Politics

21-1. For President: F.D.R. versus William Lemke.

Printed “Sample Ballot, General Election, Nov. 3, 1936,” (Virginia), 5 x 22. Pinholes at top  where displayed, the printed “X” beside “For President and Vice-Pres., Franklin D. Roosenelt  and John N. Garner...,” plus Carter Glass for Senate, and A. Willis Robertson for Congress,  urging a straight Democrat ticket. Beneath are the slates of Landon and Knox (Republican),  Dr. D. Lee Colvin and Claude Watson (Prohibition), Norman Thomas and George A. Nelson  (Socialist), William Lemke and Thomas O’Brien (Union), John Aiken and Emil Teichert  (Socialist Labor), and Earl Browder and James Ford (Communist), each with their rosters of  electors. Interesting tallies in dark pencil on verso, showing a discrepancy of 9 (votes?). Glass  was a co-founder of the Federal Reserve as Wilson’s Sec. of the Treasury, and was Pres. pro  tem of the Senate on Dec. 7, 1941. Top Communist Browder spent his later years in relative  obscurity in Yonkers, having garnered just 0.17% of the votes in 1936. Old folds, uniform  cream toning, else good plus, and suitable for display. $65-85 

21-2. “Uncle Abe” Takes California.

Splendid letter of G.H. Davidson, Iowa Hill, Calif., Nov. 10, 1864, 7¾ x 9¾, 2 full pp. To his  brother in Wiscoy, Allegany Co., N.Y. Writing from Gold Country, “I learn by Mother’s last  letter that you and Martin were looking after substitutes though she did not say that you were  drafted. If so, you may be hard pressed for money...I will try and send you some although I  have been hard up myself this summer. My trip home last winter and over the mountains this  last spring cost me a good deal and too, it has been such hard times through the State that it  has made a great deal of my wild cat mining stocks worthless. Also my old partner Joe Wood  has been sick most all summer at Austin...I want you to defeat Reese in trying to open the lane  that goes back on the hill. Procure the best counsel you can find...I will give $100 in  Greenbacks to carry on the suit. Should any of the boys be killed while in the Army, spare no  expense to have their bodies brought home. If necessity required it, you can Telegraph to me  here and if times demand, I can send the money back by Telegraph...We have gained a  glorious triumph in this State on Election day. We have been up and at work this last 6 weeks  for ‘Uncle Abe’ and have cleaned out the Cop(p)erheads completely. All about this town is sore  headed...Never was there such exciting times as during this Presidential campaign and we  hope to hear the same from N.Y....” Original folds, else very fine. Located in the heart of Gold  Rush country’s Placer County, Iowa Hill suffered a disastrous fire two years earlier. It is so  remote that it was the last town in America to get land-line telephone service. One can only  imagine the adventures that awaited Davidson and his fellow fortune-seekers; the area boasts  dozens of famous gold mines, including “Big Dipper.” • Sulphur-yellow cover, blue-green c.d.s.  “Iowa City Cal. / Nov 11,” ink cancel on upside-down, misperfed 3¢, with unusually extensive  imprint of next stamp, and deeply indented perf at right vertical, probably as made. Postal  wrinkles, else very good. $150-200 (2 pcs.)

21-3. The Politicians “do not seem as great as when they are in the distance.”

