29 April 1858

Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Reverend Dr. Murray

Recalls receiving a letter from Murray regarding the Cleveland Emancipation Convention one year before. Transmits a circular (GLC 2448.03.02), an account of the organization of the National Compensation Emancipation Society. Asks Murray to read the circular and attempt to "connect yourself with the movement more directly." Invites Murray to speak at the Society's first annual meeting, to be held 12 May 1858 in New York. Also informs Murray he has been nominated as Vice President of the Society for New Jersey, noting that the Society hopes to have a Vice President from every state in the…

GLC02448.03.01

1 August 1791-2 January 1792

Carter, Robert, 1728-1804

Document signed

Title: [Manumission of a slave]

Appears to be a copy dated 2 January 1792, of a document written on 1 August 1791. Note at bottom signed by Thomas Edwards on 2 January 1792 says "An extract from the Deed recorded in the Northumberland District Court." Document says that Carter was using the 1782 Virginia emancipation act to "emancipate from slavery Sampson at Aquarius in Frederick County aged twentyone years."

GLC02448.04

23 August 1851

Clay, Cassius Marcellus, 1810-1903

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written from "White Hall," Clay's estate. Clay, an emancipationist, replies to a letter from an unspecified recipient. Possibly discussing his run for Governor as an anti-slavery candidate in 1851, writes, "The number of votes cast for the anti-slavery candidates is small- I believe my vote is about thirty five hundred... The causes of my small vote are the inherent difficulties of the movement; Old party organization, and the violent misrepresentations by the Whig party of my views." Declares, "...slavery is the disturbing cause of old partyism everywhere... the time is near if not now-…

GLC02448.05

4 December 1847

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Ricketson

Accepts Ricketson's invitation to lecture before the New Bedford Lyceum, if his health permits. Exclaims, "Would that U could be an attendant at your anti-slavery meetings, to be held to-day and to-morrow in your place!" Notes that his friend, the bearer of this note, H. C. Wright (possibly Henry C. Wright) will be at the meetings.

GLC02448.06

January 17, 1861

Higginson, Thomas W., 1823-1911

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Higginson, a militant abolitionist, discusses an upcoming meeting of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society: "About the defence of W. P. there is of course no question. All plans for the defence of the meeting must depend on the wish of the Society- they both may prefer to take non-resistant grounds, or rely on the police alone. And at any rate I am opposed to excusing the city & state authorities from the work which is their business. Only we should make such arrangements in advance as will protect the meeting if they do not." W. P. refers to abolitionist Wendell Phillips.

GLC02448.07

circa 15 June 1845

May, Samuel J., 1797-1871

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marius Racine Robinson

May, a prominent abolitionist and reformer, writes to Robinson, Secretary of the Western Anti-Slavery Society. Robinson had invited May to speak, and May promises to come if he can find a suitable replacement to serve as pastor in his absence (possibly for the Unitarian Church in Syracuse). Circa year based on May's pastorship of the Unitarian Church in Syracuse.

GLC02448.12

circa June 14, 1853

Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Redpath

Phillips, an ardent abolitionist, informs Redpath that the "Traveller," a Boston paper, printed an article Phillips wrote. Asks Redpath to inform him why the "Post" would not print the article, and to cut and send a copy of the article from the "Traveller." Instructs Redpath to transmit the documents to the St. Denis Hotel in New York, New York; this letter was thus possibly written in New York. Circa years based on Phillips's publications within the Boston "Traveller."

GLC02448.13

4 April 1862

Tappan, Lewis, 1788-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Wilson

Tappan, an anti-slavery activist, writes to Wilson, a United States Senator from Massachusetts. Notes that the last time he saw Wilson, Wilson was walking down Broadway (in New York City) at the head of his regiment. Remarks, "But since, you have been performing still nobler acts in the Senate. For your late speech & vote on the subject of Emancipation I shall ever hold you in grateful esteem. I congratulate you on your success in getting the Bill through the Senate, & hope it will soon become a law. In 1814 I saw a coffle of slaves chained, and driven down Penn. Avenue by two…

GLC02448.16

20 June 1765

Perry, James, fl. 1765

Document signed

Title: [Receipt for receiving an estate of 635 pounds and a negro girl]

Cosigned by Christopher Robinson and Silas Helme as witnesses. Legal document signed by James Perry Jr. that he received 635 pounds, 5 shillings and "One Negro Girl Named Lucy" from William Potter, the executor of the estate of Perry's mother Marcy Potter. Also says that he received his daughter Mary Perry's part of the inheritance as her natural guardian. Red wax seal next to James Perry's signature.

GLC02448.18

26 April 1856

Wylly, George W., fl. 1856

Document signed

Title: [Bill for sale of eight slaves]

Partially printed. George Wylly sells eight slaves (Saturday, Tuesday, Dilia, Julia, Emily, Elizabeth, Mary, and Charly) to Davis Smith. Docket indicates that the enslaved people were sold for $4900.

GLC02448.19

February 13, 1892

Nicolay, John G., 1832-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to F.N. Barrett

Thanks him for an extract of Gerrit Smith's comment on Abraham Lincoln. Mentions a problem with his eyesight.

