1861-1877

Engraving

Title: Oliver Ellsworth

One engraving entitled "Oliver Ellsworth" circa 1861-1877. Portrait of Oliver Ellsworth. Engraver unknown.

GLC08878.0263

February 7, 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony Wayne

Signed "HK." Discusses the Creek Indians in Georgia. Agrees with Wayne about the utility of rifles. Asks if maybe Wayne's informant was mistaken in saying that the Creeks received 6000 muskets from the Spaniards. Writes about whether or not Georgia has a constitutional right to sell any of the Western lands not legally purchased from the natives, and says the result will soon be known. Assumes that a company of troops formerly discussed will be ready to march soon. States, "The subject of the creek business is under the consideration of the legislature...The late sales of Georgia has operated…

GLC02437.04502

February 10, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Robert R. Livingston

Later copy of GLC02437.03793. A note at the top of page one states, "Recd. from Mr Bancroft Feb 1857." Knox relates details of the Massachusetts ratifying convention: "On Wednesday the 30th ultimo, Mr. Hancock was well enough to take his seat in the convention. On Thursday he brought forward the proposition for adopting the Constitution, and for recommending certain alterations agreeably to the paper herein enclosed [not included]. The propositions were seconded by Mr. Samuel Adams, and committed to a large committee being Federalists." Notes that the friends of Hancock and [James]…

GLC02437.03790

1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: The letters of President Lincoln on questions of national policy.

Reprint of six letters by Lincoln: June 13, 1863, to an Albany, New York Committee, discussing his interpretation of the writ of habeas corpus in the Vallandigham case; February 3, 1862 and October 13, 1862, to General George McClellan on the management of the war; August 22, 1862, to Horace Greeley concerning amnesty for southerners; August 7, 1863, to New York mayor Horatio Seymour regarding the New York City draft riots and the constitutionality of the Conscription Act; August 26, 1863, to the Springfield, Illinois and Syracuse Conventions, defending the Emancipation Proclamation.…

GLC01969

1865

Cannon & Holden (printers)

Book

Title: Executive documents. Convention. Session 1865. Constitution of North-Carolina, with amendments, and ordinances and resolutions passed by the convention session, 1865.

Prints reconstruction constitution of North Carolina. Index includes: Messages of Provisional Governor Holden to the convention, Report of public treasurer to the convention, Report of superintendent of insane asylum, Report of superintendent of the deaf and dumb and blind asylum, Constitution of the state of North Carolina, with amendments, Ordinances and resolutions passed by the convention session, 1865. Printed by Cannon & Holden, Raleigh, North Carolina. Clipping pasted inside front cover about the proposed 14th amendment to the United States Constitution.

GLC01973

1787

Various

Magazine

Title: The Columbian Magazine

Twelve issues plus a supplement to the first volume. Each issue has a table of contents. The September issue contains a printing of the constitution proposed at the Constitutional Convention under the heading "The New plan for a Federal Government" on p. 659.

GLC02141

12 March 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

He comments on Andrew Johnson's pending impeachment trial Says, "It seems to me that it is a predetermination to get rid of Mr. Johnson…and the prospect that the Reconstruction Acts may be declared unconstitutional in the decision on the McCardle case only makes the necessity of his removal greater: I therefore think that the P. [President] will be convicted and removed anyhow: then it will be utterly useless to attempt to get justice as against G. [Grant?] and G. [Grant?] will take precious good care that justice shall not be obtained as against Thomas." Also discusses results of the New…

GLC02382.038

1863

King, & Baird, 1839-1876

Broadside

Title: The road to peace through Pennsylvania via Washington, As Engineered by Southern Rebels and their Democratic Allies.

Quotes the September 7, 1863 issue of the Richmond Enquirer in order to pillory the South and Jefferson Davis for their belief that the war could be ended by attacking Pennsylvania to get to Washington. Calls the Richmond Enquirer "Jeff. Davis' Organ." Directed at Peace Democrats (Copperheads), particularly in Pennsylvania. Reads "…Jeff. Davis proposes to aid the Democracy of the North in the next Presidential Campaign!...Gen. Meade to be driven back, Washington to be beleaguered, and the Democracy to assail the Administration!...Men of Pennsylvania! Are you prepared for Peace on such terms?…

