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James A. Garfield

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
James A. Garfield

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Auction Date:2016 May 11 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, 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
LS signed “J. A. Garfield,” one page both sides, 4.75 x 7.75, House of Representatives letterhead, March 10, 1880. Letter to J. H. Atkinson of West Virginia. In part: “I appreciate all you say in regard to the dangers likely to attend our next count of the Presidential vote. I am earnestly desirous of avoiding these dangers by some previous preparation but it is hardly possible to secure any legislation in the present Congress that would not be wickedly partisan. The Democrats show no sign of willingness to pass any bill that will not strongly increase their chance of carrying the election, and a partisan measure we cannot support.” In fine condition, with unobtrusive professional repairs to small areas of paper loss, and expert reinforcement to separation along the two horizontal folds. When Garfield wrote this letter the Supreme Court had just passed down their decision in Ex Parte Siebold, establishing the power of Congress to regulate elections for federal office. This came in the aftermath of the controversial 1876 election in which a congressional commission awarded disputed electoral votes to Rutherford B. Hayes, giving him the victory over Samuel Tilden. An interesting letter on the partisan politics and electoral controversies of the late 19th century.