1860

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Religion of reason, no. 4. The one test of character. A discourse by Gerrit Smith, in Peterboro, July twenty-second, 1860.

Published in New York City by Ross & Tousey. In closing, Smith writes, "The morals and manners of a church should be such, as to realize our highest conceptions of human dignity... Church of Peterboro! Be true to your own God at the approaching Election. He is not your God, who would have men vote for candidates who are in favor of a white man's Party, and of excluding the black man from suffrage and citizenship." Bound in a yellow paper cover.

GLC04717.07

25 May 1852

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: to Frederick Douglass

Smith offers his opinions on Lajos Kossuth, the Hungarian revolutionary hero. Writes, "I have not seen Kossuth:- but I have read his Speeches. The impression they have made upon me is, that he is not only transcendently eloquent- especially when his country, his deeply wronged country, is his theme- but that he is a man of extraordinary judgment, discernment, skill, tact: and that he is, moreover, eminently unselfish..." Praises the growth of good principles that result from revolution. Includes a handwritten correction on page three.

GLC04717.18

28 June 1855

Radical Political Abolitionists Convention

Printed document

Title: Abolition documents. Number one. Principles and measures.

Created at the convention from 26-28 June in Syracuse. The abolitionists declare, "We...maintain that there can be no legitimate civil government, rightfully claiming support and allegiance as such, that is not authorized, nay, that is not morally and politically bound, to prohibit and suppress slaveholding."

GLC04717.22

17 September 1851

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: Speech of Gerrit Smith, made in the National Liberty Party Convention at Buffalo, September 17th, 1851, when the following Resolutions were under discussion...

(title continues)... 1. Resolved, That righteous civil government is an indispensable agency for blessing and saving the world; and that every political party which does not identify itself, openly and heartily, with such government, is unworthy of confidence and support. 2. Resolved, That righteous civil government is impartial towards all its subjects, and redress all the wrongs within its reach; and that, hence, it disowns the policy of removing one evil and neglecting another...

GLC04717.33

5 November 1852

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: To the voters of the Counties of Oswego and Madison

Complains that he was nominated for a Congressional seat, a position he did not seek. Assures he will not resign, but will perform his duty, pursuing abolition from his position. Includes his political creed, asserting that slavery is not in the Federal Constitution, that free trade is the necessary outgrowth of human brotherhood, and that political rights encompass all persons, among other beliefs. Contains a pencil note at the top.

GLC04717.36

7 July 1849

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed document

Title: At the meeting of the "Church of Peterboro," held July 7th, 1849, the following Resolutions were passed, without a dissenting voice...

Accuses a clerk and store owner who sell liquor as being "out of...place" for preaching the gospel. A second resolution attests that no members of the Church of Peterboro are guilty of voting for anti-abolitionists or drinking intoxicating liquors. The resolutions are to be read in a public assembly 8 July.

GLC04717.50

15 March 1843

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: To the people of the town of Smithfield

Smith writes "At the recent Town Meeting, you again refused to elect men for Commissioners of Excise, who are willing to license dram-selling. You did right... dram-drinking is morally wrong."

GLC04717.58

4 January 1850

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Printed letter

Title: to John Cochran, Isaac T. Hopper, Daniel C. Eaton, George H. Evans, and William Kemeys

Smith writes to prominent men he chose to designate the distribution of gifts of land and money among five hundred males and females from New York. Notes that he will not give the females land, but will instead bestow $50 upon each of them. Declares, "Alas, that good men should be so slow to see, that the acknowledged right of every generation, and the whole of every generation, to the use of the earth, as well as to the use of the sea, the light, and the air, is necessarily preliminary to that state of universal comfort... for which good men labor and pray!" Notes that most of the land is…

GLC04717.65

December 3, 1871

Pinkney, Robert F. fl. 1871

Autograph document signed

Title: to R. H. Maury

Statement recommending William Maury to superintend the James River project. States that he has known Maury since 1837 and that Maury was noted in both Navies for his morality and professional intelligence. Robert F. Pinkney commanded the Confederate ironclad Savannah during the Civil War.

