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97

Abraham Lincoln

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:40,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
Abraham Lincoln

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Auction Date:2012 Aug 15 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
War-dated ALS as president, signed “A. Lincoln,” one faintly-lined page, both sides, 7.75 x 9.75, Executive Mansion letterhead, May 23, 1863. Letter to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. In full: “In order to construct the Illinois Central Railroad, a large grant of land was made by the United States to the State of Illinois, which land was again given to the Railroad Company by the State, in certain provisions of the Charter. By the U.S. grant, certain previleges [sic] were attempted to be secured from the contemplated Railroad to the U.S., and by the Charter certain per centage of the income of the road was to be from time to time paid to the State of Illinois. At the beginning of the present war the Railroad did certain carrying for the U.S. for which it claims pay; and, as I understand, the U.S. claims that at least part of this the road was bound to do without pay. Though attempts have been made to settle the matter, it remains unsettled; meanwhile the Road refuses to pay the per-centage to the State. This delay is working badly; and I understand the delay exists because of there being no definite decision whether the U.S. will settle its own account with the Railroad, or will allow the State to settle it, & account to the State for it. If I had the leisure which I have not, I believe I could settle it; but prima facie it appears to me we better settle the account ourselves, because that will save us all question as to whether the State deals fairly with us in the settlement of our account with a third party—the R.R. I wish you would see Mr. Butler, late our State Treasurer, and see if something definite can not be done in the case.” In fine condition, with some scattered mild soiling and creasing, a couple trivial brushes to text, and a couple of trivial pin holes to two corner tips.

Accompanied by a portion of the front panel of the original transmittal envelope, 9.25 x 4.5, bearing the imprinted recipient’s office and address, “The Secretary of War, Washington.” Lincoln has penned in the lower left: “Please see Mr Butler, May 23, 1863. A. Lincoln.” Vertical crease passes through the first “e” of “see” and between the “6” and “3” in the date. Perpendicularly penned in the blank area to the right of the addressee: “Referred to the Quarter Master General for Report. Edwin M Stanton.” Stanton signed his name, squeezing the “M Stanton” between the printed words “War” and “Washington.” On the reverse is affixed a 3.5 x 7.75 portion of the docket which had appeared on the envelope’s back. Stanton has rewritten: “Referred to the Quarter Master General for report Edwin M Stanton, May 29th” and has added “President’s letter in relation to the Illinois RRoad.” Penned under Stanton’s endorsement in an unidentified hand, “Copy furnished by order of Sec of War to S.M. Douglass Esq., March 31st/66. See letter to Mr D. same date & No 1595 W…for order of Secretary of War.” The letter is handsomely displayed in a 9” x 11.25” red leather over marbled boards presentation folder with inside flaps, titled in gilt lettering on a tan portion the spine “Abraham Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed May 23, 1863.”

Butler first met Lincoln when he was clerk of the Sangamon County Circuit Court and Lincoln was a circuit lawyer. The president had a long prior relationship with the Illinois Central Railroad, the first land grant railroad in the United States. It was chartered by the State of Illinois in 1851, and although not a member of the state legislature, Lincoln participated in the struggle over the passage of the railroad’s charter. In the 1850s, he represented the Illinois Central as an attorney in 45 cases. Here, Lincoln bemoans his former client’s failure to abide by the provisions of the railroad’s land grant, writing “the delay is working badly,” ostensibly referring to the railroad hindering the movement of troops and supplies for the war. Indeed, he had no “leisure” to settle the matter; he met with his war cabinet regarding an attack on Charleston the same day he penned this letter. An interesting letter regarding infrastructure essential to the war effort and illuminating President Lincoln's handling of home state concerns.
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