Fascinating account of a Washington visitor’s first-hand impressions of politicians, his visits  to Congress and the Senate, and more. From 311 D St., N.W., Mar. 22, 1878, 5 x 8, 4 full pp. To  “Friend Fred.” “I am having No. 1 time...I have heard many, both Senators and  Representatives. When you see them and hear them, they do not seem as great as when they  are in the distance. I have heard: Sens. Jim Blaine, Dawes and G.F. Hoar, Stanley Matthews,  David Davis, John J. Ingalls, A.A. Sargent, J.T. Morgan, Charles W. Jones, Roscoe Conkling...  Thomas W. Ferry. The latter generally sits in the chair when the Vice Pres. is absent. Blaine  creates the greatest sensation, laughter and general hubub when he speaks. Stanley Matthews & Roscoe Conkling are the most  eloquent. George Hoar puts on a Methodist sing-song. Ingalls sticks close to law. Dawes makes a fool of himself, and (Isaac)  Christiancy is the best looking. In the House...John Hanna of Ind., Foster and Garfield of Ohio, Eugene Hale of Maine, Blount and Alex  H. Stephens of Ga., Luttrell of Calif., and many others. Stephens is the most talented man in the House of Reps.; he is all brains. Butler  speaks very much like Dr. Manson. Foster and Garfield are very smart...Hamlin is well acquainted with Father. Appeared very glad to  see me and was very kind to me, giving me a letter to the Sec. of Treas. John Sherman, by which means I shall be able to go in every  part of the Treasury Dept. where visitors are not allowed...Shall go to Mt. Vernon today. I have been to the Medical Museum; have  leaned from the window where Booth took his jump...I saw Fred Douglass a few days since; he feels his importance....” Also mentions  seeing the buildings still standing from the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition. The writer was evidently from Maine. Short break at one fold,  else fine. $100-130

21-4. Promoter of “DeWitt’s Ditch” - the Erie Canal.

D.S. of DeWitt Clinton, as Gov. of N.Y., Albany, Oct. 20, 1827, 9 x 12½. Appointing Robert M. Hartley a Capt. in 97th Infantry Regt.  Also signed by Adjt.-Gen. N.F. Beck. Unsuccessful Federalist and Peace Party candidate for President in 1812 (though his uncle was  Vice Pres.), Clinton was Mayor of N.Y.C., Senator and Governor of the Empire State, and head of the People’s Party. “Clinton believed  that infrastructure improvements could transform American life...” --wikipedia. Old brown paper backing, mousechew at top center  affecting one letter in masthead, characteristic edge chipping with several larger slivers lacking, else signature very good, and still  collectible and displayable. $110-150

21-5. The President “no longer the organ of the nation.”

A.L.S. of future Conn. Sen. John M(ilton) Niles, Hartford, Jan. 17, (18)29, 7¾ x 10, 1½ pp., with good content on Pres.-elect Andrew  Jackson’s opportunity to undo lame-duck John Quincy Adams’ controversial appointments. Probably penned as Postmaster of Conn.’s  capital city; as Van Buren’s Postmaster General, Niles ended mail delivery on Sundays. In 1845, he cast the deciding vote to admit  Texas to the Union, and represented Conn. on the very first Republican National Committee in 1856. To Sen. Levi Woodbury of N.H.;  also Sec. of Navy, Sec. of Treasury, Justice of U.S. Supreme Court - Woodbury was the first Justice to attend law school. “It is  understood here that Henry Wolcott, Esq. has been nominated to the Senate, to fill the office of collector of the Port of  Middletown...The friends of the President elect are very desirous of having the nomination disposed of...It appears to me that this is the  best disposition that can be made of all the objectionable nominations, which have been or may be made by an executive who has fallen  under the bane of public opinion & who is no longer the organ of the nation, in fact however he may be in law. A contrary course will  place Pres. Jackson in a more unpleasant & trying situation, as it regards his first official acts, although I do not doubt his firmness to  act up to the exigency of any circumstances which may occur...A remonstration has been prepared...to be presented to the Senate,  against the appointment of Mr. Wolcott, whose only claim to the office rests on the principle of family monopoly, a principle most  palpably opposed to the doctrine which his father always maintained. The Republican (Jackson) Party, in this State, have united in the  support of Noah A. Phelps for the office in question....” Addressee Woodbury, considered as 1848 Democratic candidate for President,  is given much of the blame for the Panic of 1837; his ten days at the helm of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance is the briefest  chairmanship in Senate history. Evidently separated from address-leaf (not present), shallow ½” sliver lacking at blank bottom edge,  some fold wear, else darkly penned and very good. $130-160 

21-6. 1860 Presidential Campaign Before Lincoln: “The best chance for the nomination is Bates.”

