29 January 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Apollos Morris

Politely refuses to forward a letter offering peace intermediation by Morris because British General William Howe still refuses to negotiate with Congress, "the only great representative Body of this Continent." With two drafts of Morris's reply, defending himself and explaining his intentions, on the verso and blank areas of the address leaf.

GLC03155

1820/05/19

Jones, Edward, fl. 1820-1824

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Frothingham

Requests that the attached notice from the Treasury be inserted on every second day into two major Boston newspapers. The notice is a manuscript document signed by Secretary of the Treasury William Crawford. It lays out the rules for the solicitation of bids for loans to the United States. One black and white bust engraving of Crawford included.

GLC03159

18 December 1857

Douglas, Stephen Arnold, 1813-1861

Broadsheet

Title: Campaign Democrat Extra. No. 2: On Kansas Affairs

Complete text of Douglas's report from the Committee on Territories to the United States Senate on December 18, 1857. With a new bill proposing specific guidelines for authorizing the Kansas territory to form a constitution to prepare for admittance to the Union. This report was evidence of Douglas's disapproval of the notorious pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution proposed for Kansas, which was endorsed by President James Buchanan. Douglas, hoping to save his Senate seat in the 1858 election, opposed the administration not because it sanctioned slavery in Kansas, but because it violated his…

GLC03167

29 June 1850

Shields, James, 1806-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Chathen

Shields writes as a U.S. Senator from Illinois to Chathen at Jacksonville, Illinois. Argues that Henry Clay opposes the extension of slavery and is no more a pro-slavery man than Thomas Hart Benton (both Clay and Benton were U.S. Senators). Also notes that Chathen has made the mistake of labeling compromise (the Compromise of 1850) as a pro-slavery measure. Argues that the Compromise is opposed violently by the south, and will be defeated by southerners, because they see it as an enactment of the Wilmot Proviso. Contains various pencil notes on verso, apparently unrelated to Shields's…

GLC03170

28 October 1789

Fenno, John, 1751-1798

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [No. LVII (October 28, 1789)]

Prints an editorial observing that "…however various the Sentiments respecting the Merits of this System, all good men are agreed in the necessity that exists, of an Efficient Federal Government." Also includes a letter from John Adams in Amsterdam, in which he argues that no state in the American confederation would voluntarily revolt, and intelligence from London and around the United States. Notes President George Washington's upcoming visit to Massachusetts and Boston. Includes an article on paying debts, an abstract from the journal of the first session of the Senate, a report on the…

GLC03173

30 September 1789

Fenno, John, 1751-1798

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [No. XLIX (September 30, 1789)]

Reports on the French Revolution and activities in the House of Representatives, including reference to the "fixing of the seat of government" and an editorial note that "this closes our account of the proceedings of the full session of Congress under the New Constitution…an object of prime consequence." Prints a letter of congratulations to George Washington on the progress of the new government, from the Pennsylvania General Assembly, who point out that their state was among the first to ratify the Constitution. Washington's reply is printed as well: "…the Union of these States is…

GLC03174.02

circa July 1855

Pierce, Jane M., 1806-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Aiken

Writes as first lady to her sister about her attempts to socialize. Mentions that she saw Mrs. Jefferson Davis who is nervous about her husband being in Tennessee because there is a cholera epidemic in New Orleans and along the river. On black bordered mourning stationery. With Franklin Pierce free franked envelope.

GLC03177

07 October 1868

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Endorsement signed

Title: Directing Secretary of War to release records. On verso of ALS from Wm. Reid

Intended to exonerate President Buchanan from the charge of colluding with Gen. David Twiggs in surrendering Federal posts in Texas.

GLC03178

4 January 1939

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Typed document signed

Title: [State of the Union Message]

Signed at end, inscribed to Lillian Wald, and signed at top of first page. Speech to Congress warns of the impending war and mentions his worries that fascism and war might attack freedom of religion. "Storms from abroad directly challenge three institutions indispensable to Americans, now as always. The first is religion. It is the source of the other two -- democracy and international good faith." Stresses the need to prepare the nation. Marked "Confidential" and "Hold for Release" by Stephen Early, Secretary to the President.

GLC03181.01

12 January 1939

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Typed letter signed

Title: to Lillian Wald

Sends a copy of his Annual Message (State of the Union speech, see GLC03181.01) and also his Jackson Day speech. Addressed to Wald in Westport, Connecticut. Written on White House stationary.

GLC03181.02

1 May 1866

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of George W. Hays, who had been convicted in the District of Columbia of larceny in April 1866].

Pardoned by Andrew Johnson after he had been assured by the District Attorney who prosecuted the case that Hays was a proper object of executive clemency. Coutersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC03183

7 June 1871

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Robert Carswell and Harvey McGallierd, convicted of illicit distilling

Convicted of illicit distilling; sentenced to each pay a $10 fine and court costs. Pardoned because Governor Caldwell, Supervisor Perry, Deputy Marshall Foote and U.S. Attorney Starbuck claimed that they were innocent of any intentional violation of the law. (c/s Hamilton Fish)

GLC03184

14 June 1830

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Smith

Jackson thanks Smith for supporting his veto of the Maysville Road bill. Jackson says that while his veto may have opposed internal improvements, it was for the greater good of the Government. In a statement to Congress explaining his reasons for the veto Jackson argued that using federal money for a purely local project was wrong, no matter how desirable internal improvements were. Jackson also had a political motivation to veto the bill, since the road was set to be built in Kentucky, the home state of his chief rival Henry Clay.

