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1844 WILLIAM J SEWARD Lincoln’s US Secretary of State Autograph Letter Signed
Currency:USD
Category:Collectibles
Start Price:800.00 USD
Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
SOLD
850.00USDto floor+ buyer's premium
This item SOLD at 2017 Mar 18 @ 11:12UTC-07:00 : PDT/MST
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Autographs
“William H. Seward” Political Letter Regarding the Historic Memorable Presidential Election Campaign of 1844
WILLIAM H. SEWARD (1801-1872). U.S. Secretary of State under Lincoln, Negotiated “Seward’s Folly” the purchase of Alaska from Russia.
October 28, 1844-Dated, Outstanding Content Autograph Letter Signed, “William H. Seward,” 3 pages, measuring 8” x 10”, with its Original Integral Transmital Envelope upon the blank verso of last page. The fine quality period wove paper is in excellent condition, with only minor even tone and a small area torn from the envelope page opposite where this letter was sealed. The original red wax seal is almost entirely intact. Here, Seward writes to his friend, E.A. Stansbury, Esq., in full:
“(Private) --- Auburn (N.Y.) October 28th 1844 --- My dear Sir, ---
The multifarious duties in the present political exigency have prevented an earlier acknowledgment of the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant. It would be as unwise for me to prophecy the result of an election so near at hand as it was for the very learned Divine in your state to fix so short a day for the fulfilment of the Scriptures. I think that Mr. Clay has a chance in Pennsylvania and from Kentucky and Ohio I receive confident assurances of his success in Virginia which my own judgment does not quite admit. At the worst New York is a debatable state. Since this means Clay need but one and Mr. Polk all three of these states, the probabilities of the success of the plans are very strong and to my mind satisfactory.
But what of New York? I see the seething of the political cauldron as you see it, and I have the same difficulty in conjecting what will be the nature of the sediment. He is made, be he of whatever party he may, who confidently promises about it. The Masses who can be moved by arguments in favor of good administration and ultimate national security are thoroughly worried and will give a vast vote. On the other hand those who can be excited by personal prejudice; by fears of oppressive and persecutive aristocracy are roused and heated more than in 1840. I might not be quite easy to forsee the result if as heretofor it depended on the relative strength of these masses only. But there is the Liberty Party, which during the past three years has been suffering by our fault to withdraw from us more than any majority the Whig Party ever had. The party has had never a large portion of the naturalizing mass but always a few of that description which was worthy of respect and consideration. The horrible civil and religious intolerance in the cities of Philadelphia and New York fostered by too many Whigs has driven nearly all of the emigrant citizens from us. They say and I believe that the City will compensate for the loss by an equal majority of Native Americans in favor of Mr. Clay. I look to this result therefore though I need not say that in my opinion a triumph this won is - will be ruinous as it must be dishonorable. Now it is clear that the Whig party lose none except the voluntary citizens, while it gains somewhat form the Loco Focos, and in proportions must win from the Liberty Party. The Loco Focos gain in my judgment from the naturalized citizens as much as they lose to the Whigs, and lose to the Liberty Party though not considerably. The result of my beat observation is that the two chief parties will be nearly equal throughout the states except New York City and that the City decides the Election. I believe it will be Whig and therefore I expect with meaning confidence that the National and State tickets will be elected.
All this reasoning you have doubtless presumed by yourself but you may on the whole indulge a stronger hope then your letter expressed. But be the result what it may, there will be no reason to despond. Machiavelli advised that whoever would overthrow a Democracy should set it upon great enterprise, since Democracies are used to misconduct such enterprises. The acquisition of Texas is such an enterprise. But an agriculturally extended Democracy can recede very easily, and such will be the result of the first experience of embarrassment. We once conceived the great enterprise of conquering Canada, but abandoned it soon enough for safety.
My visit in the North was so hurried and under circumstances of so much concern that I saw less of you then I hoped when I left home. Nevertheless our acquaintance was quite long enough to create a conviction of great objectives, and I sincerely hope that when this great battle has been "lost or won" we may meet under more propitius circumstances. I never found time to correct those notes you so kindly took at Keenville but I felt none the less obliged for your consideration.
The mistake if it was so of Mr. Clay has been more than counterbalanced by the by the absurd blunder of Mr. Biney, and I feel quite confident that the cause of Emancipation practical will be benefitted by the success of our appeals to the pure and patriotic mass of the Liberty party not to reason it by factions adhere to the shadows set before them by the papers. --- I am very sincerely -- Your obldig friend and Servant -- (Signed) William H. Seward”.
This lot comes with a typed full transcript of this Letter upon the letterhead of the Lincoln Library, Shippensburg, PA. and a period Lithograph Print of Seward.