Eloquent and prophetic letter of Will(iam) Pound, Greensburgh, Ind., May 15, 1860, 7¾ x 10, 3 pp. To “Cousin Sam.” Lincoln’s name at  this point in the running was far from prominent: “...In the present divided state of the Democratic party, it is certainly safe to say that  upon the action of the Chicago Convention now so near at hand depends the result of the next presidential election. All that this  convention has to do, in my opinion - in the opinion of the mass of the people in fact, to elect their candidate next fall is to nominate  the strongest man...without any sacrifice of principle. Just now, the man who seems to have the best chance for the nomination, is  Bates. Among others, Greeley is working hard for his nomination, and is against Seward, because he does not think he can be elected -  that he could not carry the ‘doubtful states.’ There is no chance now for the election of any president by the people, unless he is a  Republican, and he must be a man that could be fought for on account of his own popularity, and not upon the unpopularity of the  multitude of his opponents. The election should be kept from the House too, if possible, for there the fight should be nothing else than  desperate. If the Charleston Convention had only united on Davis of Miss. I should have been strongly in favor of Seward or Chase on a  straight-out Radical Republican platform, but now, such a thing is not to be thought of. Only a few days longer to wait....” Born a  Quaker, the writer served as a 90-day soldier in the 7th Ind. Infantry, becoming a lawyer and publishing the local newspaper - all by the  age of 21. Moving to Dakota Territory in 1869 as the Governor’s Private Secretary, he was appointed U.S. attorney, passing away at just  37, denied the seasons of life he described so beautifully (obituary accompanies). It is interesting that none of 1860’s final Presidential  combatants - Lincoln, Breckinridge, Bell, and Douglas - are mentioned. In the last balloting at the Convention, dark horse Lincoln  surged to 349 – Edward Bates received not one. Bates’ anti-slavery views alienated some Southerners, and his past affiliation with the  Know Nothings inflamed German-Americans. A fascinating reminder of the ever-present potential for surprising outcomes in politics.  Handling evidence, original folds, else about very good. $150-200 

21-7. The Health Care Debate – of 1840!

Remarkably timely Whig campaign tract from William Henry Harrison’s run for the Presidency: “The Crisis of the Country,” by Junius,  copyright T.K. and P.G. Collins, Lodge Alley, Philadelphia, “2nd edition,” this evidently printed in N.Y. 5½ x 8¼, 16 pp., sewn. Closely  set text, with exhaustive presentation on “The Credit System and the No Credit System”: “The poor man’s family is sick, and he wants a  doctor. The doctor comes, and waits till the poor man can pay. He wants medicine at the apothecary’s, and the apothecary does him the  same favor. Suppose he can never pay... Society is benefitted by a voluntary tax on those who could afford it. How the no-credit system  affects the same case: The doctor don’t come, the apothecary refuses the medicine, the sick members of the family may live, but more  likely will die...The unfortunate young man is cut off from all prospects in life, left to want, perhaps to misery and starvation...How the  credit system affects the honest and strong, though poor man, who goes with no estate but his axe and rifle on his shoulder into the  western wilderness...The trees fall before him, a ‘log cabin’ is soon erected; he gets food by his rifle...No other security than the  common generous faith of the West...Not even a scrap of paper is demanded... This brief story is not fiction, but fact....” Continuing the  correlation with modern times, a discussion of “how the constitutional prerogative of the respective states to control their own  monetary capital may be, and is likely to be usurped by this Govt. Bank...This Govt. Bank will work a revolution in a ruinous  depreciation of the prices of property and labor...How a Depotism may grow up in a Republic...How the Government governs too  much...How we have fallen...It can’t be worse....” Urging “One Presidential term, now and forever”; ironically, Harrison would succumb  in his first year in office. Uniform toning to mocha, lighter portion on p. 1; lower margins and vertical edge of last leaf nibbled, but with  no loss of text, some foxing, otherwise satisfactory. Very scarce. A fascinating item indeed. $60-90 

21-8. Rare Mention of David Rice “President for a Day” Atchison.

