T. Judson which suggests executive interference in the proceedings (#5), depositions of the Spanish minister (#7-9), testimony of witnesses (#10-14), and important letters of Secretary of State John Forsyth instructing Holabird on the Amistad case (#17-23). Also includes Holabird's commission as United States District Attorney (#16). Contains political or legal letters for the period…

GLC05636

April-June 1840

Holabird, William S., 1794-1855

Autograph document

Title: [Brief from the Circuit Court regarding the Amistad case]

Referring to Lieutenant Thomas R. Gedney, includes information pertaining to the Amistad case: "Gidney & others v. The Amistad Negroes. Circuit court U.S." Considers four principle points: "shall the vessel, & the blacks, be restored to the Spanish Government from whence they came;" "whether these negroes shall be restored to the Spanish Govt or be sit at liberty here;" "The Spanish Govt claim that the Amistad being a Sp vessel, and not having violated the laws of nations, on the municipal laws of this country... that the Courts of no other nation can hold jurisdiction of them;" and…

GLC05636.02

January 26, 1860

Virginia General Assembly

Pamphlet

Title: Report of the Joint Committee of the General Assembly of Virginia on the Harpers Ferry Outrages

Discusses Brown's attack at Harpers Ferry and the Abolitionist activity and legislation in northern states which encouraged him. The report quickly reviews the facts regarding Brown and then turns to larger issues. It reviews the history of legislated emancipation after the Revolution, the conflicts in Congress and then reviews northern legislation. It finds that the North's "statute books are filled with enactments conceived in a spirit of hostility to the institutions of the South, at war with the true intent and meaning of the federal compact, and adopted for the avowed purpose of…

GLC05644

1784

Zenger, John P., 1697-1746

Book

Title: The Trial of John Peter Zenger...for libel against the government

Howes 26 (related). Printed for Flexney, Holborn; Davies, Russel-Street; Merril, Cambridge; and Eddowes, Shrewsbury. Lord Erskine's copy with publisher's printed dedication. Thomas Erskine, 1750-1823, brother of David Steuart Erskine (11th Earl of Buchan, who corresponded with Lady Catharine Macaulay) contributed to passing Fox's Libel Act in 1792 which helped to blunt the use of libel prosecutions by the Pitt ministry. With bookplate of Gertrude Hamilton on front pastedown.

GLC05652

1795

United States. Congress (1st : 1789-1791). Senate

Book

Title: Acts Passed at the First Congress of the United States of America [1789]

Printed by Francis Childs. With separately paginated index. Rebound

GLC05654

25 September 1831

Allyn, Nelson, fl. 1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Allyn

Nelson writes to his brother Joseph in Connecticut, roughly one month after Nat Turner's Rebellion. Discusses family and mutual acquaintances, noting he is in good health. Writes, "the insurrection of the blacks have made greate disturbance here every man is armd with a gun by his bed nights and in the field at work a great many of the blacks have been shot there heads taken of stuck on poles at the forkes of rodes some been hung, some awaiting there trial in several countys, 6 in this county... there is no danger of their rising again here." Discusses his journey to North Carolina and…

GLC05655

December 1, 1798

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvanus Bourne

References Bourne's letter of 23 November 1798. Writes to Bourne, American Consul in Amsterdam. Says he does not have any recent information from America. Says stories on the yellow fever in the American newspapers are distressing, but otherwise the news is good. Says Congress adjourned on 1 December 1798, but he does not know what Elbridge Gerry told them after he returned from France after the XYZ affair in October 1798. Believes that no matter what Gerry said, it will not change American-French relations. Says "As long as they continue to treat neutrals much worse than their Enemies, it…

GLC05656

28 August 1832

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William B. Lewis

Writes to Lewis about the widespread opposition to the issue of nullification. Declares that "Alabama is firm as a Rock for [Martin] Van Buren and against nullification," and names a few men opposed to it as well. Proclaims that nullification is " ... too absurd to be attempted by the patriotic south... South Carolina to do an act to destroy her own Liberty & property, ... to become a vassal of a foreign government, or to fall a victim to the barbarous hands of their own slaves." Informs that he is " ... prepared to act with promptness & energy and should the laws be resisted…

GLC05661

30 November 1767

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph document signed

Title: [Legal document to the Justices of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace at Charlestown in Middlesex County, Massachusetts]

Countersigned by "Jon. Sewall." Legal document created by Adams in defense of the town of Stoneham, Massachusetts. The town of Framingham, Massachusetts had removed James and Rebekah Holden and their daughter Naomi as poor residents who could not support themselves and sent them back to Stoneham, where the officials of Framingham said they were from. Adams says the Holden family was not from Stoneham and that the town should not have to take them in as a charity case. Sewall's note on verso says that Selectmen of Framingham state Stoneham is the home of the Holden family.

