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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.

Pillow, Gideon Johnson, 1806-1878 to Andrew Jackson

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02605 Author/Creator: Pillow, Gideon Johnson, 1806-1878 Place Written: Columbia, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 November 1844 Pagination: 4 p. : address : docket ; Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Concerns the statements of Abbot Lawrence criticizing James Polk's treatment of enslaved people. General Pillow, formerly Polk's law partner, defends Polk. Attests that Polk inherited his enslaved people, treats them well, and has never participated in slave dealing. Relates several accounts of Polk selling enslaved people so they may be with their families. Challenges Lawrence to retract his criticism of Polk.

Pillow, Gideon Johnson, 1806-1878
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

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