GLC02490.12

circa 1910

Jenkins, James H., 1841-?

Header Record

Title: [Decimalized .01-.03]

GLC02484

18 March 1854

Hale, John P., 1806-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Summer

Hale, a New Hampshire State Senator and noted abolitionist, introduces Mr. Vanderbilt (possibly William Vanderbilt, son of Cornelius) of New York City to Summer, a noted abolitionist. States that Vanderbilt will soon visit Washington, D.C.

GLC02504.21

20 December 1837

Legare, Hugh Swinton, 1797-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James T. Austin

Possibly to James Trecothick Austin, a Massachusetts resident active in local politics. Thanks Austin for a copy [of a speech or an article]. Notes that the topic of the speech (possibly related to anti-slavery) will soon bring trouble on the United States, and that Austin's reformers will ignite unrest.

GLC02504.27

10 September 1844

Walker, Robert J., 1801-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas C. Reynolds

Walker, a United States Senator from Mississippi, relates that he has not received an abolition pamphlet to which Reynolds previously referred. Mentions another pamphlet, also pertaining to abolition, and notes the importance of its circulation. Reports that the Central Committee of Virginia requested 5000 copies of the pamphlet.

GLC02505.41

October 28, 1810

Dallas, Alexander James, 1759-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander James Dallas, Jr.

Written by Dallas as U.S. District Attorney for eastern Pennsylvania to his 19-year-old son Alexander James Dallas, Jr. The father wanted his son to pass this letter along to the Port Collector. In reference to the slave trading ship "Eugenia." It appears the ship was captured for violating the 1808 law against the international slave trade. Dallas does not believe proceedings can be taken against Captain Calderon unless he is a citizen or resident of the United States. Dallas mentions that Mr. Newton, who appears to be Calderon's attorney, has filed suit and has gotten Calderon discharged…

GLC02505.14

5 July 1852

Davis, Henry Winter, 1817-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wm. Morrison, Esq.

Davis instructs Morrison to send a copy of the Statutes at Large of the United States. Requests Morrisson to, "Put them at your lowest price as if I were present." Also requests a copy of Louisiana Senator Pierre Soule's speech on nonintervention (Soule delivered the speech before the Senate 22 March 1852).

GLC02467.12

7 March 1857

Daniel, Peter Vivian, 1784-1860

Autograph manuscript

Title: The opinion of Justice Peter V. Daniel of the United States Supreme Court in the famous Dred Scott case.

Daniel's original manuscript of his opinion on the Dred Scott case, bound into a book. Daniels, a passionate slavery advocate, argues that slavery had more protection under the Constitution than any other form of property. He supports the majority opinion of Justice Taney, but goes farther, asserting the unconstitutionality of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Contains pencil notes, and numerous insertions and deletions in Daniel's hand, including slips of paper. With a later title page in another hand. This copy was used by the printers for the official…

GLC02546.01

16 April 1857

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Brown

Has "been more prospered within a very few days than I had before been," thanks to a $7,000 loan from George L. Stearns to be used towards a free Kansas. Hears "that one of 'Uncle Sam's Hounds was at Cleavland on my track;' and I have been hiding a little so as to let my track get cold." However has "no great fear of being caught" and says "I trust that God will send me back with Irons in rather than uppon my hands." Hopes to return home soon. Brown hid for a week in Boston to avoid the rumored United States Marshall.

GLC02519

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

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

1865

Kimmel, & Forster, fl. 1864-1865

Print

Title: Columbia's noblest sons

Print of Columbia crowning an image of George Washington and an image of Abraham Lincoln with laurel leaves. To the left of Washington are images from his presidency and the American Revolution, and on the right of Lincoln are images from his presidency and the Civil War. At Columbia's feet are broken shackles, an eagle, and cannons. She is stepping on a lion, which might represent the British Empire. Marked "Lithog. & print by Chr. Kimmel & Forster 254 & 256 Canal St., N.Y." Copyrighted by Henry & William Voight and published by "Manson Lang, 512 Broadway, New York."

GLC02597

1837-1908

Stafford, Robert H., fl. 1837-1866

Header Record

Title: Robert H. Stafford Collection [Decimalized .01- .98]

Stafford enlisted as a sergeant in the 12th Alabama infantry. Contains letters and newsclippings about the Peninsula Campaign, advance into Maryland, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Early's raid on Washington, D.C. Preliminary inventory included.

GLC02618

18 March 1838

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to D. W. Burroughs

Pierce, writing as a United States Senator from Vermont, responds to a letter from Reverend Burroughs. In reference to their conflicting views on slavery, promises to send Burroughs a copy of the United States Constitution, as he requested. Writes, "I am no advocate of slavery. I wish it had no existence upon the face of the Earth, but as a public man, I am called upon to act in relation to an existing states of things- one, which neither you or I have had any agency in producing- One older than that Constitution of our Country and expressly recognized by it." Argues that violent…

GLC02634

1842

Texas Republic

Pamphlet

Title: Treaty between Great Britain and Texas for suppression of slave trade

Streeter Texas 1416. Printed by T. R. Harrison.

GLC02562