December 30, 1880

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of States to affix the seal to the pardon of William Brown, and three others].

William Brown, William Moff, Frederick Atwater, John L. Franklin were pardoned by President Rutherford B. Hayes.

GLC00514

9 April 1803

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Printed document signed

Title: [Circular letter about an act to protect U.S. seamen]

Printed circular letter, labeled "Duplicate" at top, regarding an act to further protect American seamen. Mentions the slave trade. Addressed to Thomas Aborn, Commercial Agent of the U.S. at Cayenne. Signed in type by Thomas Jefferson as president and Aaron Burr as vice president.

GLC00515

October 5, 1865

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William Willard

Gideon Welles informs Willard, the Warden of the State Prison at Wethersfield, Connecticut, that he is ordering him to imprison five sailors convicted of capital crimes: Wesley B. McLane, James Wilson, James Brown, James Stivers, and Francis Johnson. Details the causes of their convictions and the length of their sentences.

GLC00517

01 August 1963

Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, 1917-1963

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Fred Frank Paul (c/s Robert F. Kennedy [AG])

Convicted of violating Sect.202 T.18 USC; pardoned as he is now law-abiding

GLC00525

[ 06 August 1787 ]

Constitutional Convention, 1787

Document

Title: Constitution [printing of first draft, docketed by James Wilson]

First two leaves in facsimile, with docketed wrapper. Committee of Detail printing. First draft. Wilson chaired the Committee of Five which drafted this copy of the Constitution. With one correction in Wilson's hand. Docket on blank wrapper: "Report of the Committee of five. Later docket beneath: "Above endorsement is in the handwriting of Hon. James Wilson -- so his grand-daughter Miss Emily Hollingsworth tells me. Sept. 1. 1866 - Effingham B. Morris." Printed by Dunlap and Claypoole

GLC00528

July 14, 1786

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Comments on an impending lawsuit. Discusses Virginia Governor Patrick Henry's recent request to Congress for assistance against the Indians and the problems it poses for the federal government : "as the ultimate decision of Congress upon the propositions presented to them in a report...hath been contrary to the sense of the State and may perhaps be the subject of investigation as to its propriety upon the principles of the federal compact." Describes the present states of the government as deranged. Also discusses the accusation that he might have a personal interest in the lands and how he…

GLC00529.01

November 7, 1851

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ezra B. Chase

Buchanan states his position on slavery and the legal implications of enslaved people seeking emancipation. Buchanan strongly supports the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act, and believes it will reduce sectional strife. He is "decidedly in favor of 'the finality' of the compromise measures" and finds that the Compromise favors the North, except for the Fugitive Slave Law. Mentions the Democrats of Pennsylvania repealed a law preventing jails providing shelter to enslaved people on the run. He has received many congratulations from the South for his work on this cause. He concludes…

GLC00529.06

1864

Matthews, James, Muscoe, 1822-?

Book

Title: The Statutes at large of the provisional government of the Confederate States...

Howes C674, Parrish & Willingham 29. Contemporary 3/4 calf. Text of Indian tribe treaties including Cherokee pp. 290-411.

GLC00534

September 23, 1820

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Monroe as President to an unknown recipient. He is anxious about Samuel Gouverneur, his son-in-law and private secretary, and his child, perhaps because they are ill. Sent down letters with John Coburn because there was no mail going out that day. Requested him to bring back information. He hopes the recipient will help him set up an economic plan to help his family. Expresses annoyance with William Seaton, a co-editor of the Washington Intelligencer, who was talking freely about Monroe. Wants to help Seaton, but claims Seaton needs to help him in return by being more discreet and…

GLC00496.070

1 May 1824

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Deed from the General Land Office]

Document signed by President Monroe and countersigned by George Graham as Commissioner of the General Land Office. Proclaims the sale of U.S. land in Huntsville, Alabama, to Jesse Coe acting as assignee for John L. Doxey. Paper seal still extant.

GLC00496.073

January 24, 1815

Rich, Charles, 1771-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses General Andrew Jackson's New Orleans victory. Mentions a bank bill has been kept by President James Madison for 6 days without a decision. Reports the loss of the frigate U.S.S. President on January 15, 1815.

GLC00496.080

January 7, 1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ward H. Lamon

Abraham Lincoln refuses Lamon's request for him to take on a new case at Bloomington, because he is "so pressed" in Springfield at the time.

GLC00496.048

February 23, 1787

Mason, George, Sr., 1725-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Fitzhugh

Discusses Fitzhugh's disagreement with his neighbor, Mr. Steptoe, over land boundaries and property lines. Suggests drawing up a plat map to prevent future disagreements.

