Search | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Start New Search

209 search results

Filter:

Only return results with full-sized images

Sort by

Advanced search

Keyword

Author

Subjects

Place written

Year

Sub-era

1861

Confederate States of America. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: Constitution of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America

Printed by Shorter & Reid in the first capital of the Confederate States, Montgomery, Alabama. Divided into 5 articles. Pages not cut.

GLC02691.05

6 May 1861

Confederate States of America. Congress

Broadside

Title: An Act recognizing the existence of War between the United States and the Confederate States; and concerning letters of marque, prizes, and prize goods.

Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, approved this act 6 May 1861. States "Whereas the earnest efforts made by this Government to establish friendly relations between the Government of the United States and the Confederate States, and to settle all questions of disagreement between the two Governments upon principles of right, justice, equity and good faith, have proved unavailing by reason of the refusal of the Government of the United States to hold any intercourse with the Commissioners appointed by this Government for the purposes aforesaid... and whereas, by the acts and means…

GLC04284

30 August 1861

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: An Act to perpetuate testimony in cases of slaves abducted or harbored by the enemy, and of other property seized, wasted, or destroyed by them. No. 270.

Appears to be a circular. Possibly created in Richmond, Virginia. Gives orders for the procedure slave owners may follow when their slaves are abducted or harbored. Notes that the Confederate States are not liable to make compensation for Confederate citizens' property that is lost or destroyed.

GLC06607

January 11, 1865

Confederate States of America. Congress

Broadside

Title: [Resolutions on war and peace-making powers of Congress]

Four resolutions from the Confederate House of Representatives. The resolutions affirm the Confederate Congress' power to declare war and the President's power to make treaties of peace with Senate approval. Denies these powers to the individual states. It calls any attempts to negotiate separately "revolutionary." Claims they are fighting the war for the "natural and inalienable right claimed by them in the revolution of '76." Reaffirms their commitment to continue the struggle.

GLC00289

circa 15 December 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: Amendment to senate bill (s. 129) to provide for the employment of free negroes and slaves to work upon fortifications, and to perform other labor connected with the defences of the country.

Provides corrections for Confederate Senate Bill 129. Establishes guidelines for the number of slaves that can be impressed from one owner. States that the Secretary of War is authorized to exempt certain areas from the act if "the labor of the slaves therein is indispensable to the production of grain" or if the slaves are "necessarily employed on works of internal improvement of importance to the common defence." Includes a Rebel Archives stamp. Possibly created in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC08418

15 December 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: A bill to provide for the employment of free negroes and slaves to work upon fortifications and perform other labor connected with the defences of the country.

Senate Bill 129, passed by the Confederate Senate 13 December 1864. Ordered to be printed by the House of Representatives 15 December 1864. States that "The Congress of the Confederate States of American do enact, That all free male negroes, between the ages of eighteen and fifty years, shall be held liable to perform any labor or discharge any duties with the army ... such as working upon fortifications, producing and preparing materials of war, building and preparing roads and bridges ... " Includes guidelines for the impressment of slaves, placing the Secretary of War and the general…

GLC08419

6 May 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: A bill (No. 49) to be entitled an act to amend an act entitled an act to increase the efficiency of the army, by the employment of free negroes and slaves in certain capacities, approved February 17th, 1864, and to repeal an act for the enlistment of cooks in the army, approved April 21st, 1862.

States "it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War to have employed one hundred thousand slaves, as provided in said act, if so many should be necessary, to work upon fortifications, or government works, for the production or preparation of material of war ... " Reports that slaves shall receive rations and clothing while employed, and that their owners will be compensated six dollars per month for each slave. States that cooks employed should not exceed one for every ten privates. Repeals an act approved 21 April 1862 for the enlistment of cooks in the army. States "By Mr. Orr" (…

GLC08420

12 May 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: Resolutions of the legislature of the State of Mississippi in relation to the recent act of the Congress of the Confederate States suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

States "The writ of habeas corpus is the great prerogative writ of the American people, distinguishing a free and constitutional government from an absolute despotism ... the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it." Indicates this resolution was introduced by Jehu Amaziah Orr, a House Representative from Mississippi.

GLC08421

February 14, 1865

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: Amendment to the negro soldier bill

Invests the Confederate General-in-Chief with the power to call slaves in to military service. States that clothing and rations will be provided to slaves impressed or voluntarily offered for service by their owner. States "By Mr. Swan" (likely Confederate Congressman William Graham Swan). Contains a Rebel Archives stamp. Possibly created in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC08472

30 April 1863

Confederate States of America. Congress

Manuscript document

Title: An Act supplementary to "An Act to provide for the funding and further issue of Treasury notes."

Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to issue bonds "at a rate of six per centum per annum, payable at the pleasure of the owner in the currency in which interest is paid on the other bonds of the Confederate States, or in cotton of the quality of New Orleans middling, valued at eight-pense sterling per pound ... " Marked as "Copy No 70."

GLC00832.03

February 17, 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Printed document

Title: [Amendment for an act (Senate Bill, No. 109) authorizing the employment of free African Americans]

Increases compensation given to free African Americans for their employment. Authorizes the Secretary of War to employ 40,000 slaves instead of 20,000 for governmental service. Empowers the Secretary of War to impress 40,000 slaves if they will not willingly offer their service. States "by Mr. Henry" (possibly Gustavus Adolphus Henry, a Confederate congressman). Establishes guidelines for impressment. Includes a Rebel Archives stamp. Possibly created in Richmond, Virginia.

GLC08417

February 25, 1863

Confederate States of America. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: Regulations in relation to the issue of certificates for bonds and registered stock

GLC06745.240

January 10, 1865

Confederate States of America. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: A Bill to be entitled an Act to regulate the business of conscription

GLC06745.141

9 November 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: A Bill to be entitled an Act to provide means to carry on the war

GLC06745.145

January 18, 1865

Confederate States of America. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: A Bill to be entitled an Act to levy additional taxes for the year 1865, for the support of the government

GLC06745.146

January 20, 1865

Confederate States of America. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: A Bill to be entitled an Act to levy and collect taxes for the common defence, and for the support of the government for the year 1865, and to repeal certain tax laws

GLC06745.147

January 23,1865

Confederate States of America. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: To amend an Act to organize forces to serve during the war

GLC06745.151

January 24, 1865

Confederate States of America. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: That the bill to levy additional taxes for the year 1865, for the support of the government...

GLC06745.152

13 December 1864

Confederate States of America. Congress

Pamphlet

Title: To be entitled an Act for the prevention of frauds on the revenues of the post offices department,and prohibiting the transportation of mailable matter over the post routes of the Confederate states by unauthorized associations or persons.

GLC06745.153