25 June 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Captain Lieutenant Johnson's permission to take military stores]

Major General Henry Knox says that Captain Lieutenant Johnson will apply to the commissary for two 6 pounders and the harnesses to transport them. Also, he is to be given 75 rounds of shot and "25 Case fixed with Flannel." Wants the quartermaster to help arrange for them to be taken to Stony Point, where Johnson will take control of them.

GLC02437.02187

14 March 1785

King, Rufus, 1755-1827

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

King, a Continental Congressman, attempts to persuade Knox to accept the appointment of Secretary at War. Notes that although the salary is low, there will be a possibility for an increase, or an allowance for rent and traveling expenses. Declares, "If the wishes of your particular friends, and the entire satisfaction of the states would be an inducement to your acceptance, you cannot refuse- I could not excuse myself, did I not make these observations to you; the present wasting condition of the Department requires the hand of a master; if you decline, I fear we shall be driven into an…

GLC02437.03111

1 July 1796

Kersey, William, fl. 1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Free frank stamped as "free" and signed by William Simmons. Writes to ask for Knox's help. Knew Knox from service during the war. Explains that due to a recent act of Congress, he will be among a number of soldiers to be "deranged" [released] from the military next October. Has no skill or career to fall back on for financial support. Asks if Knox will intervene on his behalf with the President, so he will not be forced to leave the military.

GLC02437.06781

30 December 1799

Bache, Benjamin Franklin, 1769-1798

Newspaper

Title: Aurora general advertiser. [No. 2735 (December 30, 1799)]

Contains a fifteen-verse poem written in commemoration of George Washington, who died 14 December 1799. The poem is entitled "On the decease of his excellency, George Washington" and is followed by the initials R. N. Includes two statements issued by the House of Representatives discussing Washington's funeral oration and the official Congressional mourning of Washington's death. Includes domestic and foreign news, notices of sale, and announcements. Frayed along the edges.

GLC08789

13 April 1791

Newspaper

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [Vol. 2, no. 100 (April 13 1791)]

Page four contains "A Proclamation" from President Washington that selects, in accordance with the powers afforded him by Congress, the location on the Potomac River to become the capital of the United States. The boundaries of the proposed federal district are described. Two unrelated congressional acts appear on the page, one supplementing an act providing for the reduction of the public debt and another providing compensation for government clerks. Other articles in the paper contain "Discourse on Davila. No. 29," the conclusion of Massachusetts representative Elbridge Gerry's speech on…

GLC08795

23 July 1790

Newspaper

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania packet and daily advertiser. [No. 3581 (July 23, 1790)]

Reports act in congress to establish a capital on the Potomac River (Washington, D.C.). Conclusion of bill before the senate to provide for the national debt. Extract from a letter from Captain Colnet, aboard the Supply, one of the ships on Nootka Bay seized by the Spanish on 11 July 1789. News from New York concerning a funding bill in the legislature. News from the House of Representatives in Philadelphia. Congratulations to President George Washington on his recent election, issued by President of the Convention of South Carolina Charles Pinckney, and Washington's response. Proposal…

GLC08821

4 January 1800

Hough, George, 1757-1830

Newspaper

Title: Courier of New Hampshire [Vol. 10, no. 49 (January 4, 1800)]

Includes an obituary for George Washington, who died on 14 December 1799, along with a diagram depicting the positioning of Washington's pall bearers, and a detailed description of the funeral procession (page 3). Contains statements of remembrance and respect regarding Washington from President John Adams, Tobias Lear, the War Department, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, among others. Includes articles on foreign and domestic affairs, public announcements, and notices of sale. Frayed along the edges.

GLC08826

17 April 1793

Russell, Benjamin, 1761-1845

Newspaper

Title: Columbian centinel. [Vol. XIX no. 974 (April 17, 1793)]

Reprints three congressional acts passed at the second session held 5 November 1792. The acts concern the collection of duties on goods and merchandise, the payment of a loan made of the Bank of the United States, and extending the time for receiving on loan a part of the domestic debt. Other news includes local news, news from Great Britain and other European countries, ship arrivals, postings, and advertisements.

GLC08774

6 December 1823

Fry, William, 1777-1855

Newspaper

Title: National gazette. [Vol. IV, no. 434 (December 6, 1823)]

Part of a signature cut off at masthead appears to be "J. M. Sanders." The entire front page and part of the second page is taken up with the President James Monroe's message to Congress that announced the Monroe Doctrine, which was designed to keep European powers from interfering in the Western Hemisphere. The Gazette included a positive editorial on the speech as well. An article says the two houses of Congress ordered a combined total of 9,000 copies of Monroe's speech printed. An article reports on the condition of prisons in Philadelphia. Other articles include: a report on problems of…

GLC08794

7 November 1860

Bennett, James Gordon, 1795-1872

Newspaper

Title: New York Herald. [No. 8826 (November 7, 1860)]

Reports the results of the 1860 Presidential election, announcing Abraham Lincoln as President and Hannibal Hamlin as Vice President. States "Our returns indicate, however, that the next Congress will be in opposition to the republicans." Includes a report that the secession movement action of South Carolina's legislature will be postponed until the following day. Contains a detailed report regarding the election in each New York voting quarter.

GLC08824

14 October 1789

Fenno, John, 1751-1798

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [No. 53 (October 14, 1789)]

Includes local news, international news, congressional news and acts passed, and ship arrivals for New York. Prints the budget of the Treasury Department for 1789. Also includes an act for the temporary establishment of the Post Office on page four.

