1 August 1791-2 January 1792

Carter, Robert, 1728-1804

Document signed

Title: [Manumission of a slave]

Appears to be a copy dated 2 January 1792, of a document written on 1 August 1791. Note at bottom signed by Thomas Edwards on 2 January 1792 says "An extract from the Deed recorded in the Northumberland District Court." Document says that Carter was using the 1782 Virginia emancipation act to "emancipate from slavery Sampson at Aquarius in Frederick County aged twentyone years."

GLC02448.04

1770-1819

Header Record

Title: Annapolis Convention: 20 letters & docs [decimalized]

Annapolis Convention member: [decimalized 02450.01-02450.20]

GLC02450

1786/08/09

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

The Governor of Massachusetts asks Gerry to attend a meeting for the selection of state representatives for the Annapolis Convention, where matters of interstate commerce in regard to the restrictions in the Articles of Confederation would be discussed. Implies the need for Gerry to serve, because "the council" had concluded there could "be no such representation, unless some of the Gentleman appointed for that purpose by the General Court, accept the appointment." The meeting was scheduled for the following day, in the Massachusetts senate chamber. A draft of Gerry's response dated 11…

GLC02450.03

1786/08/28

Cushing, Thomas, 1725-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts urges Gerry, as one of the men selected to represent their state at the upcoming Annapolis Convention, to make arrangements to attend. Discusses confusion and problems in confirming that the state will have representatives in Annapolis. Gerry's drafted response dated 28 August 1786 explains that "it is not in [his] power to proceed on the Business of the Convention." His explanation refers to a meeting mentioned in GLC02450.03.

GLC02450.06

1787/12/20

Baldwin, Abraham, 1754-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nicholas Gilmore re: destruction of Indian towns

Writes concerning his belief in a state conspiracy "I believe the present design of the state is a general destruction of the Indian towns."

GLC02470.01

1790/02/20

Martin, Alexander, fl. 1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gov. S.C. re: transmitting proposed constitutional amendments

GLC02470.24

1789/03/15

Wisner, Henry, 1720-1790

Document signed

Title: Certificate & receipt of payment as delegate to NY Convention (c/s Geo Clinton)

[Continental Congress members]

GLC02471.45

26 December 1786

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Lamenting Shays' Rebellion, writes "I feel, my dear Genl. Knox, infinitely more than I can express to you, for the disorders which have arisen in these States. Good God! who besides a tory could have foreseen, or a Briton predicted them!" Alludes to "combustibles in every State, which a spark might set fire to." Notes that Virginia is (at the moment) calm, but worries over disputes regarding navigation of the Mississippi. Discusses an amendment to the existing Constitution regarding paper emissions and military certificates. Expresses sadness regarding the recent death of General…

GLC02437.09409

2 April 1787

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Relates reasons for not wanting to attend the Constitutional Convention, including the possibility that all states might not attend (rendering representation partial). Notes that if all Delegates attend with the power to address and cure the defects of the Constitution, the Convention will be a worthwhile endeavor. Asks Knox to find out from his friends in Congress the degree of power Delegates will possess. Also asks him to probe for others' views regarding his attendance (or non-attendance). Hopes to see Knox in Philadelphia before the Convention (Knox will be there for a Society of the…

GLC02437.09412

19 August 1787

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the Constitutional Convention, and cannot predict the result. Hopes Congress, the states' legislatures, and the community at large will adopt the government agreed upon in the Convention. Is convinced that such government is the best that may be obtained "at the present moment, under such diversity of ideas as prevail." Had anticipated a visit to New York during adjournment of the Convention, but was unable to plan the precise time when an intermission would arise, and thus placed his carriage in the hands of a repairman. Offers his condolences to Knox regarding an unspecified…

GLC02437.09414

January 10, 1788

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses which states are ratifying the Constitution, and predicts its success. Notes "The determination of New York, of all others, seems most problematical; and yet, I can hardly entertain an idea that she will be disposed to stand alone..." Wonders whether a dispute between France and England will result in war. Predicts that if war does erupt, the United States will participate, since the current government does not have the power to restrain the people. Sends his and Martha's congratulations to Henry and his wife Lucy on the birth of a son, whom they have named George. In a post…

GLC02437.09415

17 June 1788

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Received Knox's previous letter on the eve of departure for Fredericksburg, to visit his mother. Doubts acceptance of the United States Constitution by the Virginia Convention for ratification. Accuses Anti-Federalists of creating jealousies and exciting alarms. Notes that residents of the Kentucke area (the later state of Kentucky) will have a large impact on ratification. Their primary concerns are navigation of the Mississippi River and organization into a separate state. Discusses details of the Virginia convention for ratification. Is disappointed that a great majority opposes the…

GLC02437.09418

December 1857

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph manuscript

Title: "House divided" speech fragment re: slavery, Dred Scott, Kansas

A single page beginning "Why Kansas is neither the whole, nor a tithe of the real question." Written before the debates with Stephen A. Douglas, apparently in response to that Senator's Dec. 9, 1857 speech in opposition to Buchanan's State of the Union address (as suggested by Don Fehrenbacher, "House Divided," 89 ff.). Nicolay and Hay date the metaphor from Oct. 1858 while Basler assigns it to May 1858. Unpublished and unrecorded. Current dating is based upon Don E. Fehrenbacher's hypothesis that this speech responds to Stephen A. Douglas's speech in the Senate of 1857 Dec. 9 (Prelude to…

GLC02533

1858/07/03

Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872

Newspaper

Title: New-York weekly tribune. [Vol. 17, no. 877 (July 3, 1858)]

Lincoln speech at Republican State Convention, printed in the New-York Herald Tribune, vol. XVII no. 877. Speech appears on page 3 under the section "Republican Principles", titled "Speech of Hon. Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, at the Republican State Convention, June 16, 1858." This early printing shows the national attention Lincoln received for the speech of June 16, despite his loss to Douglas. Greeley endorses the speech in an editorial on page 4.

