4 May 1798

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Written by Jay as Governor of New York, offering a U.S. Senate seat to North. He was being offered the seat vacated by Judge John S. Hobart who had accepted a judgeship for the District of New York. Is very pleased to be able to offer this honor to North saying it is "a proper Mark of Respect to the opinion of the many members of both Houses, whose Votes would have assigned that place to you last winter, had not Judge Hobart been a Candidate." Would like an answer with the return of the express.

GLC02528.01

25 June 1798

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Arrived in New York on 23 June 1798 and received North's letter of 22 June 1798. Written by Jay as Governor of New York to North as Senator from New York. North wrote soliciting advice on foreign affairs from Jay. Says the French alliance of 1777 should be considered void, but advises that a declaration of war should be avoided. Says war must seem unavoidable and necessary before the general public will give its approval of such drastic measures. Regrets the drastic measures of the Jacobins in France. Believes Elbridge Gerry's decision to remain in France after the XYZ Affair, while done out…

GLC02528.02

24 November 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Alexander

Laurens, as president of congress, writes to the Earl of Stirling about the distribution of "the Treaties of Amity & Commerce & of Alliance" with France and trade relations with the United Provinces. He also bemoans the loss of virtue and unity which America had in 1775, decrying avarice and profiteering.

GLC02532

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 Unpublished and unrecorded.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

15 December 1778

Livingston, Robert, 1708-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his son [possibly his son-in-law, James Duane]

Discusses a snow storm that may work to the American troops' advantage as the roads are impassable. Mentions a food shortage and the rising costs of provisions. Assures the recipient that his family, under Livingston's care, is healthy. Asks about the developments in Congress and whether any news has arrived from France, England, or Spain. Wonders whether the British will allow the war to continue for another year. Encloses a letter for recipient's brother Robert (not included) and wishes him a happy holiday.

GLC02537.01

3 September 1776

Nelson, Thomas Jr., 1738-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Page

Discusses the American defeat at the Battle of Long Island and their retreat. Thinks the British will quit New York City very shortly. Reports that Brigadier General Lord Sterling and General Sullivan have been taken prisoner along with other valuable field officers. Adds that the Americans' 2400 troops bravely and successfully forced their way through enemy lines and kept the enemy's 10,000 soldiers at bay. Feels that the Americans must give up their islands until they build a marine power strong enough to defend them.

GLC02540

16 September 1782

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of William North as captain of 9th Massachusetts]

Signed by Hanson as President of Congress and countersigned by Benjamin Lincoln as Secretary of War. Document is official notification of William North's appointment as captain in the 9th Massachusetts Regiment. Says he is accorded the rank from the 10 May 1777. Includes embossed paper seal at top corner.

GLC02542.09

15 April 1784

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Major William North as Inspector of Troops under General Knox]

Document written in a secretarial hand and signed by Thomson as Secretary of Congress. Based on Baron Friedrich Von Steuben's recommendation to Congress in a 19 March 1784 letter, Congress has resolved to approve and confirm Major William North as Inspector to the Troops under the command of General Henry Knox. Only dated "15 April" but note in an unknown hand at bottom says "It appears by the Barons appointment to the above office to W North that this was done in the year 1784."

GLC02542.10

16 November 1786

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of William North as a Major in the United States Army]

Partially printed document signed by Massachusetts Governor James Bowdoin countersigned by Secretary John Avery. North among troops raised by order of Congress on 20 October 1786. Features paper seal.

GLC02542.11

18 September 1788

Von Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, 1730-1794

Letter signed

Title: to William North

Whimsical letter written by Von Steuben in retirement and in debt in New York to his former aide North, who was also in retirement at Duanesburg, New York. Refers to North as "my dear Bill." Looks back on the last year. Mentions that "you did cut your name & mine, in a Big tree" and that the Constitution was signed. Says ten years ago Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga. Says nothing is decided by Congress, in reference to an application for a pension still pending before that body. Says he is going to winter with Armstrong and that they are going to take the corner house at Nassau Street…

GLC02542.12

21 October 1781

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Printed document signed

Title: [Privateer's license for William Van Duerson]

Partially printed document signed by McKean as President of Congress and countersigned by Charles Thomson as Secretary of the Continental Congress. Identifies Van Duerson as the commander of the brigantine Middletown owned by Chauncey Whittlesey. The verso has a signed statement by Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull providing a physical descriptions of Duerson and his lieutenant, William Spencer, given at Hartford, Connecticut. Includes a paper seal.

