1854

Smith, Truman, 1791-1884

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of the Hon. Truman Smith, of Connecticut, on the Nebraska question. Delivered in the Senate of the United States, February 10 and 11, 1854.

Printed by John T. and Lem. Towers. Original blue wrapper. "I have sometimes thought... that the North is in danger of being sold out, and that we are to be reduced to servitude. I can hardly believe we are in much danger. It is proper however for me to give full notice that if such an unhappy fate is before us I intend to reserve myself one liberty- that of choosing my own master, and I say now he shall be some high-toned Southern gentleman..."

GLC00267.381

1854

Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872

Pamphlet

Title: Freedom and public faith: speech of William H. Seward, on the abrogation of the Missouri Compromise, in the Kansas and Nebraska bills.

Printed by Buell & Blanchard, printers. Removed from previous binding. Contains stamp "Withdrawn from Watkinson Library Trinity College." Argues "The general authority of Congress over the Territories is one wisely confided to the National Legislature, to save young and growing communities from the dangers which beset them in their state of pupilage, and to prevent them from adopting any policy that shall be at war with their own lasting interests..."

GLC00267.382

1856

Stephens, Alexander Hamilton, 1812-1883

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, on the report of the Kansas investigating committee, in the case of Reeder against Whitfield.

Removed from previous binding. "If Whitfield is to be ousted because he was not elected in pursuance of any valid law, upon what principle can Reeder be put in by this House, when in his case there was neither law nor votes... It is the principle of all tyrannies, and the beginning of all usurpations; but I will not permit myself to believe that this House will commit such an outrage."

GLC00267.383

1848

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Pamphlet

Title: Mr. Webster's speech at Marshfield, Mass. Delivered September 1, 1848, and the speech on the Oregon Bill, delivered in the United States Senate, August 12, 1848.

Press of T. R. Marvin. Stab sewn and removed from previous binding. Webster writes, "I have said that I shall consent to no extension of the area of slavery, upon this continent; nor to any increase of slave representation in the other House of Congress... We of the North... have done that which, if those who framed the Constitution had foreseen, they never would have agreed to slave representation."

GLC00267.373

1850

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of the Hon. Henry Clay, of Kentucky, on taking up his compromise resolutions on the subject of slavery. Delivered in Senate, Feb. 5th & 6th, 1850. As reported by the National Intelligencer.

Printed by Stringer & Townsend. Bright yellow wrapper, as issued. Includes an advertisement for the book "Companion to the field sports of North America" on the inner front cover. Clay writes, "Look at all history- consult her pages... look at human nature; look at the contest in which you would be engaged in the supposition of war following upon the dissolution of the Union, such as I have suggested; and I ask you if it is possible for you to doubt that the final disposition of the whole would be some despot treading down the liberties of the people..."

GLC00267.374

May 27, 1777

Hooper, William, 1742-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

William Hooper laments the failure of North Carolina to re-elect his associate Joseph Hewes to the Continental Congress. Discusses and rejects the charges of profiteering leveled against Hewes (and others) while he was a member of the Secret Committee of Congress. Asks Morris, who chaired the Secret Committee, to write a certificate in support of Hewes and have it attested to by other members. Discusses his reasons for declining his reappointment as a delegate to the Continental Congress, citing "private affairs" related to his family, although he also intended to rebuild his fortune.…

GLC00462

2 April 1917

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Pamphlet signed

Title: Address of the President of the United States, delivered at a joint session of the two houses of Congress April 2, 1917

Signed by Wilson on front endpaper. Asks Congress to declare war against Germany. Marks the beginning of the American involvement in World War I. With original blue dust-jacket.

GLC00466

1777-1779

Header Record

Title: [Collection of letters pertaining to the Continental Loan Office of Rhode Island] [Decimalized .01-.08]

GLC01450.008

February 8, 1777

Hillegas, Michael, 1729-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

Hillegas states that he is sending the Continental Loan Office certificates by favor of James Betton and William Gregg. The certificates amount to $171,100 in total, with 389 at $400 each, 1 at $500, and 25 at $600. He asks Clarke to number them and dispose of them according to the resolutions of Congress and the enclosed instructions. He gives instructions on numbering the certificates and asks for receipts to be given to Governor Jonathan Trumbull (of Connecticut), who will transmit them back to Hillegas. The Continental Loan Offices administered loans to the Continental Treasury to help…

GLC01450.008.01

13 September 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Assignment of privateer's bond by John Hancock to Joseph Hewes and Robert Smith]

Countersigned by Jacob Rush and Benjamin Towne. Revokes the earlier privateer commission given to Barzilla Smith by Hancock as President of the Congress of the United States because Smith did not conduct himself and his crew according to the terms of the bond. The commission stated that Smith would have to make reparations of $5,000 for any damage caused by the misconduct of himself or his crew (see GLC01450.014.02). Smith, as commander of the privateer schooner, the Eagle, apprehended a brig called the Joseph, owned by Joseph Hewes and Robert Smith of North Carolina who state Barzilla…

GLC01450.014.01

15 October 1776

Smith, Barzilla, fl. 1776-1777

Document signed

Title: [Privateer bond of Barzilla Smith, Joseph Chapman, and Elijah F. Payne]

Privateer commission binding the three men in the amount of $5,000 to John Hancock, President of the Congress of the United States. Commissions Smith as commander of the privateer schooner the Eagle, Payne as owner of the schooner, and Chapman as privateers authorized to capture British vessels and cargo. Indicates that if the commander and his crew do not conduct themselves according to instruction and override authority, they must make reparations for all damages caused by misconduct. This bond was later revoked because of misconduct (see GLC01450.014.01).