GLC05609

February 1, 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph note signed

Title: [Pardon of William Peacock]

Pardoning William Peacock, a Union army deserter, with the condition that he serve in the army for two years. With General John A. Dix note on verso dated 6 February 1865 stating that Brigadier General [Lewis Cass] Hunt in New York will execute the president's order. Written on a card. Tipped to a large sheet of paper.

GLC05278

December 21, 1816 - February 3,1817

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph manuscript

Title: To the Senate & House of Reps of the U. S.

Fragments of two messages to the House of Representatives of the United States. The first concerns an "act to authorize payment for property lost, captured, or destroyed by the enemy while in the military service of the U. S. & for other purposes ... " Date of 21 December 1816, written in pencil in an unknown hand at a later time. Second page is a message to the Senate and the House of Representatives about his decision to sign the Tariff Act of 1816 which protected American industries from British competition.

GLC05279

1804

Duane, William John, 1780-1865

Pamphlet

Title: Report of a Debate in the Senate of the United States [12th Amendment]

Major changes in electoral process for Presidential and V.P. elections (twelfth amendment). Printed by William Duane.

GLC05325

December 21, 1857

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jesse K. Dubois

Writes to Dubois, the Illinois State auditor, to get him to accept a $90,000 temporary settlement offer for property taxes due the state of Illinois from the Illinois Central Rail Road Company. Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. II 1848 - 1858, p. 429

GLC05277

12 August 1790

Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Huntington

Reports to the Governor of Connecticut about the actions of Congress in the most recent session. Encloses notes on the acts and laws passed (not present). Informs him of the provision for funding domestic debt and states that though both Houses agreed, it was not the favored decision of either. Remarks upon state debt, "The assumption of the State debts, will ease all the States of a burthen of direct taxation, and put the other branches of revenue under one direction." He also mentions the bills for defending the frontiers, regulating the Post Office, and ongoing negotiations with "…

GLC05282

February 12, 1788

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Rush re: balanced government under the Constitution

Adams mentions his Defence (just received by Rush) and writes "It is an opinion here that they [the volumes] contributed Somewhat to to restore permanent Tranquility to this Commonwealth, as well as Suppress the pestilent County Conventions, Insurrections and Rebellion." He continues to argue that balanced government is the only way to protect the laws and secure "Liberty, Property, Life and Character...." Adams also mentions Rush's expectation that he will have higher office, "[y]ou tell me my Labours are only beginning, Seven and Twenty years have I laboured in this rugged Vineyward and am…

GLC05289

9 August 1853

Bean, Roy, 1825-1903

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Order requiring Roy Bean to answer charge of assault with intent to kill]

Cosigned by A.W. Hope and John Foster as securities. Bean awaits judgment, held by the county of San Gabriel for the City of Los Angeles to answer a charge of assault with intent to kill. Bail set at five hundred dollars. Seals intact.

GLC05291

19 July 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Sends copies of "the act for establishing the...permanent seat of the government of the United States" in Washington, D.C. and an act providing for the payment of invalid pensioners (the actual copies are not included). The text of this letter is exactly the same as GLC04886, which is addressed to the President of New Hampshire Josiah Bartlett.

GLC07668

11 June 1770

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Committee of Correspondence in New Jersey

"...[A]ll the duties in the last Revenue Act are repealed, except that on Tea."

GLC07689

April 2, 1834

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Greene, William, 1812-1894

Manuscript document signed

Title: Deed for sale of land

One document dated April 2, 1834. An agreement between James Cox, his wife Nancy and Matthew S. Marsh and Charles Clark. The agreement is for the sale of land from the Cox's to Marsh and Clark for five-hundred and seventy-five dollars. This document was written and signed by Abraham Lincoln. Co-signed by William Greene, with marks made by James Cox and Nancy Cox.

GLC07514

circa May 23, 1850

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph document

Title: Instructions to the jury in Sarah Alsop v. John Sturgeon

Lincoln defended Sturgeon who was accused of calling Alsop a "Whore." Signed "Ficklin & Lincoln."

GLC07516.02

1802-1822 ca.

Pinkney, William, 1764-1822

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Personal notebook re: various legal questions, case issues and diplomacy

Two items: notebook 252 p. oblong quarter in leather, discusses transaction of Louisiana and Florida, the Pinkney Family crest, and numerous legal cases; paperbound record book 20 p. Formerly the property of J.A. Soiecki, record book containing a biography of William Pinkney, ca. 1868.

GLC07602