GLC00496.059

October 12, 1826

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter

Title: Copy of a letter from Col. James Lewis to Col. James Monroe

Lewis, Monroe's attorney, describes the circumstances under which he sold Monroe's land above Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1806; the land on which the University of Virginia was later established. A need to settle Monroe's debts compelled the sale. Per Monroe's request, Lewis also comments on the differences between the original price of the land and the present prices. A postscript offers to verify the letters content, since Lewis based the information on memory. Lewis attended to Monroe's financial affairs while Monroe served as a diplomat in Europe between 1803 and 1807. Handwritten copy…

GLC00496.064

June 5, 1820

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Possibly written to President Monroe's lawyer. Involves a financial claim Mr. Coffin held against Monroe, who disparagingly refers to Coffin as a "adventurer, without talents, & therefore an impostor." Monroe paid Coffin $35 for four busts, but Coffin claims to be owed more. Because Monroe is president, he feels it best to settle with Coffin, and calls going before a magistrate a "last course." Monroe sends a check for the amount of the claim, giving his correspondent authority to settle the matter, and asks that it be done without altercation.

GLC00496.071

5 March 1830

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Land Indenture between Burr Powell, William Noland and Lewis Berkley].

William Nolan and his wife deeded a tract of land in Loudoun County Virginia on May 17, 1822 to Burr Powell and Thomas R. Mott. In order to satisfy a debt owed to Lewis Berkeley, Nolan "has resolved to release all equity of redemption in the lands" and requests that Powell convey the land to Berkeley, who had also paid Noland and Powell. Thomas R. Mott had died and was not involved in this indenture. Notes by Justice of the Peace James Monroe and Abner Gibson, representing the Trustees of the Peace for Loudon County verify the transaction.

GLC00496.074

27 March 1666

Rhode Island General Assembly

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Acts and orders of the General Assembly sitting at Newport]

Signed by the clerk, Joseph [illegible].

GLC00496.078

10 March 1658

Sanford, John, fl. 1658

Autograph document

Title: [Acts and orders made at the General Court of Commissioners held for this Colony at Portsmouth, March the tenth 1658]

Written by Chief Magistrate of the Colony at Portsmouth Sanford. Report of a meeting moderated by Benedict Arnold. Written at Colony of Portsmouth

GLC00496.079

25 September 1776

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: Certified extract of the minutes of Congress re: committee to buy blankets

Appointing a committee to buy blankets &c for troops. Names of members at end

GLC00496.090

circa July 1838

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Speech fragment on the proposed annexation of Texas]

Report of Adams to his constituents on events in the 25th Congress, intended for newspaper publication. Adams mentions the speech of Vermont Congressman William Slade, which so offended southerners that they walked out. Discusses annexation of Texas, abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, duplicity of administration and Southern slave states as well as the suspension of the rules of the House of Representatives for debate. Beginning on 16 June 1838, Adams filibustered Congress for three weeks, giving up the floor only when Congress adjourned for the summer recess…

GLC00567

1784

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Pamphlet

Title: A Letter from Phocion, to the considerate citizens of New York

Evans 18515. Urging toleration for Tories and a united foreign policy, as the states had started infringing upon the Treaty of Paris with anti-Tory measures. Rebound in 20th C. cloth.

GLC00569

November 15, 1860

Bethune, James N., 1803-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul Semmes

Discusses the meeting of the legislature in Milledgeville, Georgia on the issue of secession. Writes that the general consensus in Milledgeville is one of resistance. States that Georgia Senator Benjamin Hill is demanding that Lincoln enforce the fugitive slave law. If the laws are not enforced, Hill will "help us dissolve the Union and we will all go together." Informs that "Many prominent men who have been here to force violent Union Men are now openly and strongly for immediate Secession." Written on blue paper. Georgia seceded from the Union on January 19, 1861. Bethune was a prominent…

GLC00572.14

January 15, 1861

Waters, H. H., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul J. Semmes

Marked "Private" at top. Waters, Secretary to Governor Joseph Brown of Georgia, informs Semmes that a brigade he formed, "First Brigade, First Division, Southern Guard," does not comply with the Act of December 18, 1860 or General Orders No. 2 and therefore cannot be recognized. Advises him to refer to the enclosed orders (not present) for further information on organizing a brigade of 10,000 men. Written on printed Executive Department stationery.

GLC00572.25

January 22, 1861

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to H. H. Waters

Semmes's retained copy. Writes to the Secretary of Governor Joseph Brown of Georgia. Replies to Waters' earlier letter advising Semmes that a brigade he formed cannot be recognized as it was not formed according to the proper rules (see GLC00572.25). States that the brigade was formed prior to the legislature passing the law requiring 10,000 volunteers. He also retorts "Nor was the idea entertained by any one that this organization was known to or authorized by any State law, or that it had the right or the power to confer any military rank whatever upon me or any other person." Docketed by…

GLC00572.30

October 9, 1793

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Letter signed

Title: to Joshua Clayton

Marked "Circular" and possibly sent to each state. Encloses papers (not present) containing the speech of the late governor, John Hancock, and the proceedings of the legislature of Massachusetts. Resumes Hancock's argument against the Supreme Court's authority over the states. Seeks the views of the other states hoping that they will agree with the commonwealth of Massachusetts on the matter. Invites Clayton to raise the issue in his own legislature.

GLC00575