Humphrey Marshall (1812-1872). A four-term antebellum United States Congressman and a Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army and a Confederate Congressman during the American Civil War, Minister to China. Scarce War Date LS. 1 Page. 7 1/2" x 12". Head Quarters Lebanon VA. March 11th, 1862. Marshall issues "Special Order No. 33" concerning the promotion of a "Rifle Mounted Battalion" officer. "Assistant Adjutant General Ben F. Bradley having been requested by the officers and men of the Rifle Mounted Battalion to accept the command of said battalion as Major threreof, and having signified his desire to accept the commission now tendered to him by the suffrages of the Battalion, is relieved from duty as a member of teh Brigade Staff from this date. He will proceed immediately to the command of the battalion of Mounted Rifles with the rank of Major, subject of course to the approval of the President and will be obeyed and respected accordingly. II: Bartonn W. Jenkins, having been heretofore selected as Aid-de-Camp to the Brigadier General commanding, will be respected accordingly." Boldly signed at the conclusion "H. Marshall, Brig. Genl Comg." A scarce war dated cavalry order signed by Marshall. Fine.
A fine content letters from the scarce general. Fine.

THOMAS W. DORR (1805-1854). Political reformer. Between the end of the revolution and the mid-1830s, attempts by the residents of Rhode Island to increase their limited suffrage had consistently met with contemptuous obstruction from the state government. By the early 1840s, Rhode Island was the only state which had not adopted practical manhood suffrage, and the only state not operating under a written constitution. The old colonial charter, under which the state was governed, permitted only those possessing a "moderate landed estate" to vote, thus effectively disenfranchising over half the state's male population. It has been estimated that, under this system, as few as 1,800 voters were controlling the state whose population was roughly 110,000. It was in this atmosphere that a "People's Party," led by Dorr, was formed, held a convention, drafted a constitution, and submitted it to the people for approval. Despite the fact that this constitution was overwhelmingly approved by the population, 14,000 to 100, the entrenched state government refused to acknowledge the results. In early 1842, the Dorrites, acting in accordance with their constitution, elected a full slate of government officials, with Dorr as governor. Thus, by May of that year, there were two governments, both claiming to be the state's legitimate governing body. Both governors, acting independently of one another, issued proclamations and carried on state business. Governor King, despite the fact that the People's Party had not attempted to seize the state house or machinery of government, appealed to Washington for help. In response, Dorr went to Washington to plead his case, unsuccessfully, to the President, and returned to find martial law had been declared in his absence, and a reward offered for his capture. He surrendered voluntarily, was tried for treason, and sentenced to hard labor for life in June 1844. This harsh, "spiteful", sentence infuriated many, even supporters of the old government, and Dorr was released in 1845. As a result of "Dorr's Rebellion", a new, more liberal state constitution was adopted, giving voting rights to native-born men of legal age who paid taxes of $1 or more or served in the state militia. Rare signature “Thos. W. Dorr”, mounted and Very Good.

JAY COOKE (1821-1905). Banker. A chance move to Philadelphia as a result of the panic of 1837 determined Jay Cooke’s future career, with his eventually ending up as a partner in the distinguished banking house of Clark & Company in that city. Retiring as a wealthy man in 1857, he could not stay idle long, and founded Jay Cooke & Company in 1861, destined to become one of the most widely known banking houses in the country. Serving as treasury agent for the U.S. government during the Civil War, Cooke’s banking house handled with great success the larger part of the $2 billion in bonds which the government issued to finance the war effort. After the war, Cooke’s banking house specialized in financing very large enterprises, most notably the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In the depression of 1873, however, the house failed, helping bring on the panic of 1873.

CHARLES BARNEY Co-founder of today’s well known Smith Barney borkerage firm. Charles Barney, founded his firm in 1873 and a young investment banker, Edward B. Smith, started his in 1892. These pioneers of the American securities industry helped make Wall Street the world’s financial capital.

Document Signed. Williamsport, Pennsylvania. February 18, 1885. 6 pages. 8” x 12 ½”. Manuscript Charter of Incoporation of The Ogontz Fishing Club. The charter outlines the details of the club’s formation stating “The purpose of the said Corporation shall be the preservation and propogation of fish in the Waters of the West or First Fork of Larrys Creek and its bributaries in the County of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania” The document is signed as the conclusion by all who are listed as directors; JAY COOKE, JAY COOKE, JR., CHAS. D. BARNEY, JOHN M. BUTLER, CLINTON LLOYD, THOMAS W. LLOYD AND LIZZIE H. LLOYD.