GLC02421

1750-1820

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Header Record

Title: Henry Knox papers, including retained and received correspondence, &c. [Decimalized .00001 - .10737]

Letters and documents, written to or by Knox, who served as chief of Artillery during the Revolution, and then as Secretary of War under the Articles of Confederation and in President Washington's first administration. The collection includes Knox's voluminous correspondence with luminaries like Washington, Jefferson, Lafayette, Benjamin Lincoln, Nathanael Greene, John and John Q. Adams, Hancock and Paine. It also includes his business and wartime correspondence, and the charming and affectionate letters between Knox and his wife, Lucy Flucker Knox. Much interesting business and personal…

GLC02437

22 November 1819

King, Rufus, 1755-1827

Pamphlet

Title: Substance of Two Speeches, Delivered in the Senate of the United States on the Subject of the Missouri Bill

Printed pamphlet written by King as an anti-slavery U.S. Senator from New York. King also signed the U.S. Constitution in 1787. King was asked to write the pamphlet, which summarized his two anti-slavery speeches given before the U.S. Senate during the Missouri Compromise debates of 1819. This is the only record of the speeches, as they were not recorded for the official records of Congress. King was the floor leader of the Federalist Party in the Senate during the debates, but his views were held by both Federalist and Republican Party members in the North. The pamphlet's main thesis is…

GLC02384

circa 1861

Broadside

Title: Gen. M'Clellan Says this is an Artillery War!

Artillery recruitment broadside for the 7th Rhode Island Artillery. Dominated by a striking, crisp image of an eagle with a banner in its beak. The banner says "The Constitution Must Be Maintained." Says the artillery is the "Right Arm of the Government." Pandering to the laziness in human nature, the broadside says "In marches, the private soldier may usually ride or walk, according to his choice, and is not cumbered with heavy arms and accoutrements. Far less drilling is required to secure efficiency in action, than in some other branches of the service." Claims state gives non-…

GLC02420

4 July 1788

J. Dunlap and D.C. Claypoole, 1784-1790

Newspaper

Title: The Pennsylvania packet, and daily advertiser. [No. 2939 (July 4, 1788)]

Prints a description of the order and accoutrements of a procession in honor of the establishment of the Constitution. Articles on commerce and foreign intelligence. Contains news from Europe and around the country and many advertisements. Prints a notice from the Philadelphia Board of Commissioners reminding merchants of recently enacted regulations on street vending. Pages have separated and are no longer bound together.

GLC02432

February 14, 1803

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to Knox to discuss why Adams "dissented from the vote for an address to remove the two Judges." Includes the major reasons as to why he dissented, such as that the judges were only accused of "official misdemeanors," and that the Constitution does not provide for the removal of judges except by the impeachment procedure.

GLC02437.07788

February 3, 1787

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Refers to the constitutional rights of Massachusetts. Also discusses insurgents in that state (Shays' Rebellion was losing momentum). Relates in confidence that he does not want to go to the Constitutional Convention (to be held in Philadelphia) but that convention organizers have included him and implored him not to make a final decision regarding whether or not he will attend. Admits that "powers are wanting" in government, but takes a pessimistic view, wondering how such powers shall be derived. Comments that Knox's opinion, to build a central national government, is energetic and…

GLC02437.09410

February 5, 1788

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses regret that "the important question" Massachusetts is deliberating "stands on such precarious ground" (referring to ratification of the Constitution; Massachusetts ratified 6 February 1788). Predicts that Virginia will choose to ratify, but admits he does not have the most recent or accurate information (Virginia ratified 26 June 1788). Declares Holland's case pitiable (possibly referring to the Triple Alliance of 1788). Notes that navigation of the Potomac has been stopped for five weeks. Sends his and Martha's good wishes to Knox and his wife Lucy. In a postscript, asks the…

GLC02437.09416

15 October 1787

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy of a letter to Henry Knox, discussing the Constitution, its level of support and the level of wisdom and foresight possesed by the Constitution's authors. Admits the document may have flaws, but believes it should be accepted, and then fixed as time goes on. "The Constitution is now before the Judgement Seat - It has, as was expected, its adversaries, and its supporters: which will preponderate, is yet to be decided. The former it is probable will be most active: because the major part of them it is to be feared will be governed by Sinister and Self important considerations on…

