1801/01/30

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter signed

Title: to James Hillhouse re: notifying Senators of special session

GLC07813

February 18, 1791

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Sends, along with his letter, papers addressed to Thomas Jefferson "requesting me to procure your interest for their favorable reception and attention." Hopes "after a mutual sending out of Ministers, such Commercial regulations will take place as to prevent similar inconveniences, and also other obstacles to a free and liberal intercourse between the two Countries." Expects that Knox will exert his influence on Thomas Jefferson should this matter come up in Congress.

GLC02437.04859

1862/05/01

Morris, Wilmor W., fl. 1861-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: "Much Esteemed Friend."

Wilmor reports that "Niggerdom is a question that is talked over in camp verry much." The men think Congress had better find a way to pay the soldiers at the appointed times. He describes their line of defense, which is within a mile of the Confederates, on "the same ground that Washington had his armey on before the sur[r]ender of Cornwallis." He thinks the Confederates will be surprised when the Union cannons "open the[i]r mouthes an[d] begin to bark at them think of 2000 ball[s] an[d] shells per minut[e]" flying through the air. Written at Camp Winfield Scott.

GLC06451.047

1845/07/15

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Tappan

Written as congressman. A beautiful and deeply felt letter. Concerning the opposition of abolitionists to his bill to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. Adams writes that with opposition from both abolitionists and pro-slavery advocates, he resorts to silence and inaction. He further writes that, consulting the "sortes biblicae" (randomly opening a bible to learn one's fortune or course of action), he found the passage where the Prophet [Nathan] advised King David that the Lord had not chosen him to build the Temple (2 Samuel 7: 2-13). He ends the letter here. (Adams died…

GLC03891

1839/12/19

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Solomon Haven re: news from the capital and NJ, Clay expected to resign

Also reporting the (false) rumor that Clay would resign his Senate seat.

GLC03894

1868/01/14

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter

Title: to Andrew Johnson re: ceasing to be Secretary of War ad interim

Probably a retained draft. Grant has blotted and overwritten numerous words. He claims that he cannot serve because of the Senate's "Act Regulating the Tenure of Certain Civil Officers."

GLC03924

1785/09/06

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Letter signed

Title: to President of N.H. re: sending journals, inadequate representation of NH

Writtn as Sec. of Congress

GLC03944

1777/03/24

Warren, James, 1726-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Warren indicates that he has recently written "a long letter to Mr. Adams" that communicated all consequential information, so this letter is written out of friendship rather than to provide intelligence. Comments on the arrival of a French officer, who did not receive a proper welcome because of he arrived on a Sunday. Notes "Impatience for the Arrival of the ships from France destined to" Boston. Discusses concern over matters in the House regarding the army and the embargo, lamenting the venal spirit that he views as destroying patriotism during the American Revolution.…

GLC03962

1857/02/03

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Letter signed

Title: to John B. Weller

Secretary of War Davis responds to a letter from California Senator Weller sent on 12 January 1857, which included an enclosed document from Thomas Buckmaster. Reports that Buckmaster claimed Davis had underestimated the amount of money Congress owed individuals and companies for supplies purchased by Crosman, (possibly George Hampton Crosman), former Major in the Army. Davis replied that Crosman's successor, Major Babbitt (possibly Edwin Burr Babbitt) has investigated the matter and sent an estimate on 24 January 1857 to the Ways and Means Committee.

GLC04353.02

1818/07/19

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Gales

Discusses his "second speech on Internal Improvements," which Gales had copied down for him. Briefly comments on the activities at Pensacola during the first Seminole War, noting "that the Executive must feel embarrassed." Mentions expecting a good corn crop.

GLC04353.01

1861/01/13

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francis W. Pickens re: prophesy of a Civil War; secession

Prophesizes that the South is "probably soon to be involved in that fiercest of human strifes, a Civil War," and discusses secession and withdrawal of southerners from the U.S. Congress.

