9 February 1820

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Hay

President Monroe writes to Hay, his son-in-law. Monroe discusses a recent political plan (possibly the Missouri Compromise), stating "My own opinion always has been that the union cannot be shaken, tho I greatly lament that a question like the present, in which its extremities are so differently circumstanc'd, and the one so badly inform'd of the condition of the other; a question too so well calculated to enlist the feelings of the one against the other, should have been found practicable in our system." In a note following the signature, Monroe notes "my communications are in profound…

GLC03656

21 January 1860

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John McNeil re: foreseeing civil war

Written while on vacation. Argues that Civil War is inevitable unless the Democrats regain control of the government

GLC03660

10 February 1781

Barber, Francis, 1750-1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elias Dayton

Written by Lieutenant Colonel Barber of the 3rd New Jersey regiment to Colonel Dayton, Barber's brigade commander. Encloses a letter from George Washington for Dayton, who is coalescing from illness. Also sending letters from Washington to Colonels Caldwell and Friling and New Jersey Governor William Livingston that he wants Dayton to pass along (these three letters are not included here). Has been ordered to march to Morristown and will send along baggage by sleds. Mentions personnel issues in the brigade they belong to. Barber says that headquarters had put him in charge of the brigade…

GLC03662.03

1910 ca.

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Signature

Title: Signed White House card

Printed card signed by "Theodore Roosevelt" undated.

GLC03663.04

14 February 1820

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Spencer Roane

Written by Tyler as Republican Congressman from Virginia to Roane as Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Writes to Roane about issues surrounding the Missouri Compromise debates. Tyler was concerned with Northern arguments that claimed Congress could restrict slavery in the Territories through their Constitutional powers. Says he is worried "about the nature of the power which is attempted to be exercised by Congress[.] you and myself cannot fail to agree in pronouncing it a bold and daring assumption - warranted neither by the constitution or the principles of justice."…

GLC03670

25 September 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bryan Fairfax re: allowing Fairfax to visit to discuss British peace proposal

With a note in a different hand on the address leaf stating "containing a pas[s]port to travel to the camp." Washington also assures Fairfax of his friendship, despite "the difference in our political Sentiments...."

GLC03674

18 September 1780

Dundas, Ralph, 1732-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Dundas, Captain of the H. M. S. Bonetta, informs his brother James he was in New York and other locations before moving north to Nova Scotia. Reports that on the way, his men took five prizes and reclaimed two brigs containing low-valued cargo. States that a French fleet is "Blocked up at Present at Rhode Island" by Admiral Marriot Arbuthnot. Refers to the British defeat of American forces at Charleston, South Carolina, in May 1780 and the capture of valuable Virginia ships by New York privateers. Discusses a riot in Boston, Massachusetts following General George Washington's call for 3,…

GLC03676.02

24 December 1866

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Canby re: disputes in Texas convention on dividing Texas into 2 states

GLC03677

1 August 1850

Phelps, Samuel Shethar, 1793-1855

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. H. Barrett

Phelps, a Whig Senator from Vermont, writes to J. H. Barrett, possibly Joseph Hartwell Barrett. Relates that an article by E. D. Barber in the "Brandon Post" (a newspaper from Brandon, Vermont) provided misinformation regarding the Clayton Bill of 1848. Phelps argues that this bill prohibited the extension of slavery, and was an equivalent to the Wilmot Proviso. He vehemently defends his position on the bill against Barber's false reports, emphasizing his opposition to the spread of slavery. Also argues that Barber misrepresented Horace Greeley's opinion of the bill, and thinks the bill's…

GLC03678.01

22 August 1850

Phelps, Samuel Shethar, 1793-1855

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Docketed with blue ink. Possibly to J. H. Barrett (refer to GLC03678.01). Discusses the Compromise of 1850 (the Pearce Act) in detail. Phelps offers his opinion on the act, which related to the extension of slavery in territories acquired by the Mexican American War: "... this country is and will remain a desert and neither slavery or population will ever exist there." Phelps voted for the Compromise of 1850 because, "there was danger that the govt. itself might be dissolved if these questions about slavery were not disposed of... It was not violence that I apprehended but the... silent…

GLC03678.02

1837

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Broadside

Title: Farewell address of Andrew Jackson

This document is a copy of Andrew Jackson's farewell address. In it, he says "Our country has improved and is flourishing beyond any former example in the history of nations," Jackson writes. Like Washington's farewell address, he warns of the dangers of sectionalism, saying, "At every hazard and by every sacrifice, this Union must be preserved...What have you to gain by division and dissension?" Discusses states rights versus federal. Worries about federal abuse of the power to tax, and about the use of paper money. This document was printed and published by Israel Sackett. Currently mounted…

GLC03680

1864 ca.

