1834/03/26

Vidaurii, Francisco, fl. 1834

Manuscript document

Title: re: selling public lands at auction

Bound with white ribbon at top. "Supreme Court of the free states of Coahuila and Texas. The Governor of the State of Coahulia, to all its inhabitants known: that the Congress of this state have decided as follows... the vacant lands of the state, shall be sold at a public sale." Contemporary copy, English translation of decree making public lands available.

GLC06392

12 December 1864

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Otho Cresap Ord

Grant, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army, instructs General Ord to "Please telegraph any news from Sherman the Richmond papers of to-day may contain." Written on Head-Quarters, Armies of the United States stationery. Contains a handwritten "W" on verso. Probably a telegram.

GLC06394

December 14, 1863

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. O. W. Lebert

General Beauregard, Commander of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, writes to Mrs. Lebert in Alabama, on "the 158th day of the siege" (referring to military activity in Charleston Harbor). Relates that he transmits photographs (not included), and hopes to receive photographs of Mrs. Lebert and Octavia in return. Refers to Captain B., who regrets not being able to return to Mobile, Alabama. Reports that the ship Monitor sank in the Charleston Harbor during a gale two nights before. Referring to the Monitor as the "Weehawken," writes "Only 28 yankee liver men lost on…

GLC06395

13 April 1852

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Stiles

Thanks him for sending a copy of his work on the political movements in Austria of 1848-1849. Chastises him for not visiting when he was in the area. Warns against the election of Winfield Scott, the Whig party candidate, to the presidency and states that the only way to avoid this is to keep the Democrats united. Scott's election would lead to " ... a triumph of the North over the South. Thus a more dangerous geographical division of parties would be introduced." Remarks on his faith in the democratic candidates to do good instead of evil. Comments on his own role in turning the tide…

GLC06396

1850/04/16

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Tyler re: favoring annexation of Texas to expand cotton monopoly

Annexation of Texas to expand the cotton monopoly, not to divide the nation over slavery. "The monopoly of the cotton plant was the great and important concern... an embargo for a single year would produce in Europe a greater amount of suffering than a fifty years war."

GLC06397

1783/02/06

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: Passport for "Eagle" of John Sanders re: cessation of war, proclamation of peace

Printed document cosigned by American peace commissioners Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, mentioning the cessation of hostilities between Great Britain and the U.S., and asking for passage for the ship "Eagle" now at London and bound for Jamaica. Appears to have been printed at Franklin's press at Passy.

GLC06398

January 18, 1800

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Letter signed

Title: To Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the territory North West of the river Ohio

John Adams in his last days as president to the government of the territory of Ohio. Expresses gratitude to them for their kind letter, which apparently thanked him for his job while president. Mentions Arthur St. Clair, Edward Tiffin, and H. Vanderburgh. Says "Your sincere attachment to the Constitution and Government... do you honor." Pages are separated and there are two holes in the document, creating some text loss.

GLC06399

24 January 1863

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria B. Weaver

Former President Buchanan acknowledges receipt of her letter and thanks her for the photograph she sent of herself. Her friend, his niece, White House hostess Harriet Lane is upset by the death of her brother James Buchanan Lane. Buchanan was supporting Weaver's education, for he promises to pay promptly the next bill for it that he receives. Written from Wheatland, his home near Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

GLC06400.01

1863/07/10

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria B. Weaver re:

GLC06400.02

14 January 1864

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria B. Weaver

Thanks her for her letter. Disapproves of the remarks of her "female teacher" about religion and is pleased that she also disapproves. For him, "the Christian religion & the teachings of our Saviour and his Apostles are necessary both for this life and the life to come." Asks news of her brother, James. Reports that they have had good sleeping weather.

GLC06400.03

28 November 1775

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Contracting Thomas Mumford of New London, Connecticut to acquire 50 tons of gunpowder for colonies]

Signed by Benjamin Franklin, Josiah Bartlett, Francis Lewis, Samuel Ward and Thomas Willing, all as members of a Committee of Secrecy appointed by the "honble. the Continental Congress..." Also signed by Thomas Mumford. Lays out the terms for the procurement and transaction.

GLC06401

6 August 1781

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Letter signed

Title: to Charles Dumas

Written shortly after his appointment as one of five commissioners to negotiate peace with England, Franklin complains about the limited assistance the Netherlands had given the United States during the American Revolution. Referring to the Dutch Revolution he notes: "[F]or tho' it was formerly in the same situation with us, and was glad of assistance from other nations, it does not seem to feel for us or to have the least inclination to help us." Also cites a comparison of Holland to a shop, commenting "I begin to think it has no other Principles or Sentiments but those of a Shopkeeper."…

GLC06402

13 August 1780

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Webb

Discusses his resignation, French forces, and American troops. Says there have been "marches and counter marches, evolutions and revolutions of different kinds," since Webb left. Reports on British movements, which seem to be "without meaning or intention." Prepares for the arrival of French troops and Comte de Rochambeau, but is not optimistic. Says his own forces are weak. "Happy as a prince" now that he has resigned as Quarter Master General. Felt Congress, which he calls "a strange set of men," was making unreasonable demands of his office, and resigned without asking their…

GLC06403

9 October 1775

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Wooster

Directing Brigadier General Wooster's troops to build batteries on the highlands of Hudson (North) River as per General Schuyler's commands.

