1813-1865

Newspaper

Title: 12 miscellaneous newspapers re: Nat Turner, slavery, Lincoln, War of 1812

GLC08430

10 September 1831

Ives, William B., fl. 1800-1831

Newspaper

Title: Salem observer. [Vol. 9, no. 37 (September 10, 1831)]

Includes a brief description of the aftermath of Nat Turner's Rebellion: "...the insurgents are all taken and killed, except Nat Turner, the leader, after whom there is a warm pursuit... the troops will be discharged shortly... the number of prisoners amounts to fifty-eight." Sixty whites, and as many as 100 blacks, were killed during the rampage. Turner was capture, tried, convicted and executed. Ives was an abolitionist. Among the other reports: John Quincy Adams's eulogy on James Monroe, and commentary on the upcoming presidential election.

GLC08430.01

1850

Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872

Pamphlet

Title: Speeches of Hon. William H. Seward, and Hon. Lewis Cass on the subject of slavery. [...] March 1850.

Original yellow paper cover, uncut.

GLC08435

30 November 1803

Compton, Harry, fl. 1803

Document signed

Title: [Purchase of slave Kate and her three children by manumitted slave]

Legal document for the purchase of the slave Kate and her three children Ben, Caleb, and Nancy. The purchaser was "a free African" named Harry Compton, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and he left an "X" as his mark. It appears that Kate was Compton's wife and the three children belonged to them. The slaves were sold by their owner Anne Acker, of Amwell Township, New Jersey, for 100 dollars due in one year from the date of the document. Compton declared himself "a manumit & free from bondage to man or set of Men." Witnessed by John Johnson (who signed with an "X" as his mark), William Marts…

GLC08440

1845-1892

Header Record

Title: Civil war broadsides, posters and prints [Decimalized .01-.12]

GLC08442

June 10, 1848

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Simon Perkins

In the letter, John Brown discusses his wool business. "Burlington" continues to make excuses for not paying, while at the same time pleading for wool to be sent to him. Burlington Mills Manufacturing Company in Vermont was one of Brown's clients in the wool business.

GLC00106

August 21, 1812

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George G. Channing

In the letter, William Ellery reprimands his grandson for the delay in sending his last letter. Channing asked for aid regarding a bank in which Ellery owned stock. Ellery replies that he will help his grandson and uses a shipping metaphor to preach moderation. Ellery considers nations with intemperate rulers as being punished by God. He thinks it highly unlikely that there will be a President of the United States from the North. He writes that though enslaved people increase Southern representation he believes that enslaved people would side with the North if given a chance. He thanks…

GLC00108.04

February 4, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Respite of execution for slaver Nathaniel Gordon]

Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward. Convicted of engaging in the slave trade, respite granted to allow Gordon to prepare for execution. He was the only slave trader in U.S. history to be executed for that crime and was executed on 21 February 1862 in New York. See story in Harpers Weekly, 8 March 1862, p.150 (ill. p.157).

GLC00182

October 21, 1862

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Emily J. Semmes

Gives instructions to his wife to secure their property from the Union occupation of General Benjamin Butler during the Civil War. Directs her to go immediately across the Mississippi river to their plantation. Doubts that the Federals have visited the plantation yet but believes it possible that Dye (possibly the overseer) has run off. "...or, if he has remained at the plantation, that some of the negroes have run off to the Yankees." Advises that if she cannot get to the plantation, to secure any property and move the negroes. If she cannot stay on the plantation, he tells her to rent a…

GLC00175

February 11, 1854

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander S. Latty

Comments that he is saddened to hear of Judge Latty's poor health. Talks of local politics and feels that the cities of Williams, Paulding, and Defiance, Ohio will be carried by the Independent Democrats in the fall elections. Remarks that the Whigs will cooperate with the Independents and Liberals. Suggests the names of some men to write to. Chase refers to Stephen A. Douglas and the Kansas Nebraska Bill in a fragmentary postscript, "Fair chance now of killing the striped snake Douglas has brought into Congress." Addressed to "My dear friend." Recipient identified based upon provenance.

GLC00216

October 8, 1859

Unknown

Autograph letter

Title: to Mother

One letter from an enslaved man to his mother dated Alexandria, Va., October 8, 1859. Pertains to visiting with his friends at the Widow Bailys' in Faquier [Fauquier County], Virginia. Mentions meeting a young woman that he would like to marry and that he hopes the man who enslaved him will purchase her in order to have a "Virginia wife." Instructs his mother to direct further correspondence to Portland, Alabama, and writes, "We have bought all our servants."

GLC00226

24 November 1860

Hare, Willis V., fl. 1860

Broadside

Title: Great Sale of Land, Negroes, Corn & Other Property!

Slave sale broadside. The Charleston estate sale was set for 2 January 1861. The sale advertised the estate of the deceased Hamilton Houston, noting that it included "91 likely negroes, some of which are blacksmiths and others carpenters!" Lists Willis V. Hare as the Administrator. Mounted on cardboard backing with attached frame and mylar covering. Mounted dimensions are 53.3 x 40.6 cm.

GLC00227

1862

Header Record

Title: [Letter and copy of General Orders No. 144] [Decimalized .01- .02]

GLC00228

February 25, 1850

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Tyler

James Buchanan discusses the Compromise of 1850, the Wilmot Proviso, which he notes "is dead," and the issue of California statehood as it relates to slavery. He notes some of the measures that might make sectional compromise possible. He indicates his belief that Congress will pass the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, and speculates that California could be admitted along with one of the states from the land won in the Mexican War. He also writes that he has "been maturing a project for the settlement of the Slavery question." Docketed: "As to the Union Question." Marked as "Private."