GLC04572.38

January 13, 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

He is in Louisville on regimental business. He received a letter which indicated that Eddie, their son, was gravely ill. He wants to know what was wrong with him. Another son, Charles has begun to swear. Magie advises Mary to tell Charles that if he respects his father "he will not take up the loafish practice of swearing." Wants to go to the theater before he must rejoin his unit.

GLC05241.05

December 1, 1783

Ogden, Samuel, 1746-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Wants to know when General George Washington will be in town so he can pay his respects before Washington returns to Virginia. States that the treatment of Loyalists in New York City is much to the honor of the U.S. military and nation as a whole, though since Britain renounced all claims to its American colonies, the Loyalists should now feel bound to the new American government.

GLC02437.02815

January 15, 1789

Russell, Joseph, fl. 1789-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox to help him settle a problem with Mr. Livingston [his first name is not provided], apparently a legal or financial settlement. Describes recent correspondence with Livingston. Writes, "If I should fall through Livingston's cruelty, I hope the curses of Heaven will follow him through life, as being one of the most ungrateful of men, for no other man would have run the risk which I did for him in the hour of his distress." See GLC02437.04253 for a related document.

GLC02437.04286

16 July 1791

Procter, Thomas, 1739-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Passed along to Knox, some time ago, a letter from "a Gentleman resident on the borders of the Spanish Government." Reports that the man is the principal officer of a new settlement on the Mississippi River. Fears he transgressed "the Limits of friendship and honor" by passing it along, and that "the unadvised Act, hath given me much pain of mind." Provides his reasons why he sent it. Had heard from a member of Congress that a very long letter by his Spanish correspondent was sent to George Washington. Understood that this letter to Washington "bordered on threats to the detriment of the…

GLC02437.05066

4 November 1792

Miranda, Francisco de, 1750-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Declares that "...things are coming to maturity; and the Period advancing when our dear Country America shall become that glorious part of the Globe, that nature intended her to be! and that those Skemes our Patriotism sugested to our minds in our Semposiums at Boston, are not far from being realized." Asks Knox to present his compliments to George Washington, writing, "his benevolence and love of Liberty, will tend allways to promote the hapiness, & be beneficial to mankind."

GLC02437.05691

February 6, 1791

Ogden, Samuel, 1746-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses his gratitude to Knox for introducing him to his Boston connections. He has enjoyed the kind hospitality. Writes, "I want not to know your Business; But tell me only how I can serve you either by lying or cheating or [text loss] for you and I will do it!" Requests Knox tells Miss Breck that he delivered her letter to "her female Friend."

GLC02437.04851

1857-1858

Simpson, Edward, 1824-1888

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Journal of a cruise in the U.S.S. Portsmouth on the East India station, A. H. Foote Esqre commander, book III.

Calf cover. Refit at the Norfolk, VA Navy Yard completed on 26 April 1856. Covers U.S. activity in Asia, cruises to Hawaii, Hong Kong, China, attacks on the Barrier Forts and the second visit to Japan by an American ship. Excerpts: [21 September 1857] Continues from GLC05911.02.02. Argument between Capt. Foote and governor of Hakodadi over supplying the ships. "It was all a miserable attempt on the part of the Governor to keep us out of an article of the treaty by which he hoped to gain credit with the government at Yeddo." [25 September 1857] "I took a look to-day (only for a…

GLC05911.02.03

12 October 1864-1 June 1867

Simpson, Edward, 1824-1888

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Letterbook of U.S.S. Isonomia East Gulf squadron from Oct 12th 1864 to Dec. 24th 1864 and U.S.S. Mohican N. Pacific squadron from Augt 14th 1866 to June 1st 1867