A fine document displaying Cooke’s avid interest in sportsmanship and a great association with one of America’s most well known brokerage names. Some light dampstaining

21st January 1832

My Dear Sir Why should I not say my dear friend when I feel myself have an interior claim upon you to that effect before I proceed further I must in justice say that I have no where met with warmer gratitude and attachment than from the few Americans to who I show civilities Services were quite out of my power But whatever I did came from the Heart & was so understood this serves to cover an answer to a letter full of affection and gratitude from Mr. Andrew Bigelowe who it appears had written twice some time ago no doubt in the same stile without receiving any answer, I think I could scarce be such a Savage as to neglect so much kindness. One of his or mine must have been lost This letter was brought by a very pleasing relation of his Stevens by name Who is now in Manchester & wishd my answer to be sent to him to forwarded, but I think it more direct to be sent thro your good offices by the packet for I am impatient to let the good Soul know that age has not with me extinguished all human feeling Bye the bye, I received with this letter a tour to Sicily & Malta of his writing of respectable size & equally respectable contents, indicating much f his natural gentleness and good feeling. Excepting indeed on one subject which carries him uprite of his native element, & it make him appear like a Pigeon in a passion to poor John Bull he is on all occasions unmerciful Now I really think Jonathan Calf ought to respect himself in his progenitor from whom he derives such a rich inheritance of good blood, good language good laws & above all to use his own phrase good Nations. It is ungracious to trumple on the poor old Gentlemen in the day of his on the poor old Gentleman in the day of his adversity, but one shall not begin a subject which has no end but rather speak of Dear Mrs. Booth & her pretty Chickens, As Macduff says. I have a kind of partial interest about the youngest which I should not indulge knowing how little these Blossoms are to be with & in such a case I should be sorrier than I ought to be. We are all quiet & grave here few parties none gay no wonder. Standing as we do on an Isthmus between Revolution & cholera, & without very kindly feelings to each other where Politics differ while matters are come to a crisis which makes a Neutrality impossible. The inclosed will be sent of course to the Packets. I shall be inconsolable if it does not arrive. I love all your children the “Like Jacob lendest of the youngest born”. Mrs. Booth knows that I love her & suspects me of loving you.

A denial would be unworthy of Anne Grant

Arthur St. Clair (1734/1736-1818) Ninth President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation, holding office from February 2, 1787 to October 29, 1787. He was preceded in office by Nathaniel Gorham and succeeded by Cyrus Griffin. He was also a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, the highest-ranking officer in the US Army (1791-1792), and the only territorial governor of Ohio. St. Clair considered himself more of an American patriot than a British subject. ADS March 1803 1 page 3" x 5 1/2". "Bank of the United States, Pay to J. M. Bushmark or bearer, five dollars." Accomplished entirely in St. Clair's hand and signed twice by him. In excellent condition.

Martin Van Buren (1837 – 1841). 8th President of the United States. ALS. 4 pages. 8” x 9 ¾”. Washington September 28, 1829. To President Andrew Jackson; “I have this moment received your note in relation to Genl Porter’s accounts. I will hereafter, if it is deemed necessary make a formal opinion upon the subject and will therefore content myself, for the present with a brief sketch of my views in the matter. I am not satisfied by General Porter’s statement that the law in question is unconstitutional. I dissent from the opinion expressed by him that he is entitled to the larger salary, after the expiration of the two years. The object of the act of 1821 was, and its language is sufficient to affect it, to prohibit thereafter any further, or other allowances that which was provided by it, and the only consequence of the continuance of the beyond the two years, and to extend the act, could be, that for the of the time, the commissioner is left to his application to congress for further allowance. Much stress is laid by Genl Porter, on the situation of Gov Van Ness, his acts, and those of the Government in regard to his claims. I would therefore suggest the propriety of it being stated by Mr. Anderson in his letter to Genl Porter, in which he communicates the opinion of the President; that Mr Van Ness was informed, that his was not a case of fact a character as to permit the Government, with propriety, to enter into an amicable : Mr Van Ness had consented to waive his claims, and have his accounts set according to the law of 1821, and that Genl Porter consents to the same course, the Government must accept such as an its power to effect that result. This appears to be related to claims for compensation by General Peter Buell Porter. Couple of small edge chinks. Fine.