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

January 17, 1843

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William C. Bouck

Advises Bouck to make a speedy decision one way or the other to resolve a scandal in Albany involving the state's printing. Remarks that it would be far worse to delay a decision. Discusses at length how to conduct the executive branch of the government based upon his own experiences as President. Brings up an incident from his presidency where a man came to him wanting to inform him of a conspiracy being formed to destroy him politically. Van Buren states he refused to hear such gossip. "The consequence was that although Washington is perhaps the most gossiping place in the world, I escaped…

GLC00097

June 7, 1866

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward O. C. Ord

The letter discusses neutrality laws. Grant supports President Johnson's neutrality proclamation.

GLC00098

1787-1789

Russell, Benjamin, 1761-1845

Newspaper

Title: Massachusetts centinel. [Vol. 8, no.1 (September 19, 1787) - v. 10, no. 52 (March 14, 1789)] [Incomplete]

One newspaper of the Massachusetts Centinel dated September 19, 1787 to March 14, 1789. There are 152 issues. Lack: vol.9 no.1 and 6 and vol.10 no.2 with printings of Federalist and no. 12. The Massachusetts Centinel, printed by Benjamin Russell, features a series of federalist style essays and articles focused on current domestic events as well as reports on international affairs such as treaties and European naval activity. The Centinel also included advertisements for store goods, religious musical performance, and available land. The Centinel includes the first printing of the…

GLC00080

December 14, 1842

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E. S. Johnson

Andrew Jackson replies to Johnson's letter, which informed him of the Democrat's victories in Massachusetts. He congratulates Johnson, and praises Massachusetts. Referring to Federalism and Whiggism in that state he writes, "We can now truly say that the old coon is really dead, & all humbugery with it."

GLC00084

August 15, 1835

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to Hubbard Taylor

Written in the hand of Dolley Madison, signed by James Madison. Discusses his views on politics. Writes "I join in all your good wishes, for more tranquility and harmony in our public affairs; which will always be best promoted by a course avoiding the extremes to which party excitements are liable." Advises that he is in his 85th year, "the infirmities belonging to which are added inroads on my health, which among other effects have so crippled my fingers as to oblige me to use borrowed ones." Envelope has a free frank signed by Madison.

GLC00086

May 11, 1761

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: Madison's suit, Taylor's election chances

GLC00099.016

April 17, 1765

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: taxes in Virginia, Stamp Act

The letter discusses taxes in Virginia and the imposition of the Stamp Act. "...The House of Commons resolved to & ordered a bill to establish a Stamp duty.... Poor America!" Includes other political matters.

GLC00099.026

December 11, 1765

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: the Stamp Act and personal business [misdated]

Discussing the Stamp Act and personal business. Includes other political matters. The date might be an error, Henkels notes that this letter should be November 11, 1765.

GLC00099.027

February 15, 1766

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: effects of the Stamp Act, Virginia response

Discussing at great length the effects of the Stamp Act, and how the courts of Virginia should respond. Includes other political matters.

GLC00099.028

December 22, 1766

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: Virginia lands

Folio. It discusses local politics.

GLC00099.029

October 15, 1766

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Includes political content.

GLC00099.032

December 17, 1767

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: a law case, English news and political opinions

GLC00099.033

March 13, 1773

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: land and political matters

Mentions: land titles, wills, Cornelius Dixon, Rhode Island affair. The watermark suggests that he used Irish paper.

GLC00099.040

October 21, 1779

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter

Title: to James Madison

Signature has been clipped-off, affecting postscript: "I fear Roebuck v Roebuck is dismis" Concerning land matters and the closing of Virginia's courts in 1774.

GLC00099.044

August 27, 1780

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: proposes correspondence, military news

In the letter, Edmund Pendleton proposes to Madison that they should exchange correspondence while Madison serves in Congress. "The rites of [political] friendship." He passes along news of military actions in the South. It mentions General Gates' letter to Congress and the "unhappy affair to the southward." The letter includes other political matters.

GLC00099.046

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

September 8, 1974

Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006

Typed document signed

Title: [A Proclamation : pardon of Richard M. Nixon]

Prepared in 1977, after Ford's term of office. 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 is a souvenir copy.

GLC00054

March 15, 1863

Pearce, Charles, fl. 1863-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Father

Charles Pearce writes about politics and party division in his letter to his father.

GLC00066.115

31 July 1856

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of John Geary as governor of the territory of Kansas]

Partially printed document signed by Franklin Pierce as President of the United States. Countersigned by William L. Marcy as Secretary of State. Accompanied by paper seal.

GLC00071

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

December 12, 1796

Carroll, Charles, 1737-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James McHenry

The letter is in response to McHenry's letter from December 9, 1796, which commented on Washington's last State of the Union address on December 7, 1796. Carroll, a member of the Maryland Senate, was particularly pleased with the condemnation of Pierre Adet, the French Minister to the United States. Adet was ordered by his government to encourage dissent and revolution after America refused to join the French in their wars in Europe. He discusses the presidential election and conjectures that Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina will win if the northern electors voted for him. Says a Pinckney…

GLC00374

December 12, 1856

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John W. Geary

President Pierce writes to Geary, the newly appointed Governor of the Kansas Territory, emphasizing the delicacy and impartiality with which matters in the heavily pro-slavery territory should be handled. He covers the removal from office of various pro-slavery officials in the Kansas Territory that Geary and Pierce considered disruptive to their efforts to maintain peace in the territory. He praises Isaac Winston of Virginia, the carrier of this letter, who replaced George W. Clarke as Indian Agent. He reprimands Geary for overstepping his authority by re-arresting Charles Hayes (for the…

GLC00375

1866

Broadsheet

Title: [Reconstruction leaflet denouncing the Freedman's Bureau and supporting Andrew Johnson]

One side titled, "ECONOMISE AND PAY YOUR DEBT!: Restore the South and increase your resources." The other side titled, "ONLY SEVEN MILLIONS!" One side denounces the funding Congress passed in the Freedman's Bureau Bill as support for "lazy negros." The other argues the money is needed for the national debt and praises President Johnson's veto of the bill. Echoes Johnson's belief that buying land, building schools, and offering relief to freedmen was unprecedented, would make paupers and vagrants out of freemen already prone to indolence, and was unaffordable. This break between the…

GLC00329