GLC08837

September 1, 1783

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter

Title: to James Madison

Signature has been clipped-off but postscripts remain. Mention's powers of Congress, seat of government (Philadelphia, Annapolis), need for a Constitution, crops in Virginia, Edmund Pendleton's suggestions regarding the District of Columbia. A large section of this letter was clipped out, beneath this a postscript reading: "Between the first two stars [was] cut out on the 2d Dec. 30. for Mr I[srael].K[eech]. Tefft. S[avanna]h.Ga. as an Autograph. 'We have at length had very fine rains, but according to the state of all sublunary things, are now under great anxiety, lest our Crops should be…

GLC00099.125

October 20, 1783

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: Madison's impending retirement from Congress

The letter notes that Madison will soon retire from Congress, thanks him for his correspondence, and hopes he will soon be in the Virginia House of Delegates. Also mentions Congress fixing Princeton, N.J., as the permanent meeting place.

GLC00099.128

July 3, 1789

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses the Judiciary Bill, balance of powers, how the Court will operate under the Constitution, long discussion of problems of the Courts, impeachment, circuit courts, and Virginia crops.

GLC00099.141.01

July 1789

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph manuscript

Title: Amendments proposed to the Bill "to Establish Judicial Courts"

Madison seems not to have used Pendleton's suggestions in amending the bill, per J.C.A. Stagg.

GLC00099.141.02

August 12, 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: An Act making Provision for the Reduction of the Public Debt.

Official act of Congress, signed by Jefferson as Secretary of State. Enacts provisions made by the second session of Congress on 4 January 1790 for deceasing the national debt of the United States. Printed names of Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Adams, Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate, and George Washington as President of the United States.

GLC00003

May 30, 1854

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander S. Latty

Urges him to sign and circulate a petition concerning slavery he is working on with Senator Benjamin Franklin Wade. Writes "...it is time to have a Democracy of the People against the Oligarchy of the Slaveholder. So sir, I pray you, If our call rally the People nobody will be afraid to join us for every thing will be swept before the Young Democracy...I think it cannot fail to be successful as the question is reduced to a narrow concern are we to be free or not."

GLC00018

December 27, 1811

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rutter

Secretary of State Monroe transmits to "The Marshal of the District of Maryland" a printed copy of the record of the third Congress of the United States. Monroe states that he knows Rutter will find it gratifying since Rutter "participated in the Labors of this work." Rutter was marshal in Maryland from 1804 to 1817.

GLC00043.03

February 10, 1832

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Cass

Writes to Secretary of War Cass regarding giving generals John Eaton and John Coffee the authority "to conclude with the Choctaws an agreement for such portion of the 17 million of acres conveyed to them as will suit the Chickasaws to settle on." Also discusses the need for a congressional re-appropriation of an 1830 appropriation of $500,000 for Indian removal. Warns that if not done, "our humane plan is blown up, & our hands tied." Suggests getting the money into the hands of source agents if Congress does not act. In a post script, mentions certainty that "the Chickasaws will now make…

GLC00089.01

13 May 1846

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

Document signed

Title: [Authorization to affix the Seal of the United States to a proclamation of war with Mexico]

Authorization to affix the seal of the United States to Congress' declaration of war. Partially printed document.

GLC00093

August 1841

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to H. H. Carroll

Writes as a member of the United States Senate from New Hampshire. Discusses the Whig party's chances in the election. "The great Universal Whig Party is undoubtedly smashed -- broken up - Who does not perceive a wise, beneficient overruling Providence in these great events?" States that the Bank Bill passed the House by a majority of 31 votes. Believes that President John Tyler will veto the bill. "The clouds of doubt in which everything here has been enveloped are rolling away. - Gentlemen will now show their hands- positions will be re-defined - In a word Tyler will veto the bill." Reports…

GLC00096.01

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

September 8, 1974

Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006

Typed document signed

Title: Granting pardon to Richard Nixon: A Proclamation

Signed by Ford in 1974 in black felt-tip pen. Explains that a trial against Nixon could not begin for a year or more and that, "the tranquility to which this nation has been restored by the events of recent weeks could be irreparably lost by the prospects of bringing to trial a former President of the United States....exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States." This copy is a souvenir copy of Congressman Seymour Halpern. Numbered 4311 by hand in lower right corner of…

GLC00045.45

November 24, 1856

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William M. Lawery

Noted as private. Andrew Johnson discusses the future path of his political career. He comments on his misgivings about running for office in the spring and summer. He states that he has "all to lose and nothing to make by another canvass of the state," and if he were to "continue in public life...would prefer going to the Senate than to remain where [he is] (Governor of Tennessee)." He believes that the Democrats can carry the state and legislature. Johnson mentions the opposition, Andrew Ewing, among them. He expresses his wish to consult Lawrey and other friends about his course [of action…

GLC00075

January 23, 1858

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to D. J. Patterson

Andrew Johnson discusses appointments and mentions helping a mutual friend, John H. Craff and that the appointment of a "John [Hural] a route agent on the Va [and] E Tenn Rail Road amounts to nothing..." He writes that he is "inclined to think though [James Buchanan] has much more strength through the country than he has in Congress..." and that Buchanan "needs will and decision of character while he seems to have a good deal of it in conversation! but he is timed and hesitating in practice..." He assesses Stephen Douglas's future within the Democratic party. "[Douglas] was of the opinion…

GLC00324