26 August 1790

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Proclamation regarding the violation of treaties made with the Choctaw and Chicksaw tribes]

President Washington warns citizens of the United States against violating certain treaties previously negotiated with Native American tribes. Instructs civil and military officers of the United States to govern themselves according to the treaties. Also signed by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State (1790-1793), who has added the words "By the President" below Washington's signature. This draft proclamation is in the hand of Attorney General Edmund Randolph.

GLC02437.09397

10 November 1801

Nicholson, James, 1737-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Recommends William Adamson for consul at Hamburg.

GLC02500.09

10 February 1891

Blaine, James Gillespie, 1830-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Fennelon Brown

Secretary of State Blaine writes to Chief Clerk of the State Department Brown telling him to "send to White House treaty with paper prepared yesterday in connection therewith." Blaine's memorandum is written in ink. The date on the piece is in pencil and is not in Blaine's hand. On the verso is a note in pencil (which appears to be in the same hand as the writer of the date) that reads: "M. L. 1158 a.m."

GLC02504.43

3 July 1797

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvanus Bourne

Serving as Secretary of State, Pickering responds to a letter received Bourne. Relates some of President John Adams' diplomatic appointments, including Bourne's appointment as Consul General for the Batavian Republic. Informs Bourne of the appointment of John Beeldemaker as United States Consul to Rotterdam.

GLC02505.36

16 March 1779

Deane, Silas, 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel B. Webb

Writes to Colonel Webb, his stepson, to tell him to be careful in all his affairs. Also indicates that Congress may soon settle his own affairs. Deane had been accused of fraud in foreign procurement of military supplies while on a diplomatic mission in France.

GLC02505.15

3 March 1801

Ellsworth, Oliver, 1745-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus King

Written by Ellsworth as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to King as American Minister to England. Ellsworth was selected by Adams as one of three peace commissioners that was sent to France in 1799. The team of diplomats successfully negotiated the Treaty of Mortefontaine, which freed the United States from its treaty obligations dating from the Revolution. Ellsworth developed a kidney ailment afterward and was in Bath trying to recover his health. Thanks King for sending him a packet of information. In reference to the tie in the electoral college of the election of 1800, Ellsworth says…

GLC02505.17

18 October 1861

Giddings, Joshua Reed, 1795-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin D. Morgan

Giddings, U.S. consul general to the British North American Provinces, writes to Morgan, Governor of New York. Encloses a note (not included) from Elliot & Co., a Montreal-based importer of Enfield rifles. There are no Enfield rifles for sale in Montreal, and Giddings advises that arms should be purchased through Elliot & Co. Written on United States Consulate General, British N. A. Provinces stationery. Docket notes, "50,000 Enfield Rifles offered to be furnished at the rate of 3000 per month- Price not to exceed $18.50 delivered in New York City."

GLC02505.20

25 March 1861

Wilmot, David, 1814-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry T. Kerr

Senator Wilmot discusses his recent failed attempts to call on President Lincoln and William H. Seward, Secretary of State. Notes that Seward had been dining with the French Minister when he called. Finally met with Lincoln and Seward in the morning of 25 March. Notes that the Consulship to Marseilles, France has been filled, suggesting that Kerr will be disappointed, since he hoped to apply for the position.

GLC02467.29

20 September 1800

Marshall, John, 1755-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus King

Marshall, Secretary of State, writes to King, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States in England. Discusses violations of Jay's Treaty (concluded in 1794 between the United States and Great Britain), including impressment, debts, and seizure of goods during the Napoleonic Wars. States that "the aggressions, sometimes of one, & sometimes of another belligerent power, have forced us to contemplate, & to prepare for war, as a probably event." Declares that "The impressment of our seamen is an injury of very serious magnitude, which deeply affects the feelings & the honor…

GLC02539

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

13 April 1781

Livingston, Robert, 1708-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Duane

Writes to his son-in-law with family news. Discusses being "greatly pestered with a band of robbers." Requests news from the southern front in the American Revolution, specifically if Nathanael Greene was successful against Lord Cornwallis and accounts of Benedict Arnold's activities. Mentions his hopes for aid from the Dutch and that "English pride may be curbed and brought to reason."