Potent letter to “Capt. Jas. W. Denver, Platte City, Mo.,” for whom Denver, Colorado named (also see Lot 24-1), from N.B. Holder,  Lexington, Mo., Aug. 2, 1849, 7¾ x 12, 2 pp. With mention of Santa Anna, Thomas Hart Benton, David Rice “President for a Day”  Atchison, the Mexican War - in which Denver fought under Gen. Winfield Scott, and more. “I have heard nothing from that claim  against Woods and Estell. I left the matter somewhat in charge of Capt. Morin fearing the matter may not be attended to...Let me know  what property is levied on. I very much hope you will be elected Probate Judge. I see by the papers that Benton speaks at Platte City  today. If the Platte country sustains Benton against Atchison we all might as well surrender at discretion. Benton enters the State like  an invading army...He erects a ‘high wall and a deep ditch’ between his forces and all those that are found with army in their hands, and  bears aloft the Black flag of no quarters, no communion nor compromise, and like Scott in the Mexican War he issues a proclamation  cautioning all good citizens not to take up arms in this servile rebellion and that every expression of opinion against the Van Dalison of  the North is but another plot against the Lieut. Gen. of this Co. There are many other incidents of the Mexican War which anyone who  was actually in the field as you were will force themselves upon the wind. Santa Anna invited desertion from American ranks and  formed all deserters into a Battalion under the command of the notorious Col. Riley. The General in this war invites deserters from the  Whig ranks. I wonder if Col. Doniphan will command them if he declines the distinguished honor. I suppose the Republican man will  claim the right to command the General counted largely upon the divisions that Clay, Webster...and others of the American Congress  were to produce the Lieut. Gen. of this campaign expects, ‘aid and comfort’ from the same quarters. The Mexican general always  pointed to his past services to cover his meditated treachery...Some men are to be tried by drum head court martial, condemned,  executed and tumbled into the ditch, that is indemnity for the past, and no freeman of Missouri is ever hereafter to entertain any  opinion upon any subject that this is security...The eyes of the whole State are turned upon the glorious Platte if she throws down her  arms and sues for an ignominious peace, a general rout will follow...The majority of the democratic party in this county are against  Benton.” The latter, who incurs so much of the writer’s wrath, is certainly Sen. Thomas Hart Benton, considered the prime architect of  Manifest Destiny, America’s westward expansion. Several months later, as Denver was packing for California, Benton, recently  converted to the anti-slavery column, was nearly shot on the floor of the Senate while debating the Compromise of 1850. Six years later,  Lexington would host the Pro-Slavery Convention of Missouri, seeking to condemn abolitionism - at which David Rice Atchison,  “President for a Day,” was also present. Brown Lexington c.d.s. and manuscript “Paid 5” on integral address-leaf; endorsed in Denver’s  hand, “Ans(wered) Aug. 9th, 1849.” Very minor ink erosion, postal wrinkles, else about V.G. $275-325 

21-9. Teddy Roosevelt Poster Defining the Immigrant.

Timely Theodore Roosevelt poster, “Keep Up the Fight for Americanism,” apparently 1919, issued by Women’s National Committee of  American Defense Society, N.Y.C. Wonderfully poignant photographic portrait of Roosevelt in sepia gravure, Underwood, 20½ x 25½.  “The last public message of Theodore Roosevelt, Hon. Pres. of The American Defense Society, read at its All-American benefit concert  held at the Hippodrome...Jan. 5, 1919 [the night before his passing]...‘We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good  faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage  to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birthplace or origin. But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very  fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of  America, then he isn’t doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American but  something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag...(and) one language...not as dwellers in a polyglot  boarding house....’” Quarter folds, very light dusting of heavy ink coverage, imparting silvered overtone, internal tears along fold and at  fold junction at nose, several edge nibbles, marginal dust toning, but still about good. Dramatic display, with current relevance. A “torn,  stained, and wrinkled” example sold at Bonham’s Steve McQueen Sale, 2006, for 526.00. $275-375 

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