29 March 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Knox introduces Catharine Macaulay Graham and her husband, James Graham, to Washington. Writes, "a glorious enthusiasm for the cause of general liberty and human happiness, has impelled this lady and her husband, to cross the atlantic to visit that country whose inhabitants have had the hardihood to encounter unknown dangers, rather than submit to a principle of taxation, which though not grievous in the first instance, would probably have terminated in a most flagitious abuse of power-" Notes that the Grahams hope to visit Washington at Mount Vernon. Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.03122

12 November 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Draft of an address from "the officers of the part of the Army remaining on the banks of the Hudson" in response to hearing General Washington's farewell address to the army. Expresses both joy and grief at his leaving- joy at the end "of a long dubious and important conflict, and we deeply lament the separation from our beloved...General- A General under whose auspices the Army have been led to glory and victory and America to Freedom and Independence." Goes on to praise the American people and Washington. States that they "anticipate all the happy consequences of a wise and just…

GLC02437.10186

1776

New York, Legislature

Broadside

Title: In Provincial Congress [calling for election of revolutionary government]

Possibly printed by John Holt. Evans 14934.

GLC02442

August 1862 - 9 October 1862

Smith, Edmund Kirby, 1824-1893

Autograph document signed

Title: [Proclamation urging Kentuckians to support the Confederacy]

Proclamation that urges residents of Kentucky to support the invading Confederate Army. Smith tells Kentuckians that his troops "come not as invadors, but liberators...to strike off the chains which are being riveted upon you." Promises a just government, protection of private property, fair treatment. Calls on Kentucky to "unite your arms & join with us in hurling back...the Northern hordes who would deprive us of our liberty." Believes Kentucky would never "willingly join in the attempt to subjugate and to deprive us of our property, our liberty and our dearest rights...Are we…

GLC02502

16 April 1776

Hawley, Joseph, 1723–1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Criticizes the use of prohibited tea. Mentions sending Gerry a memento. Comments that regiments are ineffective without "a man of Judgment and Spirit" leading them. A long postscript discusses Artemas Ward's resignation (because of poor health) from his position as the commanding major general in the Continental Army in April, 1776, and his sensitivity to issues relating to liberty and property. Also mentions quartering soldiers.

GLC02505.23

December 1857

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph manuscript

Title: "House divided" speech fragment re: slavery, Dred Scott, Kansas

A single page beginning "Why Kansas is neither the whole, nor a tithe of the real question." Written before the debates with Stephen A. Douglas, apparently in response to that Senator's Dec. 9, 1857 speech in opposition to Buchanan's State of the Union address (as suggested by Don Fehrenbacher, "House Divided," 89 ff.). Nicolay and Hay date the metaphor from Oct. 1858 while Basler assigns it to May 1858. Unpublished and unrecorded. Current dating is based upon Don E. Fehrenbacher's hypothesis that this speech responds to Stephen A. Douglas's speech in the Senate of 1857 Dec. 9 (Prelude to…

GLC02533

1850

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Pamphlet

Title: Speech of the honorable Daniel Webster, on the Compromise Bill

Speech defending his previous speech on 7 March 1850, during which he had supported the proposed Compromise of 1850. Following his March speech Webster was attacked by many abolitionists as having deserted the North. Here he defends his actions, saying he supports a compromise because it is what is best for the nation, even if it will lead to his personal detriment. Believes that an end to sectionalism is more important than any other issue at hand. Ends his speech: "I was born an American; I live an American; I shall die an American; and I intend to perform the duties incumbent upon me…

GLC02586

30 March 1866

Stone, William M., 1827-1893

Document signed

Title: Joint resolution, ratifying the amendment to the consitution of the United States abolishing slavery

Document of the eleventh General Assembly of the State of Iowa ratifying the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States which abolished slavery. The 13th Amendment resolution is quoted at the center of the document. Signed in ink by Iowa's Governor, William M. Stone, Iowa's Speaker of the House, Ed Wright, Iowa's President of the Senate, B. J. Lee, and Iowa's Secretary of State, James Wright. The names of the members of the House and Senate who voted in affirmative are printed at left. Printed by F. W. Palmer, state printer, register office, Des Moines. With a few small…

GLC02631

20 November 1860

Andrew, John A. (John Albion), 1818-1867

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robinson

To D. or Dr Robinson. Mentions an article by Huntington, and discusses the Personal Liberty Act. Notes that a person whose name is illegible "made a fool of himself on the subject of the Personal LIberty Act. Others are doing the same thing. They are blind leading others scarcely less blind that they are."

GLC02467.01

August 3, 1829

Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Cleves Short

Written after recall by Jackson as U.S. Minister to Colombia. Attacks Andrew Jackson and Simon Bolivar in some detail, and accuses them both of being ruthless men. Worries that Colombia will soon be very unstable, and that with his departure the United States will lack a capable man there during these troubled times. John Quincy Adams appointed Harrison the first Minister to Colombia on May 19, 1828. Harrison did not arrive until February 5, 1829. One month later Jackson replaced Adams as President, and four days into office relieved Harrison of his duties and recalled him to the United…

GLC00632

June 4, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to the Convention of Maryland

Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress. Begins by saying "Our affairs are hastening fast to a Crisis; and the approaching Campaign will in all Probability, determine for ever the Fate of America." Says the King and Parliament has left no measure unemployed to accomplish their destruction. Says they are blockading the coast and about to pour in foreign troops. Says the affairs in Canada have "a melancholy Aspect" to them. Says it is likely the colonies will have to deal with Canada and the northern Indians as well as Great Britain. Sends resolves of Congress (not included…