Burnside, Ambrose Everett, 1824-1881

Photograph

Title: 6th plate Ambrotype portrait of the General in uniform, in frame

GLC03686

15 September 1857

Cobb, Howell, 1815-1868

Letter signed

Title: to Robert E. Rogers and Henry Vethake

Rogers and Vethake were appointed Treasury Department commissioners in July 1857. Requests them to report to him as soon as possible if they intend to accept the appointment, and if so they are to "arrange with the Director of the Mint to give Dr. Barclay the proper facilities for testing his alleged discovery." James T. Barclay had developed tests to detect counterfeit coinage. Rogers and Vethake accepted the commission and verified Barclay's discovery. Written as Secretary of the Treasury.

GLC03689

16 May 1876

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Maury re: pardon and restoring political rights to C.S. Naval Officers.

GLC03694

1 June 1796

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Printed document signed

Title: Fourth Congress of the United States: at the first session, begun and held at the city of Philadelphia, in the state of Pennsylvania, on Monday, the seventh of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.

Signed by Pickering, Secretary of State. Includes "an act regulating the grants of land appropriated for military services, and for the society of the United Brethren for propagating the gospel among the heathen," "an act for the admission of the state of Tennessee into the union," "an act limiting the time for the allowance of drawback on the exportation of domestic spirits, and allowing a drawback upon such spirits exported in vessels of less than thirty tons, by the Mississippi," "an act to suspend, in part, the act, intituled 'An act to alter and amend the act, intituled 'An act laying…

GLC03698

18 February 1825

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Williams

Forwards commission appointing Williams Attorney of the United States for the District of Maryland (commission not included with letter). Signed as Secretary of State.

GLC03701

29 December 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to New Hampshire re: asking for supplies, call to arms & poor state of army

Written in the hand of Robert Hanson Harrison. Washington appeals for clothing and supplies for his troops. Copies of this letter went to every state. Washington writes in part: "We had in Camp on the 23rd Instt. by a field report then taken, not less than 2898 men unfit for duty by reason of their being barefoot and otherwise naked." Fitzpatrick 10: 221-25 (based on the copy sent to Massachusetts).

GLC03706

27 August 1814

Snyder, Simon, 1759-1819

Printed document signed

Title: [General orders for Pennsylvania's troops to be ready defend the state]

In response to the British capture of Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812, the Pennsylvania governor issued this order because of the threat "and probable conflagration of the metropolis of a sister state," particularly an attack initiated from the shores of the Delaware River.

GLC03708

22 June 1846

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: to James Boyd re: circular, instructions to US envoys abroad [printed]

Printed letters signed as Secretary of State.

GLC03712

20 April 1786

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Jay

Writing as a member of the Continental Congress, Monroe seeks Jay's attendance at a meeting and input on the issues of governing territories and establishing an Indian Department. Indicates that the questions will pertain to whether or not the territories should be governed like colonies, and if so, how should it be superintended. The same question applies to the Indian department.

GLC03654

1769-1791

Header Record

Title: New Hampshire Revolutionary War documents, mainly dealing with draft, militia

1. King George III. D: Portsmouth, N.H. 4 November 1769. Legal writ to the sheriff of New Hampshire ordering the seizure of Richard Perkins for appearance in court. 1p. + docket + endorsement. 2. State of New Hampshire. D: Hillsborough, [N.H.] 12 January 1781. An Act for the raising and completing this state's quota of the Continental Army. 2p. + docketed on verso. 3. State of New Hampshire. D: Hillsborough, [N.H.] 14 April 1781. An Act in addition to, and alteration of an Act passed the 12th day of January 1781, entitled an act for raising and completing this state's quota…

GLC03657

5 June 1779

New Hampshire. General Assembly

Broadside

Title: Declaration of rights and plan of government for the State of New Hampshire.

This document is a legal document that affirms the legitimacy of the government of New Hampshire. Explicates a plan of government as well as affirming the rights of citizens. Docketed on recto by Isaac Andrews.

GLC03658

27 April 1847

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Bowers

Requests that northern New Hampshire send more volunteer soldiers. Suggests using musicians to attract recruits. Lauds the hard work given to recruiting by Bowers, his father, and Frank Fletcher.

GLC03659

24 October 1862

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Writes concerning his opinion that fighting cannot restore the Union. Comments, "Good & patriotic men have not yet reached your stand point & mine, that no faith can be reposed 'in arms for the restoration of either peace or of the States to the Unity of other days.'" States that he cannot respond to the recipient's suggestions in writing and must see him in person to do this. Notes the rising opposition to the Civil War in the North, "The woe & wailing & hopelessness which arms have brought, are telling upon the public mind at the North, as no argument could."

GLC03661

18 October 1765

Walpole, Robert, fl. 1765

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Resolutions of Virigina and Massachusetts against the Stamp Act]

A transmittal letter signed by Walpole as clerk for the Privy Council in the Court of St. James. Transmits resolutions from Virginia and Massachusetts proclaiming the Stamp Act illegal. The Stamp had been passed by Parliament earlier that year. Has a seal and watermark.

GLC03662.01