December 18, 1784

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: getting a pardon for Philip Davis, forger

The letter solicits Madison's help in getting a pardon for Philip Davis, who was convicted of forgery, pleasing his family, circumstances, drinking problem, etc.

GLC00099.129

November 19, 1786

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: sending a bill for the legislature, ill health

The letter sends a bill for the legislature, and mentions how ill health kept him from attending.

GLC00099.130

April 7, 1787

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter mentions the importance of the Federal system, the political situation in Virginia in Madison's absence, Shays' Rebellion, the situation with the Spanish on the Mississippi, and the impossibility of operating with independent sovereign state governments. Quotes Madison as "brook the eternal devil."

GLC00099.131

October 8, 1787

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letters discusses the long discussion on Constitutional content and the Constitutional Convention. The countermark reads "HRJoy, Belfast." There is a loss at top of pages 3 and 4, possibly intended by Pendleton.

GLC00099.132

January 29, 1788

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: the Constitution, attitudes towards it in Va.

This is a long letter about the Constitution and the attitudes towards it. The letter also mentions the upcoming Virginia convention and the discussion of local politics. Included with the letter is: a sheet of possible changes in the wording proposed by Pendleton for the Constitution.

GLC00099.133

October 6, 1788

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Pendleton urges the speedy adoption of the Constitution, undelayed by proposed amendments. He discusses the location of the capital, federal elections, war in Europe, and rumor of imprisonment of Marquis de Lafayette.

GLC00099.134

March 25, 1782

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses the attitude of Vermont towards the national Government and its independence movement. Possibly misdated "1789" and should be 1782.

GLC00099.135

September 2, 1789

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter includes congratulations on the passage of the Bill of Rights, and mentions the expected ratification of Constitution.

GLC00099.136

April 26, 1783

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter mentions official peace and elections in the Virginia House of Delegates. Possibly misdated 1789 but should be 1783. The docket by Madison is 1783.

GLC00099.137

June 9, 1789

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter mentions Pendleton's opposition to use of titles in the government.

GLC00099.139

June 15, 1789

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

In the letter, Pendleton asks Madison's help in getting a Federal judgeship in Georgia for his nephew Nathaniel Pendleton. Also, states his qualifications and war service.

GLC00099.140

July 3, 1789

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter discusses the Judiciary Bill, balance of powers, how the Court will operate under the Constitution, long discussion of problems of the Courts, impeachment, circuit courts, and Virginia crops.

GLC00099.141.01

July 1789

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph manuscript

Title: Amendments proposed to the Bill "to Establish Judicial Courts"

Madison seems not to have used Pendleton's suggestions in amending the bill, per J.C.A. Stagg.

GLC00099.141.02

March 15, 1790

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hon. John Page

Similar to autograph letter signed on April 2 by James Madison (GLC00099.143). In the letter, Edmund Pendleton provides thanks for sending documents and discusses Hamilton and treasury.

GLC00099.142

April 2, 1790

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: unhappiness over Hamilton's Treasury plan

The letter discusses Pendleton's unhappiness over Hamilton's plan, concerns over its nature, principles, constitutionality, and powers of separation.

GLC00099.143

July 21, 1790

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: news, capitol coming to the Potomac

The letter discusses local news, Pendleton's pleasure with the capitol coming to the Potomac, discussion of American pre-war debts to Britain, and constitutional defining of treaties.

GLC00099.144

August 12, 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Document signed

Title: An Act making Provision for the Reduction of the Public Debt.

Official act of Congress, signed by Jefferson as Secretary of State. Enacts provisions made by the second session of Congress on 4 January 1790 for deceasing the national debt of the United States. Printed names of Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Adams, Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate, and George Washington as President of the United States.

GLC00003

January 1, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Printed document signed

Title: Emancipation Proclamation

Wide margined copy of the Leland-Boker "authorized" edition, produced for raising money at the Philadelphia Great Central Sanitary Fair in June 1864. The Sanitary Commission engaged in hospital and other charitable work during the Civil War; it was a forerunner of the Red Cross. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward and Lincoln's personal secretary John G. Nicolay. Charles Eberstadt lists this as no. 32 (Leland-Boker autographed edition) in his bibliography of the Emancipation Proclamation. 48 copies were printed, but only half are known to survive. Mounted dimensions: 55.8 x…

GLC00004

August 4, 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut.

Lincoln tested the firing mechanism of automatic navy rifles and found it faulty; he tells Hurlbut not to order the guns. (Hurlbut) Convicted of embezzling funds and money from the National Bank of Baltimore.

GLC00005.01

December 23, 1776

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph manuscript

Title: To the inhabitants of the State of New York

Delivered at Fishkill, New York, to the state's constitutional convention shortly after the American defeats at Long Island, Manhattan and White Plains, and a few days before Washington surprised the Hessians at Trenton. As such, Jay addressed his fellow Americans disillusioned by British victories and questioning the moral rightness of the American cause. Speech explains why he felt it was necessary to fight against the British in the cause of liberty, even unto death. The unsigned manuscript is written and corrected entirely in Jay's hand. There are many corrections, strike outs as well as…

GLC00006

February 24, 1862

Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nahum Capen

Less than a month after being appointed Secretary of War, Stanton makes a thinly-veiled attack on Lincoln's economic policies. Excerpt: "No public man, in times like these, can fail to have both his words and acts misunderstood & any one is fortunate whose conduct is so leniently criticized as mine has been. My official position was not sought for; it is held at great personal sacrifice, and aspiring to nothing beyond, having a heart single to the one great object of overcoming the rebellion and restoring the authority of the government in time to save the nation from the horrible gulf…

GLC00008

July 11, 1856

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: Commission of George A. Williams.

Partially printed standard commission form for George A. Williams as first lieutenant of the United States Army. Signed by both Pierce and Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War. "I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him [Williams] First Lieutenant in the First Regiment of Infantry in the service of the United States..." Noted in the upper left hand corner in red: "Recorded, Volume 15, page 425, Adjutant General's Office, July 11, 1856." Signed in black below note "S. Cooper Set. Gen." Two engravings, located below header and as a bas de page…

GLC00010

May 30, 1854

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander S. Latty

Urges him to sign and circulate a petition concerning slavery he is working on with Senator Benjamin Franklin Wade. Writes "...it is time to have a Democracy of the People against the Oligarchy of the Slaveholder. So sir, I pray you, If our call rally the People nobody will be afraid to join us for every thing will be swept before the Young Democracy...I think it cannot fail to be successful as the question is reduced to a narrow concern are we to be free or not."

GLC00018

January 1, 1824

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of Joseph R. Smith to Second Lieutenant in the Second Regiment of Infantry].

Countersigned by Secretary of War Calhoun. One bust engraving of George Clinton, first governor of New York, two bust engravings of James Monroe, and one bust engraving of John C. Calhoun included.

GLC00019

March 8, 1830

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel D. Ingham

Writes that Martin Gordon, a customs agent, was accused by traders of being too rigid in adherence to his duties. Jackson tells Ingham to admonish Gordon, advise him to be more lenient, but also hear his side of the story. Writes, "...whilst we protect the honest and fair dealer from all unnecessary delays, we ought to exact from all, the faithful fulfilment [sic] of the laws, for at such a port as New orleans where there are a great looseness of morals, the least restoration of law will be used to defraud the govt for the [spanish] population have been educated to believe that it is no crime…

GLC00021