Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-01
ard quite like that of President Lin


regard quite like that Of President Lin
coin.
The letter from John Tyler is rather pa
thstic in its subject matter since complain-
ing that he and DR.. Furniss, to whom the
letter Is addressed, must pay some one else's
debts besides their own. By which we are
to infer the President had committed the
indiscretion of going bail for friend, and,
In fashion that still obtains, had been vic
timized.
Polk Was Afraid OF Fraud.
James X. Polk was voluminous letter
writer and that one Of our collection is no
exception. 1t is addressed to Colonel Sam
uel II. Laughlin, dated Nashville, Tenn,
October 2, 1s4o. A letter purely political.
giving dates and places OF appointments for
himself It concludes by saying:
Printed tickets should be distributed In
every county. Every Democratic voter
should be brought to the polls, and leading
against fraud and illegal voting. You should
organize our leading friends in your district
to attend to these things.
BY which it will be seen the cry Of
"fraud'' was as rampant In Folks day as in
our own, and that politicians then as now
would bear watching.
The letter from q. Taylor $50 signed) Is
dated Headquarters, Army of Occupation,
Corpus Christi, Texas, February u, 1916 I"
Very brief, merely inclosing returns of the
Army of Occupation for January, 1916.
This writing shows q great deal of character,
large, and done with the clearness of en-
craving
President Fillmore addressed H. G. Day
from Buffalo December2s 1s47, giving him
instructions as to certain Investments pro-
posed. He SAYS: Rather than permit my
funds to lie idle in the bank, have con-
cluded TO invest in some convertible
stocks" etc. Unlike Presidents Washing
ton and Taylor, he signs his name in full.
Franklin Pierce, the next in the line of
Presidential successors, writes from Con-
cord, N. H., April 9, 1S49, to NJ F.
Duncler, Boston, Mass, who evidently
wanted to read law under Mr.. Pierce's
judicial censorship: 1T regret that cannot
encourage you to pursue your studies in my
office at present. I have three students
will be impossible to suitably accommodate
a greater number"
This letter is written In . commonplace
clerks hand, with no character indicated
beyond that of the day book or ledger.
James Buehanan's letter is dated Wash
ington, D. c., October %, 1858, addressed to
r. Mortimer Walker, Boston, returning
thanks for his election as an honorary men,
Der of the Buchanan Club of Boston. From
the dispassionate tone of the next letter in
the list one could never suspect the excite
ment and commotion incident to war at that
time prevailing:
Plain Business From Lincoln.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, April IL, 1851.
Hon. Attorney General: -.
MY DEAR SIR-The Massachusetts, delega-
tion have finished up card for their ap-
pointments and among the names Richard
Keyes for Marshal. Please make out and
send me commission accordingly.
Yours very truly,
A. LINCOLN.
Another curionus bit in this collection is
a card written by Mr.. Lincoln and given to
Colonel Crook when he was drafted in 1866,
which reads:
These two Of my men. Crook and Alex
ander, are drafted, and l. cannot spare
MARCH 2, 1885.
Andrew Johnson's letter is dated Execu-
tive Mansion, Washington, D. c., August
1, 1866 appointing William A. Browning
disbursing clerk of Executive Mansion.
President Grants letter, also written at the
White House, of April 21, 1870, date, is
pretty acknowledgment of book, which
Colonel Crook had presented him:
Please accept my thanks for the contrfbu-
tion tony library, which 1 know will be
priced my chiden long after libraries cease
to present attractions to me.
This letter Is plainly and regularly
penned, and looks as if done deliberately
and with pleasure.
The next is a letter of congratulation
from R B. Hayes, then President, to Cen
a1I Tha
of.his nomination to the Presidency, dated
Executive Mansion, June 8, 1880, and
reads:
1ations to-day than mine; this, both for your
own and our countrv's sake.
The writing of 9Isis letter is cramped, as
though done where there was scarcely elbow
room.
Glrhsld's Complim ents to Grcely.
From General Garfield we have letter
to General Grant, dated from Hiram, O.,
July 26, 1872, inviting the President to
attend the Northern Ohio fair. Speaking
of politics, he wrote:
lam sure your visit will be well received
by all parties, and will incidentally do much
to confirm and strengthen the wavering
who may be drawn off by the Greedy move
ment.
Then he adds, loosely:
The thought of GreeIy unconsciously made
me slope the first word OF the second line of
this page; perhaps in imitation of his PEN
manship, but more probably a symbol of
his downfall from Republican principles.
Of the next letter it can ftly be said,
Thereby hangs tale" Most certainly it
illustrates how like unto piecrust promises
sometimes are:
To Hon. James G.. Blaine.
As the candidate of the Republican party
you will have my earnest and cordial
support. CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
JUNE g. 1881.
President Arthur wrote the most perfect
hand of anv of our Presidents In it we
recognize the finished gentleman and this
gentleman's love of elegance and ease.
A long letter from President Cleveland,
dated September 6, 1888, relative to the vel
low fever sufferers at Jacksonville, in which
he promises everything will be done to
the limit of our power to help in the best
and most reasonable way" the ex-President
writes in rather literary hand, very hard
to read.
The last in this valuable set Of letters,
and up to date, is from President Harrison,
written Christmas Eve, 1889, inclosin9 q
contribution to the relief fund of the Grand
Army, with these touching words:
The obligation OF helping our unfortunate
comrades was not overlooked in the organ
ization OF the Grand Army, and has ever
since been one of the most conspicuous
features OF the society.
Who can foretell the next President that
will add letter to Colonel Crooks collec-
tion?
Grants Rush to Arms.
I conclude with hitherto unpublished
letter from jesse R. Grant, father of Gen
eral Grant, that shows phase of his sons
heroic character, and beyond all cavil the
attitude assumed BY him prior to the break