GLC04624

1804/07/17

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Uriah Tracy

Adams writes about the possibility of an amendment against slavery, the fact that the House of Representatives represents freemen, and discusses the New York elections.

GLC04754

1793/02/27

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Printed document signed

Title: [Two signed acts of the second Congress on one page]

Two acts of Congress, the first repeals a law that placed duties on imported livestock, the second providing compensation to families of two soldiers "killed by the said Indians." Signed by Jefferson as Secretary of State.

GLC04722

1776/03/23

Broadside

Title: Rejection of Olive Branch Petition by Congress; lets colonists arm vessels

The document sets regulations for arming vessels for defense and privateering. Printed by John Dunlap.

GLC04771

1774/09/05

United States. Continental Congress.

Broadside

Title: Letter from the General Congress at Philadelphia, September the 5th, 1774, to the People of Great Britain.

This document is a long broadside, printed in four columns and addressed to the people of Great Britain. The broadside says: "Know then, that we consider, and do insist that we are, and ought to be, free as our fellow subjects in Britain, and that no power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent." Mentions numerous rights, including trial by jury. Someone has circled misspellings (or variations?) in pencil. (Sothebys suggested that this broadside was printed in Bristol, England. Apparently unrecorded.)

GLC04774

1867/02/21

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton re: (support for Stanton over President Johnson) "Stick!"

A one word letter dated Senate Chamber, meant to encourage Stanton to remain as Secretary of War in spite of President Johnson's opposition.

GLC04846

1781/03/09

United States in Congress Assembled. Thomson, Charles

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Nathaniel Greene re: victory at Cowpens, SC

Written as Secretary of Congress.

GLC04848

1785/03/28

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [President of Congress] re: exposing a plot to forge army pension securities

The President of Congress is the presumed recipient for Thomson's attempt to expose counterfeiting.

GLC04849

1785/07/27

United States in Congress Assembled. Thomson, Charles

Document signed

Title: Resolution of Congress asking for copies of state legislation [printed]

The printed resolution asks for 13 copies of each state's legislation for the period from Sept. 1, 1774 to the present, for sharing among the states and Congress.

GLC04850

1788/05/22

United States in Congress Assembled. Thomson, Charles

Document signed

Title: Resolution of Congress "relative to public and unsettled accounts" [printed]

GLC04851

1789/06/01

Otis, Samuel A., 1740-1814

Document signed

Title: First act of Congress. Act to regulate certain oaths, to support Constitution

Printed act of Congress setting the form of oath: "I, A.B. do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States." Certified and Co-signed by Samuel A. Otis as Secretary of the Senate and John Beckley as Clerk of the House.

GLC04856

February 18, 1778

Penn, John, 1741-1788

Autograph letter

Title: to Theodorick Bland

Written by Penn as North Carolina delegate to Continental Congress and Declaration of Independence signer to Bland as a Colonel of Virginia Calvary. Says nothing has happened other than General Sir William Howe's agreement to exchange prisoners of war. Since General Howe did not purchase clothing for American prisoners of war in Philadelphia he says Congress has resolved not to purchase "any necessaries for his prisoners with us." Says British prisoners will get same treatment as American prisoners. Claims that Howe praised General Washington, but castigated Congress. Washington defended…

GLC04455

1789/08/10

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Huntington re: forwarding act of Congress (not present) on state debts

GLC04467

1798/07/16

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter signed

Title: To: John Rutherford.

Call to convene Senate to receive communication (Quasi-War)-Washington's acceptance of command in the event of war with France.

GLC04468

February 18, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress to Morris as a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania. Reports to Morris that Congress will return to Philadelphia, and suggests that its return may relieve some of the burden of Morris's work. Says he has sent his secretary to secure a house for him. Hancock also asks for wagons to transport the papers of Congress from Baltimore. Asks for four of them. Concluding with a kind postscript: "A number of friends... dine with me tomorrow, when we shall not be unmindful of our Philada friends." Free frank is in Hancock's signature on…

GLC04431