Majority of letters written and signed by Simpson, though several are clerically written and signed. Attacks on Fort Sumter, engagements with blockade runners and attacks on various gun batteries. Includes two letters regarding deserters of the U.S.S Mohican (stored in separate folder). Quarter morocco, marbled boards. Commissioned in 1859, the steam sloop USS Mohican served in the African Squadron in 1860-1861, before joining the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. In October of 1862, the Mohican was sent on a fruitless search for Confederate raiders, the Florida and the Alabama; she…

GLC05911.07

29 September 1877

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: To George Phelan

General Joseph E. Johnston's book: "I know he is malignant and skillful in the supporesis viri et suggestio falsi"

GLC08044

September 10, 1862

Hughes, Alfred, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Hughes

His wife's overexertion; encouraging his daughter's study of music, and the proper conduct of all his other children; prescribing medicine for his wife; tales of wickedness and cruelty told in prison. With clippings from unidentified papers entitled " 'Quiet' at Washington," and "Our Mistakes."

GLC02166.062

22 March 1862

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Has received Eliza's letter and even though it was over a month old, "your hand had traced it and your thoughts were on it so I kissed it and read it over and over." Cook reports that he received letters from his father and his aunt, but nothing from his sisters. Apologizes for having nothing exciting to write since he does so frequently. He wonders why Mrs. Lamar has not written him back and attributes it to the fact that he may have written a letter that was "out of taste." Asks Eliza to tell Mrs. Lamar that if his writing was offensive it is only because he is ignorant of such matters…

GLC02570.23

7 - 12 August 1863

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Reports attending a barbeque, presentation and a review. Describes what he wore and how "well I looked and all the girls refused to believe that I was married thinking it a joke." Puts Eliza's mind at ease with: "But as pretty and charming as they seemed I could not think how sligh were all their attractions when compared to my sweetheart." Writes that he has again applied for furlough to visit his brother Girard and has not heard back. He is worried about Girard's condition and would very much like to see him. Cook includes information regarding the regular Masonic meetings in the…

GLC02570.49

29 April 1864

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Glad that he received Eliza's picture and letter. Cook is relived that she is well again and shares his fear of her death. He was most afraid she would die without ever knowing how much he loved her. Wishes their children to grow up and follow in their mother's goodness. Note takes the tone of an apology/guilt ridden letter. He writes, "Oh that I were with you every day and hour, that I might in some measure atone for the past and convince you that I am wholly truly and forever thine and thine only." Cook is upset by the death of his good friend Robert Calder and says "The death of…

GLC02570.56

13 June 1864

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Cooks wants to set the record straight on "the house 'I loved so much'." He feels he has been straightforward and has told Eliza everything of his past indiscretions. Says he will again clear things up when he returns. He writes, "…nothing will afford me more pleasure than to take you in my lap and all alone in our little room tell it all to you truthfully and fully. If you wish it I will tell you all that occurred while I was in Texas before the war and will answer all questions your curiosity may prompt." Follows with a suggestion for Eliza to work on her letter writing, especially her…

GLC02570.57

14 June 1864

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Cook writes that he has been very sick but is getting better. Critiques Eliza's last letter in which she doubts his love and truthfulness. He writes, "You speak of "Annie Laurie" as being sung in the house I 'used to love so much.' Was this kind? Thus to allude to a matter which I hoped was buried with the past and fully understood. How I may have acted heretofore I hoped you had forgiven when I so humbly begged forgiveness. But it seems that you still cherish it in your heart…I had hoped you were not jealous of me darling but this looks rather strange. I do not [illegible] anything I…

GLC02570.58

8 March 1805

Morrill, Joseph, fl. 1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he has been informed a petition was submitted to the state government to grant him a Justice's commission. This was done without his knowledge. He adds that several people have subsequently spoken against his reputation in response to this petition. These individuals charge that Morrill has invited "young men to my house to gamble with them & get their money from them." Writes that this is untrue. Asks if Knox may be able to provide him with names of the people who have injured his reputation.

GLC02437.07921