A series of five autograph letters signed
Various places and dates, as below. Together, 5 autograph letters, all to an unnamed correspondent (or correspondents), totaling 10 pages, in ink, generally fine. Stanton (1805-1887) was married to the woman's rights advocate Elizabeth Cady Stanton (a cousin of Gerrit Smith) who is referenced in the December 5, 1853 and the December 2, 1855 letters below. He, too, was a noted abolitionist and social reformer, a prolific journalist, and was twice elected to the New York State Senate. Stanton studied law under his father-in-law Daniel Cady in Johnstown, New York; after passing the bar, he became a patent attorney in Boston, before moving to Seneca Falls, N.Y. where he "continued his work in reform, journalism, and politics, often traveling, speaking, and writing on behalf of abolition. While living in Seneca Falls, Stanton helped organize the Free Soil Party (1848) and the Republican Party in 1856" (Wikipedia). Albany, June 14, 1853. 2-page A.L.s., 4to: "Being detained here longer than I anticipated I have spent a few leisure hours in looking into pleading expectant suits under the Code. I have also conferred with Sam Nevins on the subject. He thinks it is sufficient to traverse the allegation in the complaint (so far as he is concerned) that plaintiff was lawfully seized ... but as judges differ in various circuits, he thinks it more prudent to not only do this, but to add in general terms that debts have a good title, and with those under whom they hold, have had quiet and peaceful possession of the premises for more than 40 years..." Albany, December 5, 1853. 3-page A.L.s., 8vo: "I am here looking after some cases of the Atty. General. I send by this mail to Mrs. Stanton a letter containing some money. Thinking my boy Henry might take it, and might lose it as he has done on two or three occasions, I will thank you or your clerk to caution him when he takes the letter ... You see the Seward papers are furious on our railroad ... While our bill was hanging by the gills in the legislature and it was quite doubtful about its passing, a private company was got up to carry thru a railroad to the Pacific of which Sims, Draper, T. Weed, Greeley, & Barton, Schoolcraft & a lot more of such men were the controlling powers. - But the bill passed. Then, at the organization of the company, these same men tried to get control of it, & threw out Walker, Chatfield, McAlpine, &c., &c. Foiled in this they have employed half a dozen papers to calumniate the company. This, with the opposition of the Law Steamship interest, is the moving cause of all this fight against us. If Texas faces the music, we will see who comes out ahead. You will see an article in the Atlas this p.m. on the subject..." Seneca Falls, September 5, 1855. 2-page A.L.s., 4to: "I have been looking over our ejectments with Mr. Cady. He and I had been of the opinion, until your last memorandum, that the lands in question were settled by the debts or those under whom they claim about 45 years before suit as stated in the answers. But your memo says 'in 1813 to 1815.' Now to bring suit within the five years limitation of the Act of April 8, 1813, the lands must have been settled previous to the passing of that act. So, on the trial, we must prove that fact, or we are thrown upon the ordinary statute of limitations ... Now, can you prove that they were thus early settled? ... Upon the whole, therefore, unless you have this proof (as to settlement before April 1813), it will be best to put off the case at the Circuit at Ovid, & then hunt up proof on this point..." New York, December 2, 1855. 2-page A.L.s., 8vo: "I have handed the two letters to Mr. Redfield, but he is run down with applications and I fear Carl's chance is not very good. Now, will you do me a favor? Will you tell Henry Hunt (I think it is Henry - the teamster) to draw in all wood from the farm which has been cut for me and ask him to tell Harpst to keep the man cutting till 20 cords are drawn - and I will pay when I come up. By doing this you will confer a favor on me, which I will gladly reciprocate, & what is quite as important to her, will prevent my wife getting out of wood. I am engaged in doing up Chatfield's Atty. General listings & go to Albany on that errand tomorrow. He has gone to Texas..." Williams Hotel, Washington D.C. January 18, 1857. 1-page A.L.s., 4to: "Have you sent the paper to Judge Cady in the case of Knox vs. Downs, et al.? ... Am detained here much longer than expected. It is understood here (so say Garvin & others with whom I have conversed), that as commissions expire in our state, the large majority of re-appointees will be new men. I state this so you can see how the lay of the land lies. There is to be an awful rush here about Feb. 1st. Ed. Croswell, Gen. Mead ... & others of that stripe seem to be playing around already." Item #57203
Price: $500.00
