Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This letter responds to a note informing Blackburn that he had been nominated for a seat in the senate, despite the fact that the writers didn't know his views on suffrage. Blackburn regrets their unwanted efforts but lays out his views anyway. He has supported suffrage for all free white males over 21 who either pay taxes or have served in the militia, ever since 1781 when he saw loyal citizens denied that right. He also says that representation to the Legislature should be based on free...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This affidavit, addressed to the Jackson electors of the county of Dutchess, presents the integrity and worthiness of Henry I. Traver, candidate for the office of county clerk. It was published to refute slanderous reports and is authorized by thirteen of the most aged and respected of our citizens, including some who were politically opposed to him. It is signed in type by ten members of the Republican Corresponding Committee. The thirteen men who certified his qualifications are William...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This four-page leaflet, addressed to Pennsylvania Democrats, explains and defends Andrew Jackson's decision to not send the militia to Georgia in order to free two jailed missionaries. It defends his record on Indian rights and on religious matters, gives an account of the missionaries' case, and provides an extensive survey of pertinent cases to show that calling in the militia would be unconstitutional. The missionaries, Mr. Butler and Mr. Worcester, had been working in the Cherokee...

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This report, presented to the 29th U.S. Congress, denies Rambo's request for financial relief from losses sustained during his service in the War of 1812. It includes a copy of Rambo's petition, recounting his money-making efforts and his losses when Fort Niagara was taken, and an affidavit by Amos Roberts, a fellow soldier. Both of these documents had been verified in 1829 by Josiah Rogers, a justice of the peace in Sevier County, Tennessee.

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This tract opens with the Declaration from the formation of the American Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia on December 4, 1833. On the third page, it provides the preamble to the Constitution of the Society and the beginning of an address given to the Society in New York City on May 7, 1844. This address explained their reasons for calling for secession from the Union as long as slavery is tolerated. On the bottom of the fourth page are listed four anti-slavery newspapers.

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This broadside recommends voting for Andrew Johnson as vice president on the basis of his patriotism and loyalty to the Union. It first lays out the record of his opponent, George H. Pendleton, with all of his votes and speeches against the Union. It then describes Johnson and gives excerpts of several of his speeches, each supporting the government and accusing rebels of treason. It concludes with a final call to choose between these two!!

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This ten-page pamphlet opens by calling on the North Carolina General Assembly to adjourn because so many citizens claim that the current government is illegal and void. They had rejected their pre-War constitution so this Reconstruction version had been ratified; now the Democrats were calling for violent remedies to the situation. They couldn't get power by ballot, so now they want in by bullet. After many other accusations and histories, including the fact that Jonathan Worth, the...

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In this three-column broadside, Collins D. Elliott responds to criticisms about his role in the Nashville Female Academy by providing his spiritual autobiography and his views on religion and children.

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: Brownlow published this circular for the "Loyal Men of Tennessee" to protest the appointment of General Longstreet as Surveyor of Customs for the Port of New Orleans and to refute Andrew Johnson's suggestion that he had received funds from Johnson to start a Union newspaper in Knoxville. Brownlow presents his protest by sharing the speech he had made before the U.S. Senate wherein he described Longstreet's actions against the federal government. His refutation is reprinted from a...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This excerpt is entitled "Carpetbag Philanthropy - Benevolent Assimilation And What It Means." It comes from a speech Edward Carmack gave in the House of Representatives in support of continuing the country's policy against imperialism as they considered their control over a helpless people 10,000 miles away. In it, Carmack ridiculed people who justify imperialism by combining Christianity and profits, reminded his audience of the poor treatment of American Indians, refuted imperialist...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This three-page leaflet presents the text from Alfred A. Taylor's report to the 51st U.S. House of Representatives, to accompany H.R. 13424. It calls for pensions to be provided for the survivors and widows of the group who successfully burned bridges around Knoxville in November of 1861. To justify this request, Taylor recounted the plans and results of that event and then referred to H.R. 7051 that had established pensions for men who had failed in their attempt to burn bridges around...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This collection contains a program describing the events of the Sesqui-Centennial in Jonesborough, Tennessee. The Sesqui-Centennial marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of Jonesborough in 1779. The front of the program lists many events, several commencing at 10:00 a.m. The inside lists floats and a pageant at 2:00 in the afternoon. Judge Samuel C. Williams presided over the celebration, and music was provided by the Kingsport Band. The main event seems to have been the presentation...

Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: This tongue-in-cheek circular purports to be a plea for votes, based on evidence that Shoun is the "slickest duck on the pond." However, it consists primarily of descriptions of Shoun's transgressions, particularly not paying his bills, and it includes a paragraph that describes the experience and virtues of his opponent, J.W. Cole. It concludes by reporting that "my friends say that I am a wart on the back of progress," before appealing to the voters of Johnson and Carter counties to send...