116001. Adams, Charles Francis (1807-1876). Charles Francis Adams, a distinguished statesman, was the son of President John Quincy Adams and grandson of President John Adams. Early in his career he was a state legislator in Massachusetts. In 1848 Adams joined former Democratic President Martin Van Buren on the Free‑Soil ticket in an unsuccessful bid for the vice presidency of the United States. As a Republican, he was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives, serving from 1859 to 1861. Lincoln appointed him Minister to England, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He also became an eminent representative of the United States. This was particularly important because of the delicate balance of feelings toward America and its Civil War. His career in England has been cited as one of the foremost triumphs of American diplomacy. Lord Palmerston was constantly pressured for support of the Confederacy but was held in check by public opinion and the expressed feelings of Queen Victoria toward the North. Lincoln forwarded Adams’s dispatches to Congress concerning the Trent Affair, in which Adams played a major role. In 1872 an attempt was made to nominate him as a candidate for the presidency of the United States, but Horace Greeley secured the nomination for himself. Adams returned to Boston where he edited the works of his father and grandfather, and published many of his addresses and commentaries. Brief ANS, 1p, 55 Boston, MA, 1876 Aug. 5. Fine. Mounting traces on verso. Response to an autograph request. $90.00
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114049.
Adams, Charles Francis (1866-1954). Adams as Secretary
of the Navy (1929-1933) in the Hoover administration. He was the great, great,
grandson of President John Adams and great grandson of President
John Quincy Adams. TLS, 1p, 10”x8”, 1905 Oct 13. Fine. He writes of the
discovery of a letter of President John Adams. $35.00
President John Adams fires his Secretary of War, James McHenry, with the erroneous belief that the latter fired the Chief Clerk of the War Department
114083.
(Adams, John) James McHenry
(1753-1818). A patriot and statesman who studied medicine under Benjamin Rush.
During the American Revolution he served as a surgeon in the Continental Army.
In 1776 he was captured by the British at Fort Washington, but exchanged in
1778. From 1778 to 1780 he was a secretary to General Washington. Later he was a
delegate to the Federal Constitutional Convention and a signer. He was appointed
Secretary of War in the Washington cabinet on January 27, 1796, and continued in
this position in the John Adams cabinet, serving until 1800. Because McHenry
allied himself with Adams’ archrival, Federalist Alexander Hamilton, as did some
other members of his cabinet, Adams found that this was unacceptable and fired
him. At about the time that Adams removed McHenry from office, the President
heard a rumor that McHenry had fired Major John Stagg, Chief Clerk in the War
Department, to give this job to McHenry’s brother-in-law. This was false,
according to the two letters presented here. Two ALsS, (retained copies of the
originals), each in the hand of McHenry, each 1p & 9”x7”. They are written on
laid paper, each with a crown watermark. Both are very fine. The first was a
copy of McHenry’s own letter to Stagg, Philadelphia, May 24, 1800.
“One of those little tellers who infest, when permitted, the ears of men in certain stations, has whispered to the President [John Adams], who mentioned it to me, as if he believed the story, that I had obliged you to resign the office of Chief Clerk in the Department of War to make room for my brother-in-law. The circumstance of this falsehood being noticed by the President induces me to request to be informed, whether any part of my conduct, or an act of expression of mine, was the cause of your resignation, and whether, while you filled the office of chief clerk, my behavior to you, was not always the act of a gentleman, marked with good nature, kindness & friendship. As I shall leave the Department of War In a few days, it will give me pleasure to carry with me your candid recollections on the subject . . .”
This letter is docketed on verso by McHenry, “D 24 May 1800 . To Major Jno Stagg.” The second letter, McHenry’s copy of Stagg’s response, is dated New York May 26, 1800.
“Were I to be silent on the subject of your letter . . . I should be doing injustice to your character, and an injury to my own feelings. Your conduct toward me, as Secretary of War, while I had the honour of exercising the duties of Chief Clerk in the war office, was such as merited my esteem. The indulgence I experienced from you on many occasions, especially during a long and unavoidable absence, bears unequivocal testimony of your friendly disposition and kindness; and I do not hesitate to declare, that no act, or expression of yours, an any way whatsoever, gave cause for my resignation. The official correspondence which passed between us on that occasion, will explain the principal motive which led to the measure – my inferior state of health . . .”
