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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.

Colfax, Schuyler, 1823-1885 to William Pitt Fessenden

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01095 Author/Creator: Colfax, Schuyler, 1823-1885 Place Written: South Bend, Indiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: May 24, 1854 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 22.8 cm, Width: 19.8 cm Order a Copy

Colfax notes that he is not personally acquainted with Senator Fessenden, but they were both present at a previous National Convention. He hopes that instead of voting against the Clayton Amendment, Fessenden will allow it to pass, in hopes that its passage and effect will prove disastrous for the bill's supporters: "...it would drag down the Conspirators to a deeper degradation & a more decisive condemnation." He calls supporters of the bill "Douglasites," possibly a reference to Senator Stephen A. Douglas. Letter written on Register Office, South Bend stationery. Top left corner includes a printed description of the St. Joseph Valley Register, accompanied by the image of a Northrop Power Press.

Colfax, Schuyler, 1823-1885
Fessenden, William Pitt, 1806-1869
Douglas, Stephen Arnold, 1813-1861

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