GLC02437.09316

August 24, 1785

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Price

Written by Jay as Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Confederation government to Price, a dissenting minister and moralistic pamphleteer in Britain who supported American independence. Apologizes to Price for being tardy in responding and thanks him for sending pamphlets (Price wrote several pro-American pamphlets in Britain, the most famous of which was "Observations on Civil Liberty and the Justice and Policy of the War with America," which was published in 1776). Echoing the weaknesses of the Confederation and foreshadowing the creation of the Constitution in 1787, Jay says "I am not…

GLC00013

1842

Prigg, Edward, fl. 1842

Book

Title: Report of the case of Edward Prigg against the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Argued and adjudged in the Supreme Court of the United States, at January term, 1842. In which it was decided that all the laws of the several states relative to fugitive slaves are unconstitutional and void...

(title continues)... and that Congress have the exclusive power of legislation on the subject of fugitive slaves escaping into other states. Reported by Richard Peters, reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States. Stereotyped by L. Johnson. Contains a George Peabody College for Teachers Library sticker on inner front cover. Signed on front flyleaf by Congressman Richard Wigginton Thompson of Indiana.

GLC08856

circa 1790-1980

Header Record

Title: Portraits of historical figures: engravings, lithographs, photographs &c.

Short separate lists of images available. This artificially formed collection of engravings, lithographs, photogravures, photo-offset and halftones was put together in the 1970s and 1980s. Every signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and all presidents are represented. Many literary figures are represented. The inventory breaks down the materials into the following groups 1. Images of famous people, mostly Americans (with some British); 2. Images of American Presidents; 3. Scenes, mostly from the Civil War; 4. Foreign personalities (mostly European; includes some…

GLC08878

16 August 1841

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph manuscript

Title: to H. H. Carroll

Discusses President John Tyler's veto of the Bank Bill. States in part, "Will not our friends rejoice? Will not the enemies of the Constitution dispair? ... Let the young men take from this, fresh encouragement in the darkest and most portentous hour never to dispair of the Republic." Letter is not addressed or signed but the recipient is identified in the seller's description and in GLC00096.01.

GLC00096.02

1765-1790

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Header Record

Title: Collection of letters, documents & briefs to the Madisons [Decimalized .001-.156]

This is a collection of letters from Edmund Pendleton, one of the leading figures of Revolutionary Virginia, to James Madison, Sr., and James Madison, Jr., later fourth President of the United States. The papers consist of documents and letters written by Edmund Pendleton: 156 autograph items (plus one by his nephew Edmund Pendleton, Jr.), consisting of 104 letters from Pendleton to James Madison, Jr., 34 letters from Pendleton to James Madison, Sr., 3 other letters by Pendleton, 11 legal documents, 2 briefs of legal cases by Pendleton, and one letter by Edmund Pendleton, Jr. Various…

GLC00099

1787-1789

Russell, Benjamin, 1761-1845

Newspaper

Title: Massachusetts centinel. [Vol. 8, no.1 (September 19, 1787) - v. 10, no. 52 (March 14, 1789)] [Incomplete]

One newspaper of the Massachusetts Centinel dated September 19, 1787 to March 14, 1789. There are 152 issues. Lack: vol.9 no.1 and 6 and vol.10 no.2 with printings of Federalist and no. 12. The Massachusetts Centinel, printed by Benjamin Russell, features a series of federalist style essays and articles focused on current domestic events as well as reports on international affairs such as treaties and European naval activity. The Centinel also included advertisements for store goods, religious musical performance, and available land. The Centinel includes the first printing of the…

GLC00080

May 6,1809

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Michael Bright and eight others for obstructing justice].

Countersigned by Secretary of State Robert Smith. Pardoned by Madison because their crimes arose from a sense of duty, not disobediance. The recipients of the pardon were Michael Bright, James Atkinson, William Cole, Charles Westfall, Samuel Wilkins, Abraham Ogden, Daniel Phyle, Charles Horey and John Knife. They were convicted in Philadelphia.

GLC00045.01

February 27, 1869

Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872

Document signed

Title: To the governor of the state of Nebraska

A printed a letter to the governors of Nebraska transmitting the Fifteenth Amendment.

GLC00788.02

December 31, 1787

Adams, Daniel Jr., 1720-1795

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Daniel Adams

Writes to his father about opposing the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Daniel Adams, Jr. was town clerk and his father was a delegate at the state convention.

GLC00799