This letter is docketed on verso by McHenry, “E 26 may 1800. From major Jno Stagg.” Dismissed by Adams, McHenry left his office on June 1, 1800, a few days after this encounter with the President. Two fine pieces. $1800.00
110106.
Daniels, Josephus
(1862-1948). Daniels was a newspaperman and politician, a native
of Washington, North Carolina. Daniels and other Democrats launched a “White
Supremacy” campaign to appeal to racist sentiment that led to disenfranchisement
of African Americans. He served as Secretary of the Navy (1913-1921), during the
Wilson administration. President Franklin D. Roosevelt served as his Assistant
Secretary of the Navy. Roosevelt later appointed Daniels United States
Ambassador to Mexico. In his autobiography he expressed some regrets of the
White Supremacy campaign. TLS as Secretary of the Navy, Washington, 1918 June
21. Fine. Slight age-toning. Docketed in ink in upper right corner, “Sec’y
Daniels June 21/18.” He writes, “I am in receipt of your letter of the
14th instant together with the clipping you enclose, and thank you
for the suggestions contained therein…” $40.00
111133.
Daniels, Josephus
(1862-1948). 1. TLS as Secretary of the Navy, 1p, 10"x8",
Washington, 1920 Aug. 24. Fine. Tiny holes in upper left corner and pencil line
through text. It concerns a request to invite the British Ambassador to give a
talk. 2. Plus original penalty envelope 3. TLS as Ambassador, 1p,
10"x8", Mexico City, Mexico, 1939 Jan. 24. Fine. Tiny staple stain in upper
left corner. He writes to Governor Clyde Hoey of North Carolina recommending a
woman for a state position. 3 pieces $85.00
³³³³³³
óóóóóó
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110119
Gallatin, Abraham Albert
(1761-1849). Born in Switzerland, he became the first
foreign-born cabinet member. In 1793 he was elected as a U. S. Senator from
Pennsylvania, but was not permitted to take his seat on the grounds that he had
not been a U. S citizen for nine years. He later was elected as a MOC and from
1801 to 1814 he was Secretary of the Treasury under Jefferson and Madison. His
financial reform helped to substantially eliminate the deficits
engendered by the
embroilments in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812.
Gallatin also was a member of
the commission that negotiated the Treaty of Ghent and was Minister of France
and Great Britain. MsLS as Secretary of the Treasury, 1p, 10”x8”, Treasury
Department, Washington, 1810 Dec. 10. Very good. Slight fold wear with two tiny
holes not affecting the text. He writes to the Collector of Dighton,
Massachusetts,
“Your letter of the 24th
ultimo has been received, but before I can proceed to decide on the propriety of
complying with the request therein contained, it will be necessary that you
furnish me with an estimate of the cost of such a boat as is required for the
use of your District…” Plus a
hand-colored steel engraving of Gallatin. 2 pieces. $375.00
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114069.
Hoover, John Edgar.
Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation. TLS, 1p, 9"x7", Washington, 1971
April 23. Fine. Some horizontal folds. He thanks his correspondent for her
letter and "kind remarks and support of my work..." $80.00
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110125.
La Guardia, Fiorello (1882-1947). Lawyer, MOC and
colorful mayor of New York. Six TLsS, “F. LaGuardia,” on La Guardia,
Sapinsky & Amster letterhead, five are 1p and one is 2pp, 10”x8”, New York,
April to August 1922. Fine. Some slight soiling. They are in reference to a
client, Giuseppe Parente concerning an application to the U. S. Patent Office
for a patent, in small part: “…to use the common solid
dividing wall in compound cylinders with a single exit and entrance port,
controlled by a single slide valve without the use of stuffing
boxes…” 6 pieces. $375.00
114082.
Mason, John Young (1799-1859). Statesman from Virginia who served as a
MOC and later as Secretary of the Navy (1844-45; 1846-49) and Attorney General
of the United States (1845-46). From 1854 to 1859 he served as United States
Minister Plenipotentiary to France. ALS, 1p, 2pp, Clermont, 1842 Jan. 18. Fine.