GLC02542.18

4 April 1779

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Major General Schuyler to an unknown recipient, but seller's description says it is probably to Continental Congressman James Duane. References recipients letter of 20 March and another undated letter. Says the president, probably Continental Congress President John Jay, sent him the resolution rejecting his resignation. Schuyler had put in his resignation after an October 1778 court martial, which he requested, acquitted him of incompetence over the loss of Fort Ticonderoga in 1777. Says he wants to resign because Congress deprived him of the command of his army when they selected…

GLC02545

1850

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of the honorable Daniel Webster, on the Compromise Bill

Speech defending his previous speech on 7 March 1850, during which he had supported the proposed Compromise of 1850. Following his March speech Webster was attacked by many abolitionists as having deserted the North. Here he defends his actions, saying he supports a compromise because it is what is best for the nation, even if it will lead to his personal detriment. Believes that an end to sectionalism is more important than any other issue at hand. Ends his speech: "I was born an American; I live an American; I shall die an American; and I intend to perform the duties incumbent upon me…

GLC02586

18 April 1864

Ingalls, Rufus, 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Pitt Fessenden

General Ingalls writes to Fessenden, a United States Senator from Maine. Writes, "In my letter of today I probably should not have referred to the President at all, and beg you will excuse me- It is certain that Generals Hooker, Burnside and Meade wished to have me remain in the Qr. Mrs Dept" (referring to Generals Joseph Hooker, Ambrose Everett Burnside, and George Gordon Meade).

GLC02464.09

2 March 1863

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Wheelwright Gooch

General Butler writes to Gooch, United States Representative from Massachusetts (1857-1866 and 1873-1874). Encloses a testimony he gave before a committee on the conduct of war (enclosure not included). Thought he had previously returned the testimony to Gooch's clerk, but was mistaken.

GLC02464.01

February 27, 1863

Dupont, Samuel F., 1803-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Bates

Written by Rear Admiral DuPont to U.S. Attorney General Bates. Says he perceives by a return made by the Navy Department to the House of Representatives on prizes that many cases have been appealed to the Supreme Court. Says many officers and himself have a financial interest in the proceedings and that he will ask his friend the Maryland U.S. Representative Henry Winter Davis to be his counsel before that court, if the goverment is not employing him. Du Pont was given direct orders from the Navy Department to launch an attack on Charleston, South Carolina, the main area in which the…

GLC02466.03

6 May 1873

Atchison, David Rice, 1807-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. H. Storm

Atchison, former Senator from Missouri (1843-1855) informs Mr. Storm that he served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate "at various times during the years between 1845 & 1855." Refers Storm to the Senate Journals for further particulars.

GLC02467.02

12 March 1839

Bell, John, 1797-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gales and Seaton

Requests copies from Gales and Seaton, government printers, of some documents of the last session of the House. Informs that he is anxious to see the report of the Secretary of War [Joel Roberts Poinsett] "in answer to a call for information from the House relative to the proper mode in the execution of the treaties with the Choctaw and Chickosa [Chickasaw] Indians." Mentions a Mr. Allen who is suffering from a disease.

GLC02467.03

1757-1809

Header Record

Title: Members of Continental Congress, incl. Congress of 1774 [decimalized]

[decimalized 02471.01-02471.45]

GLC02471

1884

Greenleaf, Halbert S., 1827-1906

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of Hon. Halbert S. Greenleaf of New York, in the House of Representatives, Saturday, January 19, 1884.

Representative Greenleaf discusses the court-martial of General Fitz-John Porter. In support of Porter, concludes "Why, then, in view of these clearly established facts, should we longer delay this simple act of justice to a most meritorious but much-abused soldier? Why wait for a more auspicious day? Why wait till this perfectly innocent man has gone down with his gray hairs in sorrow to the grave? Let us act, here and now... I support this bill for his relief with all my heart..."

GLC08445.04.01

5 May 1866

Foster, Lafayette Sabine, 1806-1880

Letter signed

Title: to Senor Abraham L. Dovale

Co-signed by Schuyler Colfax as Speaker of the House. Invitation to a memorial ceremony for Abraham Lincoln to be held at the Hall of the House.

GLC08450

1856-1857

Pamphlet

Title: State legislatures' resolutions regarding Kansas and slavery [Decimalized .01-.08]

34th Congress House of Representatives Miscellaneous Documents. Contains resolutions passed by the state legislatures of Kentucky, Ohio, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Iowa, and Michigan. Apparently disbound from a larger volume. Accompanied by wrapper with identification statements written in ink.

GLC08452

4 June 1860

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Pamphlet

Title: The barbarism of slavery. Speech of Hon. Charles Sumner, on the bill for the admission of Kansas as a free state. In the United State Senate, June 4, 1860.

Printed by Buell & Blanchard. Sumner calls the Missouri Compromise "the fatal partition between Freedom and Slavery." Uncut. Accompanied by address leaf cut from this pamphlet's original transmission wrapper (GLC08454.02). Edges are brittle and frayed.

GLC08454.01

14 December 1858

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

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Representative John Sherman to Congress]

Partially printed document signed by Chase as Governor of Ohio. Certifies that Sherman was elected as a Representative in the 36th Congress of the United States from the 13th congressional district. Countersigned by A. P. Russell as Secretary of State. With orange seal of the state of Ohio. On blue paper.

GLC08449

circa 1861

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of the Hon. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, delivered in the United States Senate, on the 10th day of January, 1861, upon the message of the President of the United States, on the condition of things in South Carolina.

Speaking a few weeks after South Carolina seceded and a month before he would be elected of the Confederacy, Davis argues that the Union cannot be maintained by force. Printed by John Murphy & Co.

GLC08479