The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-04-09
THE NATiONA MUSEUM.
The Declaration of Independence and
Other Documents Of Interest.

i tilloI vi IllocPeltdctlSe Ii
Other Documents of Interest.
The National museum has recently
placed on exhibition 4 collection of
relics possessed of more than ordinary
interest. 1t includes the original draft
Of the Declaration Of Independence
drawn up at Philadelphia, July s, 1875.
The signature of John Hancock. presi-
dent of the continental congress-, is at
tachcd to a document giving Washing
ton full command Of the troops, with
all the powers of commanding general,
Dec. q, l776. Another Revolutionary
document is one signed by Washington
himself in 1888, giving a private his
honorable dismissal from the army.
Gen. Clinton, March 1878. writes from
Poughkeepsie. N. Y, ordering a regi-
ment, armed and equipped, to the forti-
f"ication at West Point.
There are several very old Spanish
documents under royal seal, one of
them dating 1854, but written so poorly
that your correspondent could not make
out even the signature. There is also a
deed OF land signed by Lord Fairfax.
The signature of Benjamin Franklin is
affixed to another deed, but aftcrward
crossed out at the expiration Of the
loan. 1t bears the date of 1747. Rob-
ert Fulton's name is signed to a letter
in regard to his patent.
a series of very interesting letters,
beginning with one signed by John
Adams and Timothy Pickering, his sec
rotary of state. come next in order of
| consideration. This is q deed of land
in 1.-The territory northwest of the River
Ohio, and above the mouth of the Ken
lucky river" signed and sealed 1898.
| A. letter by Madison and one signed by
John Randolph of Roanoke" June,
1912, may be passed with a mere men
ton. James Monroe, president, and
j. G. Adams have their signatures at
tached to a public document permitting
the governor of the territory of Michi-
gan t. sign treaties with the Indians. |
make the following remarkable extract
from a letter signed by Z. Whitney:
The senate was worse than the Span
ish inquisition. 1t was turned into a
beer garden. The nomination of Mr..
Van Buren, was rejected by Il set of
drunken senators, who. when in secret
session, were traducing female virtue
and innocence. No other man than
Gen. jackson could withstand the
damning facts arrayed against him fol-
a moment.
Only the last part of the letter is
shown, but | presume that President
Jackson made the charges which Mr..
Whitney quotes.
A letter dated Washington, Jan. 20,
1929, and bearing j. Q. Adams sigma,
ture, is addressed to John Talisford,
ESQ. Adams tells him that he can not,
consistently with his duties as president
Of the United States, interfere and par.
don u young mail carrier who has com
mitted some fraud. He holds that al
though young he was old enough tc
know better, and that to pardon him
would be simply to give license to sucl
crimes by youths throughout the coun.
try. Adams adds. however. that. no
to appear too harsh, he will leave it tt
his successor to decide whether the
crime ought to be pardoned on the pie:
OF the youth of the mail-carrier.
Tho famous letter written by Buchan
an, when approached by his friend il
regard to his willingness to accept tn,
nomination for president. is among tn,
other letters. He says:
Il do not think the presidency wortl
the effort necessary to reach it. and it i
very questionable whether any Penn
sylvanian in our day and generation
will even win the prize
There are autograph letters by Lin
coin, Grant, and eX-Gov. Hayes. 0
Ohio. the latter beinu n MESSAGE tn th