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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.

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878 to James F. Babcock

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02128 Author/Creator: Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878 Place Written: Hartford, Connecticut Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 July 1856 Pagination: 8 p. : docket ; Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Discusses the upcoming 1856 election. Comments that the press should be taking a firmer stance on the issues. Expresses hope to find ways to increase the chances of the Republican candidate, John C. Frémont. "This state [Connecticut] can be made certain for Fremont, and placed in a condition to sustain the cause of freedom for years, unless prevented by the bad conduct of the few leaders of the American party, who in their selfish purposes, would sacrifice the great principles in issue. . . " Warns that the American (Know-Nothing) Party can dominate the press and damage Fremont's chances.

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878
Babcock, James Fairchild, 1809-1874
Fremont, John Charles, 1813-1890

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