He writes to Francis Mallory, MOC from Virginia recommending Edmund Lloyd for a
commission in the Marine Corps. He points out that Lloyd is the great grandson
of Richard Henry Lee on his maternal side and great grandnephew of General Henry
Lee on the paternal side. $50.00
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110134. Pinchot, Gifford Bryce (1865-1946). Pinchot was the
first Chief of the United States Forest Service (1905-1910) and governor of
Pennsylvania (1923-27; 1931-35). He was most famous for advocating conservation
of our national forests. TLS, 1p, 10”x8”, Philadelphia, PA, 1930 May 31. Very
good. Slight age-toning and marginal wear with minor archival paper repairs on
verso. He thanks his correspondent for his congratulations on being elected
governor of Pennsylvania, “The big job now is to put our platform over. We
have taken the first step, but the fight to carry out the program is still
ahead. I appreciate deeply your help in the past and I look forward confidently
to your support all the way through…” $80.00
110135.
Platt, Thomas C. (1833-1910). From New York State,
Platt was a banker who served as a Republican Representative in Congress
(1873-77) and in the United States Senate (briefly in 1881; 1897-1909). TLS,
2pp, 10”x8”, United States Senate, Washington, DC, 1908 July 29. Fine. He writes
to Hon. William M. Collier who is attempting to obtain a presidential
appointment as Ambassador to Vienna. He indicates that he would do his best to
get him an embassy appointment. $20.00
110137.
Roosevelt, James John
(1795-1875). A New York lawyer who became a partner of Peter Jay.
He served in the state legislature and was also a MOC (1841-43). Roosevelt was
later a justice of the state Supreme Court and a U.S. District Attorney for
southern New York. His wife Cornelia Roosevelt was the daughter of
Cornelius P. Van Ness. During the Civil War she helped organize hospitals and
charitable associations for the aid of the troops. Partly printed ADS by both,
1p, 12"x8", New York 1851 Jan 7. Fine. Minor archival paper repairs on small
fold breaks on verso. It is an indenture selling 120 acres of land in
Constantia, New York. It is also signed by John Duer (1782-1858) as a
justice of the Superior Court. He later became chief justice
of New York. $75.00
114104.
Sherman, John (1823-1900). American statesman. He was a MOC (1855-61),
United States Senator (1861-77; 1881-97), Secretary of the Treasury (1877-91)
and Secretary of State (1897-98). Sherman was author of the Sherman Anti-Trust
Act. ALS, 1p, 8”x5”, Washington, 1892 May 28. Fine except for a central vertical
fold. He thanks A. K. McClure for his book, Lincoln and Men of War Times. $140.00
114106.
(Supreme Court) Burton, Harold H. (1888-1964). Associate justice of
United States Supreme Court. TLS on S.C. letterhead, 1p, 10”x8”, Washington,
1947 March 31. Fine. He writes to Herbert W. Fay, custodian of Abraham Lincoln’s
Tomb. A response to an autograph request. $130.00
114107.
(Supreme Court) Day, William R. (1849-1923). Associate justice of United
States Supreme Court. Partly printed ADS, 3”x8,” Canton, OH, 1891 Dec. 10. Fine.
It is his check drawn on the City National Bank in the amount of $1.55.
Cancellation does not touch any writing. $60.00
114109.
(Supreme Court) Woodbury, Levi (1789-1851). Woodbury was governor of New
Hampshire and also served as Secretary of the Treasury and Navy. In 1846 he was
appointed associate justice of he U. S. Supreme Court. Free franked folded
address leaf as Secretary of the Treasury with cds “WASHINGTON CITY, D.C. OCT
1.” Fine. $95.00
114108.
(Supreme Court) Stanley, Reed.
Associate Justice of United States Supreme Court. TLS as Solicitor General of
the United States, 1p, 10"x8", Washington, 1935 Dec. 24. Fine. A one sentence
letter acknowledging receipt of a letter. $45.00
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116199.
Wolcott, Oliver, Jr. (1760-1833). A financial officer
of Connecticut during the Revolution and the son of Signer Oliver Wolcott. In
the new Federal Union he served as Auditor of the Treasury (1789-91),
Comptroller of the Treasury (1791-95); he then succeeded Alexander Hamilton as
Secretary of the Treasury (1795-1800). After he left Washington, he served as a
jurist and as governor of Connecticut (1817-27). Partly printed DS as governor,
1p, 8”x13,” Hartford, 1818 May 20. Fine. Slight age-toning and vertical center
fold strengthened on verso with paper. An intact wafer seal is present. It is
also signed by Thomas Day, Secretary of the State. It is an appointment
of Lathrop Clark as a captain in the 7th Company of the 11th
Regiment of Infantry of the State Militia. $110.00
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