GLC00639.12

February 21, 1867

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ann Chase

Lieutenant General Sherman replies to a letter from Chase, wife of Franklin Chase, United States Consul in Tampico, Mexico. States that his "connexion with Mr. Campbell's mission is not generally understood," possibly referring to President Andrew Johnson's 1866 order for Sherman to command troops in the absence of General Ulysses S. Grant, while Grant escorted Minister Plenipotentiary Lewis Campbell to Mexico. Predicts that the government set up by France in Mexico, headed by Archduke Fernando Maximilian, will "return to Europe leaving the Mexicans substantially free to choose their own…

GLC00577

April 24, 1790

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Benjamin Rush sends James Madison a pamphlet and requests that he protect against it being published in a newspaper. He notes that he will send copies of the pamphlet to Thomas Jefferson in the upcoming week. Also sends a sermon by Richard Price. Describes the sermon as "pregnant with noble sentiments" and credits it with inspiring the idea of "your [Madison's] house addressing the national assembly & king of France" concerning the French Revolution. Discusses that he hoped for effects of such an address. Concludes: "The United States kindled the flame of liberty in Europe. It is highly…

GLC00580

October 28, 1862

Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Two handwritten copies of the same letter in the file. Says it has been a long time since he wrote, but not because he has not thought of his family in the North. He claims that "although we now belong to sections of our country which are engaged in an unnatural and unholy warfare Yet I cannot say that I love your or my friends less than I did when we were Members of the same great family." He wonders when they will be reunited. He says the last letter he received from his family was from July 1861. He says he shed blood for the South and that he is "now in the army fighting for liberty - for…

GLC00686.08

April 18, 1790

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. Benjamin Rush

The letter discusses corruption and Adam's unhappiness as Vice President. He is very affectionate towards Rush. Also discusses beliefs on government and other reflections.

GLC00704

August 4, 1863

Geary, John White, 1819-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edgar Cowan

Geary writes to Cowan, a United States Senator from Pennsylvania, in attempt to obtain a recommendation for his promotion to Major General. He cites his qualifications and the achievements of his brigades. He declares "I have received four honorable wounds, and have never left my command for a single hour (Except once when my left arm was badly shattered) to devote even one moment to my own private affairs, or like many that you and I could name, parade ... around Washington to make political capital and ensure promotion." Discussing his opinions on current policy, he states that "Patriotism…

GLC00673

November 28, 1863

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Knight

William Lloyd Garrison informs Knight that he has "no autograph of the revered Wilberforce to send" but will instead send "one of George Thompson, whose long continued and wonderfully efficient labors in the cause of freedom and humanity you so fittingly eulogise."

GLC00680.02

April 8, 1785

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Price

Recipient from contents. Adams thanks Price for his book "Observations on the importance of the American Revolution." Has received 1st and 2nd editions. He states that to him the chief liberty is that of conscience.

GLC00782.01

May 1, 1775

Warren, Joseph, 1741-1775

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

General Warren laments, in dire terms, his inability to get supplies for the troops under his command. He implores Gerry not to "triffle away this only Moment we have to employ for Salvation of our Country." A signed note on the verso from Artemas Ward urges immediate attention. Gerry was Chairman of the Committee of Supply of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress.

GLC00782.23

January 11, 1863

Wood, Sterling Alexander Martin, 1823-1891

Document signed

Title: [Report on the Battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone's River]

Written from the Headquarters of Wood's Brigade, General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne's Division, Army of Tennessee (Confederate). Brigadier General Wood directs this report to Captain Irving A. Buck, Cleburne's assistant adjutant-general. Discusses the battle in detail, naming generals present, mentioning troop movement and position, and citing weapons and tactics used. Relates "In conclusion, the Brigade Commander Expresses the opinion that in this battle the 1100 men he took into action vindicated by their blood the determination of our people to conquer their freedom or die in the struggle…

GLC00784

May 1861

Maslin, Thomas, 1808-1878

Broadside

Title: To the People of Hardy County.

Created by Hardy County, Virginia, citizens and officials including S. H. Alexander, J. W. F. Allen, George Fisher, A. A. Inskeep, Samuel McMechen, George McNeill, John C. B. Mullin, A. H. Scott, Alfred Taylor, Joseph Vanmeter, William C. Vanmeter, F. B. Welton, and Edward Williams. Preceding the 23 May 1861 Virginia County state vote for secession, creators of this broadside inform residents: "You may not sympathize with the secession movement, yet we are in the midst of a Revolution, and the only true position of a Virginia patriot, is to cast his vote in such a mode as will secure the…

GLC00724

January 23, 1776

Massachusetts Colony Legislature

Broadside

Title: By the Great and General Court of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay: A Proclamation.

This document explains the Revolutionary views of the House of Representatives of the colony of Massachusetts Bay. The writing covers the philosophy behind Massachusetts as a colony and as a free state. Signed at end: "God Save the People"

GLC00905

September 26, 1818

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caesar Augustus Rodney

Letter discusses revolutions in South America, and mentions memories of James Otis. Rodney had just returned from South America

GLC00922

1774

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Pamphlet

Title: A summary view of the rights of British America

8vo. 2d edition reprinted by Dunlap. Evans 11351, Howes J79, Sabin 35918, Streeter Sale 2: 754. With authorship noted on titlepage in a contemporary hand. There are twenty copies of Dunlap's printing recorded. Seminal for Jefferson's thoughts recorded in the Declaration of Independence and said to have brought him to the attention of delegates as a talented writer.

GLC00962

December 10, 1778

Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Arthur Lee

Francis Lightfoot Lee warns his brother, then on a diplomatic mission with Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane to obtain aid from France during the American Revolution, about the intrigue surrounding the recently recalled Deane. Indicates that Deane has formed a faction within Congress determined to "remove all the old friends of Liberty & Independence." Comments that he does not know Deane's specific intentions but suggests that he arm himself with "the means necessary, both for attack & defence."

GLC00975