GLC02534

31 May 1787

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy of a letter written to Henry Knox, briefly discussing the begining of the Constitutional Convention, and his election as chair of the Convention. Copy made on 1 February 1854 according to note at top of first page.

GLC02437.09315

7 March 1857

Daniel, Peter Vivian, 1784-1860

Autograph manuscript

Title: The opinion of Justice Peter V. Daniel of the United States Supreme Court in the famous Dred Scott case.

Daniel's original manuscript of his opinion on the Dred Scott case, bound into a book. Daniels, a passionate slavery advocate, argues that slavery had more protection under the Constitution than any other form of property. He supports the majority opinion of Justice Taney, but goes farther, asserting the unconstitutionality of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Contains pencil notes, and numerous insertions and deletions in Daniel's hand, including slips of paper. With a later title page in another hand. This copy was used by the printers for the official printing of Daniel's opinion.

GLC02546.01

1787/09

Carey, Mathew, 1760-1839

Magazine

Title: The American Museum. [Vol. II, no. 3 (September 1787)]

Contains the first magazine printing of the United States Constitution on p. 276-284. Also contains an essay by Benjamin Franklin on "Information for those who would wish to remove to America. Also features political sketches, an address to "friends of American Manufacturers," reflections encouraging commerce, articles on agriculture, political culture, and various prose and poetry. Provenance from the library of Henry Knox, although without ownership marks.

GLC02593.01

1840/03/04

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Roscoe G. Greene re: Grey's Elegy, the Constitution

Adams comments at length upon punctuation in Grey's "Elegy in a Churchyard" (and the powers of Congress as limited or expanded by a semi-colon in the Constitution. He also writes that "No land of slavery could ever have produced Grey's Elegy."

GLC02847

12 March 1860

Slidell, John, 1793-1871

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred Edmund Burr

Slidell, a United States Senator from Louisiana, regretfully declines an invitation from Burr, Chairman of the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee, to speak at a canvass preceding the 1860 presidential election. States "The Democracy of Connecticut has long been distinguished for its bold & unflinching adherence to sound constitutional principles, your representatives in both branches of Congress have commanded the gratitude & admiration of every true Southern man ..." Declares "in the person of the gallant Seymour you have a standard bearer worthy of the great cause…

GLC02925.18

13 March 1860

Toombs, Robert Augustus, 1810-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred Edmund Burr

Toombs, a United States Senator from Georgia, regretfully declines an invitation from Burr, Chairman of the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee, to speak at a canvass preceding the 1860 presidential election. States "I consider your approaching election of the utmost importance to the Country. Your opponents are the enemies of the Constitution & when the Constitution perishes the Union will & ought to perish with it." Toombs was a U.S. congressman (1845-1852) and senator (1853-1860) from Georgia. During the Civil War he served as Confederate secretary of state and…

GLC02925.20

1845/03/11

Abbot, Abiel, 1765-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: re: negative comments on Mormons and annexation of Texas

Abbot writes that the annexation of Texas is an "offense against humanity and a monstrous transgression of the law of God." With address on p. 4.

GLC02765

February 26, 1829

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Book

Title: Message from the President of the United States, transmitting in compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of 13th January, 1825.

"A statement of convictions, executions, and pardons, under the authority of the Government of the United States, since the adoption of the Constitution. February 26, 1829. Read, and laid upon the table." Printed as House Document no. 146, 20th Congress, 2d Session.

GLC02821

29 July 1876

Weed, Thurlow, 1797-1882

Letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Writes, "In view of universal business paralisis [sic] and consequent universal distress, has not the Government stood still long enough? [...] Congress promised to pay the public Creditor in Gold or Silver Coin. Who has the rights under the Constitution to impair that contract? What excuse can Congress offer for refusing to coin silver into dollars? Is this question satisfactorily answered by saying that we have unexpectedly developed too much silver. Will our friends by refusing to return to the silver and gold policy from its origin to 1874 leave our adversaries to wield this weapon…

GLC02974

29 July 1880

Hancock, Winfield Scott, 1824-1886

Document signed

Title: to John W. Stevenson and John P. Stockton

Accepts nomination for President of the United States by the National Democratic Convention. Supports the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution. Describes his commitment to the Union and the federal system of government. Argues against corruption as an impediment to the participation of people in their government: "Public office is a trust, not a bounty bestowed upon the holder; no incompetent or dishonest persons should ever be entrusted with it, or if appointed, they should be promptly ejected. The basis of a substantial, practical civil service reform, must first be…

GLC02992

July 12, 1801

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elias Shipman & others

An important letter responding to their protest about the dismissal of Elizur Goodrich in favor of Samuel Bishop. Goodrich was a "midnight" appointee of Adams, two weeks before leaving office. An important letter defending the care with which he replaced federal appointees. (See also GLC 5754 for Goodrich's letters during the Jefferson vs. Burr contest in the House). One black and white bust engraving of Jefferson included.

GLC00964