GLC02537.03

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

1 November 1854

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: [Authorization for James Buchanan to conclude a Consular Convention with Great Britian]

President Pierce directs Secretary of State William Learned Marcy to affix the United States seal. Confirms full power for Buchanan, Minister to Great Britain, to conclude a consular convention.

GLC02585

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

1934

International Boundary Commission

Book signed

Title: Joint report upon the survey and demarcation of the boundary between the United States and Canada from the source of the St. Croix River to the Atlantic Ocean

Contains treaties between the United States and Canada regarding the demarcation of geographic boundaries. Describes the types of committees used and the methods of surveying the boundary from the source of the St. Croix River to the Atlantic Ocean. Features maps, descriptions of land formations and latitude and longitude tables. Includes a letter with the original signatures of the U.S. commissioner, James H. Van Wagenen, and the British commissioner (for Canada), Noel J. Ogilvie. Printed by the United States Government Printing Office.

GLC02619

January 25, 1866

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

Autograph document signed

Title: [Draft of a telegram to Philip Sheridan]

Ordering all American troops North of the Rio Grande. Also orders Sheridan to inspect any damage his forces may have done, so that "if claims are hereafter made...we should know the justice of them." Following the end of the Civil War, Union troops under Sheridan were stationed along the Rio Grande in order watch exiled Confederates and stabilize the border with Mexico, which was very unstable at the time. On occasion American troops crossed over the border and became involved in the fighting.

GLC02629

circa 1853

Manuscript

Title: Journal of a cruise to China and Japan in the U.S. Sloop Vandalia.

Journal of a sailor under Captain John Pope. The journal describes customs in the ports it visited, mentions meeting Commodore Matthew Perry's flag ship, and provides information on hostilities between American troops and the Japanese military.

GLC02547

6 March 1848

Butler, William Orlando, 1791-1880

Broadside

Title: [Military convention for the provisional suspension of hostilities]

Order No. 18, ratified by William Orlando Butler as Major General Commanding on March 5,1848. Signed by Adjutant Irvin McDowell. Orders a suspension of hostilities following seventeen articles by the Military Convention. The Convention provisions were made at Guadalupe Hidalgo before the treaty ending the war.

GLC02561

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

21 September 1864

Benjamin, Judah Philip, 1811-1884

Printed document signed

Title: [Warrant to the Confederate Treasury Secretary to pay $4,850 in gold for "foreign intercourse"]

Partly printed document filled in by hand and signed by Benjamin as Confederate Secretary of State. Apparently intended for Confederate Agents in Europe.

GLC02604

February 12, 1862

Dow, Neal, 1804-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Dow, Colonel of the 13th Regiment, Maine Volunteers, discusses the recent capture of Roanoke Island, North Carolina. Writes, "May God grant it the beginning of constant and important success. We need it now, to help us in England & France." Praises his regiment, noting that they do not want to go with Butler to an unspecified location (possibly General Benjamin Franklin Butler), and asks for the recipient's assistance on his regiment's behalf.

GLC02464.03

3 March 1864

Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to White, Esqr.]

Maury, serving as a Confederate naval agent in Britain, asks the recipient (possibly Mr. "White") in London to forward the enclosed (not included) to Dr. Miller "of the [illegible] Committee." Matthew Fontaine Maury was a naval officer known as the "Pathfinder of the Seas." Maury had served as head of the U.S. Naval Observatory and was noted for his pioneering scientific work. A native of Virginia, Maury resigned his commission as commander in the U.S. Navy at the outbreak of the Civil War and joined the Confederate Navy, where he researched torpedo warfare. Maury was then sent to England to…

GLC02466.09

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

28 July 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Pamphlet

Title: Treaty between the United States of America and the Ottawa Indians of Blanchard's Fork and Roche De Boeuf.

Certifies that the Ottawa Indians of Blanchard's Fork and Roche De Boeuf in Franklin County, Kansas, will dissolve as a tribe within five years from the ratification of this treaty and will become citizens of the United States. Lists the articles of agreement. The treaty was concluded 24 June 1862 between William P. Dole, Commissioner for the United States, and the Councilmen of the Ottawa Indians, Pem-ach-wung, Chief; John T. Jones, William Hurr, and James Wind, Councilmen. Ratified 16 July 1862 and amended 19 July 1862.

GLC08531