1855

Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884

Pamphlet signed

Title: Argument of Wendell Phillips, Esq. before the Committee on Federal Relations, (of the Massachusetts Legislature,) ...

Title continues "... in support of the petitions for the removal of Edward Greely Loring from the office of Judge of Probate." Inscribed with the initials W.P. to Albert G. Brown. Calls for the removal of Massachusetts probate Judge Loring because he ordered two fugitive slaves to be forced back into slavery under the federal Fugitive Slave Law of 1850. Printed by J.B. Yerrinton & Son, Boston. Albert Gallatin Brown was a Democratic senator from Mississippi.

GLC00267.149

5 March 1855

Dana, Richard Henry, 1815-1882

Pamphlet

Title: Remarks of Richard H. Dana, Jr. Esq. before the Committee on Federal Relations on the proposed removal of Edward G. Loring, Esq. from the Office of Judge of Probate.

Dana, despite being an antislavery man, opposes the removal of Loring from his position as a Massachusetts probate judge. Printed in Boston by Alfred Mudge & Son.

GLC00267.150

1854

Clarke, James Freeman, 1810-1888

Pamphlet

Title: The rendition of Anthony Burns. Its causes and consequences. A discourse on Christian politics, delivered in Williams Hall, Boston, on Whitsunday, June 4, 1854.

Concerns the extradition of Anthony Burns, an enslaved person who was captured in Boston and returned to Virginia, while seeking emancipation. The case demonstrates the wide-held belief that the "Slave Power" of the South could control the North and cause Northerners to allow this to happen. Printed by Crosby, Nichols & Co., and Prentiss & Sawyer, Boston. Clarke was the Minister of the Church of the Disciples.

GLC00267.151

1856

Stevens, Charles Emery, 1815-1893

Book

Title: Anthony Burns: a history.

Published by John P. Jewett and Company. Illustrated with "drawings made on the spot" pertaining to the arrest of Anthony Burns in Boston. Stevens offers an "account of the early life of Burns, of his arrest, of his voyage back to Virginia, of his imprisonment, and of his sojourn in North Carolina...." Also analyzes how Burns's case contradicts the ancient laws of Massachusetts.

GLC00267.152

1859

Shipherd, Jacob R. (Jacob Rudd), 1836-1905

Pamphlet

Title: History of the Oberlin-Wellington rescue.

Published by John P. Jewett and Company. Also published in Cleveland, Ohio, by Henry P. B. Jewett, and in New York City by Sheldon and Company.

GLC00267.153

1880

Bearse, Austin, fl. 1880

Pamphlet

Title: Reminiscences of fugitive-slave days in Boston.

Bearse, a Massachusetts native, served as a mate on many ships transporting enslaved people up and down the coast between 1818 and 1830. He shares his experiences from these days, showing great empathy for the enslaved people with whom he came into contact. Expresses his contempt for the institution of slavery and regrets that in his day, it was not discussed or interfered with. He now desires to tell his stories. Printed by Warren Richardson, Boston.

GLC00267.154

1854

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Pamphlet

Title: The landmark of freedom. Speech of Hon. Charles Sumner against the repeal of the Missouri prohibition of slavery north of 36 30'.

Published by John P. Jewett and Company. Published in Cleveland, Ohio, by Jewett, Proctor, and Worthington. Contains a Burnham Brothers College, School, and Library imprint on front cover. Bound with string. Pages are gilt-edged.

GLC00267.157

1855

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Controversy between New-York Tribune and Gerrit Smith.

Printed by John A. Gray. Smith, a United States Representative 1853-1854, had been accused of missing an important vote on the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. Claiming previous misrepresentation in the Tribune, argues that he voted against the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which he calls the "Nebraska bill."

GLC00267.158

1895

Cordley, Richard, 1829-1904

Book

Title: A history of Lawrence, Kansas, from the first settlement to the close of the rebellion

Published by E. F. Caldwell, Lawrence Journal Press.

GLC00267.160

1856

Brewerton, George Douglas, 1820-1901

Book

Title: The War in Kansas: a rough trip to the border, among new homes and a strange people.

Published by Derby & Jackson. Signed by Julia E. M. Hodge on the inner front cover. Also contains inscription related to Sheridan Edward Mott: "Young, handsome, brave and intellectual he gave his life in the war of the Rebellion. Shot Sep. 20 1863 in the battle of Chickamauga... " Mott was 21 years old when he died.

GLC00267.161

1856

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Pamphlet

Title: Last three speeches on Kansas and freedom.

Published by Higgins and Bradley. Includes "Origination of Appropriation Bills" (delivered 7 February), "The Abrogation of Treaties" (delivered 6 March), and "The Crime Against Kansas. The Apologies for the Crime. The True Remedy" (19 and 20 May 1856). In "The Crime Against Kansas," Sumner declares the testimony of Emigrant Aid Company false (refer to GLC00267.159).

GLC00267.162

1856

Fisher, Sidney George, 1809-1871

Pamphlet

Title: Kanzas and the Constitution.

Printed by Damrell & Moore. Written by "Cecil," a pseudonym of Sidney G. Fisher. First published in the Philadelphia North American 31 July 1856, and copied into the Boston Daily Advertiser 18 August 1856.

GLC00267.164

1856

Parker, Joel, 1816-1888

Pamphlet

Title: The true issue, and the duty of the Whigs: an address before the citizens of Cambridge, October 1, 1856.