GLC00260

February 1, 1865

United States. Congress

Document signed

Title: Thirteenth amendment resolution

Congressional copy. One of the most significant copies of the Thirteenth amendment resolution ending slavery, signed by Lincoln, Hamlin, Colfax (twice), Forney, McPherson, 37 senators, and 111 Congressmen. It is Ex-Barrett. Of Senators who voted for the Amendment Resolution, only two did not sign this copy: William Pitt Fessenden and B. F. Harding, though L. M. Morrill signed twice. Of Congressmen who voted for the Resolution only nine did not sign this copy: James S. Rollins, George W. Julian, John A. J. Creswell, William Radford, John F. Starr, Walter D. McIncloe, Ambrose W. Clark,…

GLC00263

1855

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Pamphlet

Title: The Slave Oligarchy and its usurpations. Speech of Hon. Charles Sumner, November 2, 1855, in Faneuil Hall, Boston.

First edition. Printed by Buell & Blanchard, Printers, Washington, D.C. Sumner urges voters, "Are you for Freedom, or are you for Slavery? ... Above all other questions, whether national or local, it now lifts itself, directly into the path of every voter, and calls for a plain and honest reply."

GLC00267.001

1856

Hunter, R.M.T., 1809-1887

Pamphlet signed

Title: Speech of Hon. Robert M. T. Hunter, of Virginia, on the resolutions of the Massachusetts legislature concerning the assault on Mr. Sumner.

Signed by Hunter on a a piece of paper pasted to the title page. Delivered in the senate of the United States, 24 June 1856. Printed at the Congressional Globe Office, Washington, D.C. Hunter was a senator from Virginia.

GLC00267.003

1856

Stewart, James A. (James Augustus), 1808-1879

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of Hon. James A. Stewart, of Maryland, on African slavery, its status-- natural, moral, social, legal, and constitutional...

Title continues, "...and the origin, progress, present condition, and future destiny of the United States, considered in connection with African slavery as a part of its social system; with the bearings of that institution upon the interests of all sections of the union, and upon the African race." Delivered in the House of Representatives, 23 July 1856. Printed at the Congressional Globe Office, Washington, D.C.

GLC00267.004

1751-1865

Header Record

Title: Christian discipline, and anti-slavery broadsides. [Decimalized .01-.07]

GLC00246

August 14, 1830

Burritt, Ann W., fl. 1830

Broadside

Title: Mrs. Burritt's defence of her husband; first published in the Southern recorder, Milledgeville, Geo. August 14, 1830.

Elijah Burritt's former partner, John G. Polhill, had charged that Burritt had distributed incendiary pamphlets written by African-American abolitionist David Walker. In this open letter to the editors, his wife states that her husband only sold the abolitionist pamphlets privately to known slaveholders, accompanying his sale with suitable cautions. She adds that he fled Millidgeville because his defense was not being heard in the heat of passion aroused by Polhill, who was stating that the case would not be bailable. The editors of the paper were Seaton Grantland and Richard M. Orme.

GLC00246.03

1787-1788

Hall and Sellers

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania gazette. [No. 2953 (January 3, 1787) - no. 3042 (September 17, 1788)] [with gap]

One bound edition of the newspaper Pennsylvania gazette containing number 2953 January 3, 1787 to number 3042 Sep 17, 1788, with a gap of number 3003 and a suplement to number 3032. The volume has the signature of Edanus Burke, Esq. on front pastedown. The newspaper was printed by Hall and Sellers. Contains the printing of the United States Constitution in issue number 2990. The Pennsylvania Gazette was an anti-Federalist newspaper. Some other issues of note included in the volume are: Northwest Ordinance issue number 2983, Constitution printed as "Plan of the New Federal Government"…

GLC00259.02

1846

Palfrey, John G., 1796-1881

Pamphlet

Title: Papers on the slave power, first published in the "Boston Whig."

Signed on title page by John Day Putnam. Printed by Merrill, Cobb & Co., Boston, Massachusetts. Papers numbered 1-24 argue against slavery by discussing its place in the constitution, the North's role in it, the consequences of overthrowing it, and what the free states, especially Massachusetts, should do about it, among other issues.

GLC00267.002

1858

Weston, George M., 1816-1887

Pamphlet

Title: The Progress of slavery in the United States.

Describes the past progress of slavery and considers circumstances that will control the slavery movement in the future. Argues that the growing slave population in the U.S. was an intended result of the territorial expansion of slavery dictated by the interests of those that own and breed slaves. Curbing its expansion will be beneficial to the Southern states.

GLC00267.005

February 2, 1846

Chappell, Absalom Harris, 1801-1878

Printed document

Title: Resolutions of the legislature of Georgia

[Title continued] in opposition to the principles of certain resolves of the legislature of Massachusetts in relation to an amendment of the constitution on the subject of federal representation. Copy of a resolution by the Georgia Legislature, printed for the twenty ninth Congress. The resolution is in opposition to a call by the Massachusetts legislature to repeal the three fifths voting clause of the Constitution. Likely printed in Washington, D.C. First edition.

GLC00267.006

1832

United States. Census Office. 5th census, 1830

Pamphlet

Title: Abstract of the returns of the fifth census, showing the number of free people, the number of slaves...

Title continues "...the federal or representative number, and the aggregate of each county of each state of the United States." 22nd Congress, 1st session, Doc no. 263. Printed by Duff Green, Washington, D.C.

GLC00267.008