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8.25% |
California |
| SST |
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Infinite |
25% |
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BIDDER EXPRESSLY WAIVES AND RELEASES, AND FOREVER DISCHARGES EAHA FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, RIGHTS, DEMANDS AND CAUSE(S) OF ACTIONS AND SUIT(S), OF WHATEVER KIND OR NATURE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CLAIM(S) BASED UPON AUCTIONEER’S NEGLIGENCE, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY OR WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, WHICH BIDDER MAY CLAIM TO HAVE WITH RESPECT TO AND/OR ARISING OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY CHALLENGE TO ANY MERCHANDISE PURCHASED AT THE AUCTION, THE AUCTION PROCEDURES, OR THE PURCHASE OF ANY LOT(S); IT BEING THE INTENTION THAT THIS WAIVER AND RELEASE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE AS A BAR TO EACH AND EVERY CLAIM, DEMAND, CAUSE OF ACTION AND/OR SUIT OR CONTROVERSY THAT MAY ARISE HEREUNDER OR BE RELATED TO THE AUCTION
ALL BIDDER(S) BY SUBMITTING A BID IN ANY FASHION, SIGNED OR UNSIGNED, IN THE AUCTION KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND BENEFITS OTHERWISE CONFERRED UPON THE BIDDER BY LAW OR BY THE PROVISION(S) OF SECTION 1542 OF THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE, WHICH READS IN FULL AS FOLLOWS:
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b. Neither EAHA nor any affiliated or related company shall be responsible for incidental or consequential damages arising out of any failure of these General Terms and Conditions, the Auction or the conduct thereof and in no event shall such liability exceed the original Purchase Price, premium, or fees paid.
c. If the Bidder fails to comply with one or more of these General Terms and Conditions, then, in addition to all other remedies which it may have at law or in equity, EAHA may at its sole option either rescind the sale, retaining all payments made by Bidder as liquidated damages; it being recognized that actual damages may be speculative or difficult to compute, or sell a portion or all of the Lot(s) held by EAHA, in a quantity sufficient in the opinion of EAHA to satisfy the indebtedness, plus all accrued charges, and EAHA may sell such portion at an Auction or private sale conducted by EAHA and charge a seller’s commission that is commercially reasonable. More than one such sale may take place at the option of EAHA. Notice of the sale shall be by U.S.P.S. Mail, Return Receipt Requested to the address utilized on the Bid Sheet, Auction Consignment and Security Agreement or other last known address by EAHA. The proceeds shall be applied first to the satisfaction of any damages occasioned by Bidder’s breach, then to any other indebtedness owed to EAHA, including without limitation, commissions, handling charges, the expenses of both sales, reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, collection agency fees and costs and any other costs or expenses incurred.
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12. Definitions
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e. The term “Bid” shall mean a bona fide Bid made by a “Bidder” which is officially acknowledged and accepted by the Auctioneer at the Auction on the Auction Date.
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g. The term “Catalog” shall mean the official publication issued by EAHA and transmitted to potential Bidder(s) in advance of the Auction.
h. The term “Cataloguer” shall mean the individual(s) that has described the “Lot(s)” contained in the Catalog for the Auction.
i. “Conservation” the Professional activities including the careful examination as supported by expertise, research and education, in treatment of an item using, “any methods that prove effective in keeping or bringing that property in as close to its original condition as possible, for as long as possible.”
j. The term “Consignment Agreement” shall mean the written agreement(s) between “EAHA” and a given “Consignor” available at “EAHA’s” offices.
k. The term “Consignor” shall mean the owner of the “Merchandise” offered for sale by “Lot” at the Auction.
l. The term “Description” shall mean the written remarks describing the features of a Lot combined with the corresponding photograph of said Lot.
m. The term “www.EarlyAmerican.com” shall mean the Internet accessible service provided by EAHA.
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o. The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean the sale price a given Lot is expected by the Cataloguer to realize at the Auction from the Bidder(s).
p. The term “Hammer Price” shall mean the successful Bid in the Auction as determined by the Auctioneer on the Auction Date.
q. The term “Holder” shall mean the original frame, container, case or clear plastic sleeve, labeled with the “Lot” number, in which the “Merchandise” is delivered by the Consignor to the successful Bidder at an Auction.
r. The term “Lot(s)” shall mean the article(s) comprising the Merchandise offered for sale at the Auction.
s. The term “Low Estimate” shall mean the low range of the sale price that a Lot is expected by the Cataloguer to realize at the Auction.
t. The term “Merchandise” shall mean personal property described in the Catalog and offered for sale by Lot at the Auction.
u. The term “Purchaser” shall mean the successful Bidder at the Auction on the Auction Date.
v. The term “Purchaser’s Premium” shall mean the commission that is automatically charged by “EAHA” to each successful Bidder at the Auction in a sum equal to twenty percent (20%) of the “Hammer Price” or twenty-five percent (25%) of the “Hammer Price” if bids are placed through a third party firm including Invaluable.com, LiveAuctioneers.com and iCollector.com.
w. The term “Reserve” is a confidential price below which the Auctioneer will not sell a given Lot, and/or will re-purchase on behalf of the Consignor or EAHA.
x. The term “Settlement Date” shall mean a time forty-five (45) days after the Auction Date.