GLC03188

22 July 1849

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Berdan

Relates that he recently received a letter from the Clerk to the General Land Office John Addison indicating that their commissioner Justin Butterfield considers Berdan eligible to gain an appointment to the Office. States that if Berdan indeed desires such an appointment, their friendship could either "help or hurt" him, depending on Butterfield's views of Lincoln. Offers his assistance to Berdan in obtaining an appointment to the Land Office. Free frank by Lincoln.

GLC03190

9 April 1863

Stoddard, William Osborn, 1835-1925

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S[amuel]. N[ewall] Holmes

Mentions elections in New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut by saying, "How do you like N.H., R.I. & Conn? The tide is turning, as I told you it would. In for a big fight for the August election in Maryland." Stoddard was one of three private secretaries to Lincoln. On Executive Mansion stationary. With presidential envelope signed by John G. Nicolay as private secretary and imprinted "from the President of the United States." Addressed to Holmes in Syracuse, New York. Free frank signed by John G. Nicolay.

GLC03192

30 March 1795

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of David Humphreys Commissioner Plenipotentiary for Algiers treaty]

President George Washington's Commission of Humphreys to negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce with Tripoli. Countersigned by Sec. of State Edmund Randolph. Features paper seal, image visible on verso. Docket on verso reads "To the Most Illustrious the Bashaw, Lords and Governors, of the City and Kingdom of Tripoli."

GLC03196

3 January 1817

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Letter signed

Title: to James McCulloch

Monroe, Secretary of State, informs McCulloch, collector of customs in Baltimore, of a violation of United States laws by the Mangoree, a South American Schooner. States that the Mangoree reported herself on 28 December 1816 in the Baltimore port. Requests that McCulloch inform the Attorney of the United States of any information he can obtain related to the violation.

GLC03197

20 February 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Authority to affix the seal to pardon of James Ackerman

A warrant for his pardon was dated and signed by Lincoln in 1864.

GLC03200

02 March 1881

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Hale re: honor to be conferred on him by Harvard graduates

GLC03206

02 February 1868

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wallace J. Ford

Thanks him for his letter. Inquires after Hiram College and tells him to ask Mr. Mott of the Cleveland Herald to send the newspaper to him in Washington. "I shall make a speech on the currency and its relation to our hard times before long -- in which I shall commit myself fully & take a position on which I am willing to stand or fall. I have been studying the subject very closely, & have gone over the whole ground." Written on Fortieth Congress Stationery. Garfield, who had been president of Hiram College, favored the principle that all paper money issued by the government had to…

GLC03207

5 August 1953

Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969

Typed letter signed

Title: to Samuel Cavert

Thanks him for his letter on behalf of the National Council of Churches of Christ about the Korean Armistice. Expresses his relief to see the end of the bloodshed in Korea and hopes for a lasting peace. Mentions that is necessary that the United States keep up the security effort to accomplish this. Addressed to Reverend Samuel McCrea Cavert, D.D., General Secretary, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Note in pencil on letter states a copy was sent to Public Relations.

GLC03208

9 May 1857

Abbott, Nehemiah, 1804-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francis P. Blair

Abbott, a Maine Representative, discusses the establishment of a Republican newspaper in Washington, D.C. Recommends George Melville Weston for the editorial position to Blair, former editor of The Globe, a Washington, D.C. newspaper.

GLC03209.02

13 January 1845

Blair, Francis Preston, 1791-1876

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Blair Lee

Is glad to hear of his daughters good health and remarks "I have got to that age now that I begin to live in my children - and of all my children most in you." Notes that "Congress is in a wordy war about Texas" and indicates his expectation that annexation will pass in some form. There is also speculation about what shape President James Polk's cabinet will take. Blair thinks it will be entirely new. Also writes that "The Calhoun & Tylerites are busy in their conspiracies against the Globe but I think they will all fail." Addressed to Mrs. Philip Lee. With William B. Lewis free…

GLC03209.05

09 July 1829

Kendall, Amos, 1789-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francis P. Blair

Reports on an upcoming duel between Sanders and Hawkins, begun when Hawkins was insulted that Sanders fired him, despite his mediocre performance. Hopes that Hawkins "gets a little hurt" in the duel, since he has acted so inappropriately. Says that Clay is "making himself ridiculous," and is weakly supported, while Jackson, "the old hero," is doing well.

GLC03209.10

21 March 1857

King, Preston, 1806-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francis Preston Blair

New York Senator King informs Blair, editor of the Washington, D.C. newspaper The Globe, that he could not withdraw a book Blair requested from the Library of Congress. States that he is unable to acquire the book in the United States and asks Blair if he should order a copy from England. Informs Blair that he gave family friend Mrs. Fremont a package for Miss Betty Blair, Francis' daughter.

GLC03209.11