Also titled "An Address before the Citizens of Cambridge." Printed by James Munroe and Company.

GLC00267.165

1857

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

Pamphlet

Title: Message of the Governor of Ohio, to the fifty-second general assembly, at the adjorned session, commencing January 5, 1857.

Chase, as Governor of Ohio, gives an address on matters pertaining to the State of Ohio during the last year. Includes financial matters of the state such as income, expenditures, taxes, and public matters like prisons, welfare, and schools. Discusses Ohio's anti-slavery stance and argues that the state may have to protect its citizens who emigrated to Kansas and suffered ill treatment there because they were settlers from a free state. Printed by Richard Nevins, State Printer, Statesman Steam Press, Columbus, Ohio.

GLC00267.166

09 November 1885

Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908

Document signed

Title: Pardon of J. P. Shonebraker, convicted of robbing a mail coach.

Convicted of robbing a mail coach and its passengers; sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Pardoned after serving 3 years and 6 months of his prison term due to his frank confession of the crime and his returning of the stolen property, and because of his precarious health. (c/s Thomas F. Bayard)

GLC00230.01

June 6, 1927

Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon to restore Robert E. Hicks' civil rights, convicted 29 May 1903 of mailing abortion-related materials and sentenced to 10 months]

Hicks was convicted of sending "unmailable matter" (i.e., abortion materials, possibly a violation of the Comstock Law) through the mail by the U.S. District Court of Southern New York. He was sentenced to ten months in Kings County Penitentiary, Brooklyn, New York and to pay a $1,000 fine. He fled the country, but returned in 1915 to serve his sentence. Wilson commuted his sentence (see also GLC 230.06) and Coolidge pardons him to restore his civil rights because "since his release he has conducted himself in an exemplary manner." Countersigned by William D. Mitchell. Printed document…

GLC00230.02

27 February 1869

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Pardon of James Henry Coleman, convicted of assault and battery.

Convicted of assault and battery; sentenced to 6 months imprisonment. Pardoned by recommendation of his fellow employees and close acquaintances of his high character and "upright life" and because he acted out of provocation and fear. (c/s William H. Seward)

GLC00230.03

29 July 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Thomas C. Billups, who had fought for the Confederacy].

Printed document. Countersigned by Acting Secretary of State William Hunter.

GLC00230.04

December 5, 1867

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal commuting death sentence of Michael Gleason].

GLC00230.05

14 July 1915

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Document signed

Title: [Presidential commutation for Robert E. Hicks, convicted of placing abortion related materials in the mail on 29 May 1903 and sentenced to ten months]

Convicted for violation of Section 3893 of the Revised Statutes (possibly in reference to the Comstock Law). While on bond Hicks fled to Europe, where he remained a fugitive until 10 July 1915, when he surrendered to the court. Commuted by Wilson so Hicks sentence would expire at once, no reason given. See also GLC 230.02 which restored his civil rights. Printed document with blanks filled in by hand.

GLC00230.06

July 6, 1844

Washington, John A., 1821-1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac R. Douglass

One letter from John A. Washington to Isaac R. Douglass dated July 6, 1844. Pertains to arrangements to enslave a woman named Julia. Notes that William G. Cazenove told him Douglass would either pay $350 cash, or $400 in two installments, for Julia. Accepts Douglass's offer of $400.

GLC00236

1823-1824

United States. Congress (18th, 1st session : 1823-1824). Senate

Book

Title: A list of reports to be made to the House of Representatives at the first session of the eighteenth Congress by the executive departments

Book of reports and state papers sent to the 1st session of the 18th Congress. Each report or group of papers is paginated separately. Contains first printing of Monroe Doctrine (report #2), which is 15 pages long. Given to Congress on 2 December 1823 the doctrine precluded European intervention in any part of the Western Hemisphere. In original sheep binding. Light rubbing and periodic foxing.

GLC00237

June 7, 1813

Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James T. Austin

Elbridge Gerry remarks that the governor of Massachusetts, Caleb Strong, "displayed his british colours," referring to Strong not allowing the Federal Government to recruit troops for the War of 1812 in his state. He notes that President Madison recovered from an illness and praises the president and his wife. He mentions that he cannot send a document that Austin wants. In response to Strong, President Madison withdrew all protection from Massachusetts. Gerry was then vice president.

GLC00239

March 28, 1911

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Typed letter signed

Title: to Talcott Williams

William H. Taft updates Williams, a political journalist, on the tense status of relations between the United States and Mexico in return for Williams' "seal of silence." He refers to an enclosed copied letter for United States Army Chief of Staff Leonard Wood, containing instructions for generals commanding 20,000 troops Taft ordered to the Mexican border in early March (not included). He informs Williams of anti-American riots in Mexico, and actions Mexico took to prevent the United States from building a dam near the Mexican border. He states that Henry Lane Wilson, United States…

GLC00240

16 March 1778

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Partially printed document authorizing the forcible capture of British vessels]

This document serves as a form by which Continental Congress authorizes the seizure of British ships and crew members in a warlike manner. Originally signed by Hancock during his term as President of the Congress (24 May 1775- 31 October 1777). This particular document authorizes Ebenezer Williams, Commander of the Polly, to seize British vessels. States that the Polly is owned by Andrew Caldwell of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Signed at the bottom by William Mumford, a Secretary, and Rhode Island Governor Nicholas Cooke. Williams' name and other information appear to have been filled…

GLC00231