Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This printed circular contains the text of an act concerning executions and other judgments. The act is in ten sections covering possible re-courses for a person who has had a judgment levied against his body, his goods and chattels, his lands and tenements, or his security. It is signed in type by John Tipton, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Joseph McMinn, Speaker of the Senate. Someone has written Henry Boatman and Isaiah Miskiff, Esq. across the top in ink. It was published...

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This broadside reprints the letter that the Quakers in London wrote to King George I, followed by his brief reply. In their letter, they praised his justice and clemency, assured him of their loyalty and obedience, and expressed their sorrow over the ungrateful men of the recent rebellion. King George responded with a single sentence of appreciation.

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This speech by Governor William Carroll was an extra printed by the Murfreesborough Courier [sic]. Carroll introduces this session of the 15th General Assembly by noting an error in the law regarding presidential electors, progress toward a stable state currency, a request to construct turnpikes, the upcoming need for elections to replace temporary office holders, and General La Fayette’s [sic] upcoming visit. It is signed in type by William Carroll, executive office,...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: Felix Grundy had this circular printed in order to inform the voters of Rutherford, Williamson, and Davidson counties of his political views as he aspires to be the "Representative of a free and enlightened people." He is in favor of letting people elect the president and vice president directly, apart from the interference of the House of Representatives, under any circumstances, a reference to President Adams. He also believes that states need to retain more rights, in order to keep the...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: William Dunlap sent this three-page letter to the citizens of Roane and Morgan Counties to tell them about his positions during a campaign for state legislator. He thinks they should use the interest from the $400,000 in the new state bank to fund school districts and hire teachers for three months each winter. He supports selling stocks in order to make internal improvements, especially canals. He calls for direct elections for the president and vice president of the United States. He...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This eight-page circular, addressed to the voters of Knox and Anderson counties, provides a brief history of Gunn’s life with references to his character, as part of his campaign for the Tennessee House of Representatives against General Dunlap and Colonel Tunnel. Gunn wants to work to improve opportunities in East Tennessee by building a road from Knoxville to New Orleans, using federal funds, and he refers to the benefits that came to New York from their canals. He is passionately...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This broadside was published as an extra to the Franklin Repository in order to report on the results of the recent Young Men’s Administration Meeting. At that meeting, the young men agreed that as the current administration has improved the situation for agriculture and manufacturing, it should be kept in the next election. They believe that General Jackson will not support the tariff they need, and that he is unqualified to hold the office of president for a number...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This collection includes three poems, on two separate documents. "The Fred Douglas Scandal" (sic) was written by F. Poindexter of Waynesville, North Carolina and concerns his disdain for the North Carolina legislature’s decision to honor Frederick Douglass but to ignore Bob Lee. "The Slave’s Lamentation," by F.B. refers to Washington, D.C.’s failure to help enslaved individuals because they had been "gag’d by Atherton" and praises the fact that Warren fell for the cause of slavery. "The...

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This broadside announces the sale of public lands in the state of Ohio. The land office at Upper Sandusky has sixteen plots described, and the land office at Chillicothe has seven islands to sell. These offers last for two weeks. Under Polk’s printed signature, James Shields has appended a note about additional lands to be offered or reoffered at the Upper Sandusky land office.

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: In this broadside, William Foust explains why he didn’t attend the political convention as part of his campaign for the Tennessee state House of Representatives. He says he had no opponent, he doesn’t believe in leaving honest work to listen to the jangling of political aspirants, he doesn’t think they express the will of the people, and he’d heard of rampant fraud. Foust then lists his platform, which is in support of railroads, a road tax for everyone, and increasing the school fund by...

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Henry Ault printed these solicitation letters to inform potential customers of his Grocery & Commission business on Gay Street. He specifically mentions constant and ample supplies of coffee and sugar before describing his warehouses and his consignment procedures. He closes by reminding his recipients of his long experience. This letter has been folded and mailed to Joseph Johnson Esq., a merchant in Madisonville, Tennessee.

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: H.F. Cummins published this four-column broadside from Paris, Tennessee in order to share his political goals, should he be elected to the state legislature. He presents his goals to the voters of Carroll, Madison, Gibson, and Henry counties after giving a brief history of his frustration with his opponent, General Tharpe. Cummins’ goals include supporting railroads, using profits from public lands to pay for education and improvements, reforming tax collection to save money, compelling...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: These two speeches were given in Washington, D.C. upon the nomination of Breckingridge and Lane and were then published by the National Democratic Executive Committee. Marshall’s speech, after proclaiming his support for the nominees, gave a history of the split in the Democratic Party that was filled with warning and self-promotion. He supports the expansion of slavery and doesn’t believe the federal government of the Republicans can stop it. He closes by reiterating his support for the...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: William G. Swan published this broadside to assure voters that he was a candidate for the Second Judicial Circuit. He had been appointed by the governor and had been public with his intentions to run, but his opponents were telling voters that he wasn’t campaigning in the hopes of persuading his supporters to vote for them. These same opponents also had held a secret primary in an attempt to focus all opposition support on one of their candidates. Judge Swan was not able to actively...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This newspaper extra, published four days after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, documents responses from around the country. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, telegraphed a request for troops to Beriah Magoffin, the governor of Kentucky. Magoffin telegraphed his refusal. W.H. Seward provided Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation calling for troops to reclaim forts and vowing to avoid destruction of peaceful citizens. The War Department posted troop quotas from each state for three-month...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: Robert Winthrop delivered this speech supporting the candidacies of John Bell, Edward Everett, and Abraham Lincoln at the Ratification Meeting in Boston on September 25, 1860. In it, he gives a prolonged and impassioned plea for a restoration of national harmony, saying that it is more important than slavery or party unity. The text of this speech is followed by a letter from Mr. Walley addressed to L. Saltonstall. In it, he gives his support to the candidates because they...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This roster lists Colonel Caleb C. Sibley; Lieutenant Colonel Grotius R. Giddings; Majors Thomas G. Pitcher, William P. Carlin, and Peter T. Swaine; and twenty four captains, 1st lieutenants, and 2nd lieutenants. Most names have a date for their rank in the regiment, and a few have brevet ranks as well. Most also list the company, battalion, station, and current position. Most of these stations are in Tennessee, with some in Wisconsin, New York, Georgia, D.C., Mississippi, Maryland, and...

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This broadside explains why William Woodson is running as a candidate for court clerk in Henry County, Tennessee. His message is that offices shouldn’t be held by the same person for many years because turnover is important to the morale of young people who should be able to aspire to a term in government themselves.

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This three-column broadside presents a campaign manifesto supporting President Grant and the unionist principles of the Republican Party. It asserts that the U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land and it claims that in 1861 Tennessee had been forced into rebellion over the wishes of the people. It then itemizes past actions that make the Democrats unfit to continue as a political party, and describes the patriotism and accomplishments of the Republicans. It is signed in type by...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This circular provides "facts and figures showing why the voters of Knox County should vote for the subscription of $100,000 at the election, Saturday, October 29." Specifically, it lists the assessed valuation for each district in Knox County and compares the needed tax to the potential gains in markets and other value. The circular is signed in type by R.A. Sterling, W.P. Chamberlain, J.W. Fletcher, Martin Condon, and Alex. Reeder, Executive Committee. Someone has added a note saying...