GLC06404

1840/05/23

Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Manuscript

Title: to Gulian C. Verplanck re: draft of acceptance speech for presidential nomination

Draft of acceptance speech for Whig nomination for presidency.

GLC06405

14 October 1790

Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Telfair

Defends states' rights. In reference to the passage of the Indian Trade and Intercourse Act in July, 1790, he argues that if the Congress becomes the arbiter of land titles, the states' sovereignty will be diminished and all "landed property" will be in jeopardy. Alludes to the Yazoo land deal the two men were involved in, which was affected by the legislation.

GLC06406

8 May 1814

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Monroe

Attempting to relieve financial distress of General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who was living in Paris, Jefferson notes that "all his funds are in our monied institution" and other problems with paying him interest. Asks if Monroe, then secretary of state, can have his department remit Kosciuszko's annual funds.

GLC06407

circa 23 October 1855

E.C.K. Garvey & Co., fl. 1855

Broadside

Title: Constitution! The people of the Kansas Territory are requested to assemble...

Broadside announcing a public discussion on the proposed Kansas Constitution, on wove paper, with a vignette of the Federal Eagle, "Constitution! The People of the Kansas territory Are requested to assemble at the following times and places, to discuss the merits of the Constitution Framed by the Convention which convened at Topeka on the 23rd day of October, a.d. 1855." Lists 10 towns and proposed speakers. After a bitter struggle, Kansas was admitted to the Union in January 1861. Printed by E. C. K. Garvey & Co.

GLC06409.01

1855/09/26

Newspaper

Title: The Kansas freeman. [Vol. 1, no. 2 (September 26, 1855)]

Early issue of anti-slavery newspaper. Concerns new government and constitution of Kansas. Also mentions in editorial (p. 2) the editor's problems in getting a press set up.

GLC06409.02

26 June 1779

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Colonel Lee, a Continental Congressman, discusses politics with Whipple, who was in Congress in Philadelphia. Of Virginia, states "We have neither wicked ... or foolish Politicians here, whose misconduct makes us fear for the safety of our country. I have frequently admired the philosophic ease with which you have contemptuously viewed proceedings in Congress that Town shocked me exceedingly." Mentions Samuel Adams's departure from Congress. Requests that Whipple, chairman of the Marine Committee, order several frigates into the Chesapeake Bay stating "The Confederacy & the Boston can…

GLC06411

25 February 1880

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Manuscript

Title: to William Sherman

Hunt's analysis of artillery at Gettysburg, written as part of his long, ongoing feud with Winfield Scott Hancock. The first part of the manuscript explains and defends the organization artillery and the post of Commander in Chief of the Artillery. Hunt quotes Hancock's letters and responds at great length, mapping out the role of the artillery in battles prior to Gettysburg, pointing out weaknesses in the lack of centralized command. He notes why batteries were placed in certain positions, why they fired and did not fire at certain times during the battle, etc. In an earlier letter to the…

GLC06415.02

1815

Manuscript document

Title: Collection of two items related to the Massachusetts legislature [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC06417

1782/04/10

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Broadside

Title: Thanksgiving proclamation [with J. Trumbull printed note]

"The United States in Congress assembled... call upon the several states, to set apart the last Thursday in April next, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer." Printed by Timothy Green. This proclamation includes a printed note of Jonathan Trumbull (unlike 6420.01) Trumbull's proclamation states: "All servile labour is forbidden on said day."

GLC06420.02

2 June 1911

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to C. H. Betts

Responds to criticism from Betts over an article Roosevelt wrote in The Outlook denouncing the New York Court of Appeals for their decision to rule the workmen's compensation act unconstitutional. States that their conduct was, " ... a most flagrant and wanton abuse of a great power." Conveys his views on how the Court should be run, "My plea is for rational growth; my plea is that the court act with ordinary statesmanship, ordinary regard for the Constitution, as a living aid to growth, not as a straight jacket; ordinary regard for the laws, the rights of humanity, and the growth of…

GLC06422

17 April 1781

Von Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, 1730-1794

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Jefferson

Written by Major General von Steuben to Jefferson as Governor of Virginia. Says General Mitchell will present a list of men now under General Muhlenberg and report on who is about to leave. Mitchell will also communicate von Steuben's defensive plans for Virginia. Says his plan will require at least the number of men he has already requested. Reports that Colonel Armand's corps has returned and that General Muhlenberg is almost without calvary.

GLC06424