January 31, 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Signed, "HK." Discusses his interest in training the militia and asks Lincoln for his opinion on the subject. Writes "[t]ell me Sincerely your own opinion, my dear Friend, is the project of the Militia herewith enclosed an utopian plan? If I am not acting under a delusion, as sure as we exist as a republic we must have a strong institution of the sort, or we shall have a standing army which I should exceedingly dislike - For I am [sincerely] impressed with the opinion that under the influences of a standg army the Gloss of Our republic would pass away like snow before a summer Sun."…

GLC02437.04489

12 March 1790

Van der Kemp, Francis Adrian, 1752-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses Knox's plan for the militia. Writes, "The sight of a part of your plan for reforming our militia - and my fear of that hideous monster - a standing army, though covered with alluring clothes by artful politicians, wil [sic] atone for the liberty of taking few moments of your leisure by a man of General Knox's disposition." Argues for the establishment of a formal military academy where cadets learn various subjects, including geometry, algebra, geography, engineering, etc. States, "The academy seat must be at the place of the seat of government." Discusses funding for sending young…

GLC02437.04543

9 April 1856

Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of Hon. William H. Seward for the immediate admission of Kansas into the Union; delivered in the Senate of the United States, April 9, 1856.

Printed at the Congressional Globe Office. Signed by J. I. Werner on cover. Seward states, "I will grant, for the sake of the argument, that with Federal battalions you can carry slavery into Kansas, and maintain it there. Are you quite confident that this republican form of government can then be upheld and preserved? You will then yourselves have introduced the Trojan horse. No republican government ever has endured, with standing armies maintained in its bosom to enforce submission to its laws... In extending slavery into Kansas, therefore, by arms, you will subvert the liberties of…

GLC05116.12

February 21, 1790

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the outcome of a hearing concerning a mutual acquaintance's petition. Writes that Knox's "plan for the militia is not very well received here - altho every one speaks highly of it, as it appears on paper, and confess, that it is a masterly performance, & discovers great genius & knowledge in military arrangements, and that such a militia would be superior to any in the world - some doubt the necessity of such a militia in the country, but they are for keeping up a sufficient number of standing troops to answer all the purposes of government."

GLC02437.04518

1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Memoir on the militia of Massachusetts

Manuscript speech discussing the issue of whether or not to have a standing army. Date previously inferred, written in pencil.

GLC02437.08170

February 1803

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Manuscript document signed

Title: to unknown

Circular letter in which President Jefferson urges the state governments to "carry into effect the militia system adopted by the national legislature." Explains that "None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army. to keep ours armed and disciplined, is therefore at all times important," which is particularly important since there had been "an infraction of treaty committed without colour or pretext." Asks for a report on Maryland's military supplies and readiness. The broken treaty Jefferson referred to was the Spanish closing of the port of New Orleans to U.S. shipping in…

GLC08925

March 23, 1815

Bedel, Hazen, fl. 1812-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Moody Bedel

Hazen writes to his brother to report problems with soldiers' pay shortly after the end of the War of 1812. Mentions rumors about military appointments, President Madison's plan to maintain an army of 25,000, and a potential assignment for their squadron. Notes the dissolution of Eleazar Ripley's Court of Inquiry by order of the Secretary of War as well as news of Ripley's impending brevet for valor at the Battle of Bridgewater (Lundy's Lane). Hazen was then a regimental quartermaster in the 11th Infantry. Hazen might be one of Moody's sibling's listed on record as "Hazel," who lived from…

GLC01450.721.10

circa 1870-1880

Lee, John F., 1813-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Henry Jackson Hunt]

Discusses the retirement pay of soldiers. Notes "What a standing-army, in expense- & paid without musters- i. e. head men, & men who never lived." A newspaper clipping, attached to the page, also discusses retirement for soldiers, stating: "It will thus be seen that the rewards for length of service and for the performance of active duties, out of all proportion, fall to the lot of the non-combative officers." Recipient inferred from content.

GLC02382.082

1836/10/09

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Letter signed

Title: to E. B. Penrose

Declines an invitation to attend militia training, praises American militia: "Please assure my fellow citizens of that division that I look with delight upon every step taken to improve the disapline of our militia, and if my duties did not prevent it, that I would with much pleasure attend one so generally approved as this is. The standard of our militia, the National Guard, is the is the only one under which we can always rally without the fear of danger to liberty, and it ought to present the disapline as well as the patriotism and union of our countrymen."

GLC05270

1815/01/11

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Monroe discusses the establishment of a standing militia. He also criticizes the Hartford Convention, arguing that it may lengthen the War of 1812. Authorizes military protection for the Springfield Arsenal, should it be necessary. A half-sheet of paper is glued onto the original letter's 3rd page. General Henry Dearborn, then the senior major general in the United States Army in command of the northeast, was possibly the recipient.

GLC05280

January 8, 1784

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Lafayette references receiving a letter from Knox. He writes of their warm friendship, and says "from the beginning of our Great Revolution which Has been the Beginning of our Acquaintance, We Have Been Activated By the Same principles, supported with the same ideas, Attached to the same friends, and We Have warmly loved and Confidentially Entrusted each other." Reports that Knox's brother William is in London and expresses his fondness for him. Says "By our last Account from America, We Hear that New York is Evacuated, and our peace Establishment finally settled. I Hope also to Hear it is…

GLC02437.02928

1830/05/17

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to James Hillhouse re: amendments to Constitution

Madison writes a detailed critique of amendments proposed by Senator Hillhouse of Connecticut. Hillhouse, a former Federalist, proposed the amendments first in 1808 and published them in 1830. He proposed eliminating the Electoral College and selecting the President and Vice-President by drawing lots from members of the Senate. He also proposed shortening the term of office to 2 years. Madison acknowledges the proposal but raises objections, including the larger states not agreeing to it, the President not having a national perspective, regional prejudices, etc. He concludes "As long as the…

GLC07523

1890 ca.

Colston, Raleigh Edward, 1825-1896

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: re: former Confederate general admits Union victory was a "blessing"

A Confederate general admits Union victory was "an incommensurable blessing to the whole country and especially to the people of the South. The consequences would have been continual wars, standing armies, fortifications on every frontier and military borders such as the European nations have to bear...." Apparently a manuscript or letter fragment.

GLC06695.03