GLC01450.014.02

1779-1783

Header Record

Title: Collection of 20 letters pertaining to James Lovell and Samuel Holten [Decimalized .01-.20]

Dated January 22, 1779-June 30, 1783.

GLC01450.020

December 9, 1774

Cleaveland, Samuel, fl. 1774

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Beague

Cleaveland writes to his friend that he thought crossing the Atlantic would be his only difficulty but he has encountered many in the colonies and finds "but little rest here, its my fate to finish my career in an active speer of life." He does not believe the colonies will ever be obedient to Great Britain. States that the congresses here are breeding rebellion and that Britain has to be on guard. Reports that they were hindered in every respect when trying to find quarters for the British troops. Describes in detail an assassination attempt on his life. A villain apprehended him in the…

GLC01450.047

1 March 1778

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Commission of Richard Frothingham]

Appointment of Frothingham as Deputy Commissary of Military Stores by a resolve of Congress 11 February 1778.

GLC01450.065.01

1 January 1818

Frothingham, Richard, 1748-1819

Autograph document signed

Title: [Petition to U.S. Senate]

Petition of representation for Frothingham stating that he served in the United States army during the Revolutionary War as "Sergeant in Capt Chadwick's Company in 1775," then as Sergeant in Colonel Henry Knox's Regiment of Artillery, and finally as Principal Field Commissary of Military Stores of the American Army" until the end of the war. States he has not received the same commutation of land as other officers of the same line received. Requests that he be reimbursed accordingly.

GLC01450.065.03

November 30, 1779

Greene, William, 1731-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

States that since he is absent from home, he is taking the chance to send him the enclosed. Apparently free franked by Henry Marchant and Greene. Addressed to Greene as Governor of the state of Rhode Island on recto; addressed to Joseph Clarke, General Treasurer of Rhode Island, on recto.

GLC01450.105

24 June 1782

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Document signed

Title: [Certificate of appointment to rank of major general]

Partially printed document appointing William Heath to Major General in the Continental Army (Heath was previously a Major General of only Massachusetts troops and Brigadier General in the Continental Army). Signed by John Hanson as President of the Continental Congress and countersigned by Benjamin Lincoln as Secretary of War. Marked "No. 1" at the top above an embossed paper seal of the Department of War.

GLC01412.08

May 25, 1779

Nicholson, John, 1757-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Lawrence

No free frank. Encloses a Congressional resolution (not included) to advance $150,000 to Lawrence's state of Connecticut.

GLC01412.15

18 April 1777

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Autograph document signed

Title: [Resolution of Congress]

Extract of Congress, signed by Thomson as Secretary of Congress. Gives Major General Arthur St. Clair two weeks leave of absence to visit his family.

GLC01412.18

1776

United States Lottery

Printed document signed

Title: [Revolutionary War era United States Continental lottery ticket]

Third class lottery ticket, numbered D5m276, signed by John Mease. Indicates the lottery authorized by a congressional resolution on 18 November 1776. The lottery was established to fund the Revolutionary War. Accompanied by letter about the lottery (see GLC01412.23.02).

GLC01412.23.01

September 23, 1778

Delany, Sharp, 1736-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

Letter cosigned by George Campbell as Sitting Manager of the United States Lottery. He assigns care of Rhode Island State lottery tickets to Clark.

GLC01412.24

February 1, 1780

Ceary, Owen, ?-1780

Document signed

Title: [Oath of allegiance for enlisting Maryland soldier]

Partly printed document signed. Ceary enlists in the "7th Maryland Regiment, of Foot Commande by Col. John Gunby for three years. Also signs below in receipt of a $450 bounty. Printed part of document states that a $200 bounty should be paid, but this is crossed out, and $450 written over it. Printed document also says the bounty comes from Congress, but writing says it also comes from Maryland. Verso states that Ceary was paid and is signed by Benjamin Johnson, a lieutenant colonel. A pencil note indicates he was killed at the Battle of Camden.

GLC01412.50

12 March 1788

Martin, Peter, fl. 1778

Document signed

Title: [Receipt acknowledging funds]

Co-signed by John Delka. Martin and Delka were exchanged prisoners returning to South Carolina. Document is a receipt acknowledging Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress, had lent them sixty dollars for their trip home.

GLC01412.64.04

13 August 1856

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: to the Senate

Based on a report from Captain M.C. Meigs, Pierce requests that the Senate appropriate $750,000 for "the Capitol extension."

GLC01188

April 30, 1808

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to William Pinkney

Discusses congressional proceedings, foreign affairs, the Chesapeake affair, British and French aggression, and the Embargo Act of 1807. A portion of the letter has been written in code and is translated in another hand. Letter signed as Secretary of State. Pinkney was the U.S. Minister to Great Britain.

GLC01191