Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

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29 June 1850

Shields, James (1806-1879)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Chathen

Shields writes as a U.S. Senator from Illinois to Chathen at Jacksonville, Illinois. Argues that Henry Clay opposes the extension of slavery and is no more a pro-slavery man than Thomas Hart Benton (both Clay and Benton were U.S. Senators). Also notes that Chathen has made the mistake of labeling compromise (the Compromise of 1850) as a pro-slavery measure. Argues that the Compromise is opposed violently by the south, and will be defeated by southerners, because they see it as an enactment of the Wilmot Proviso.

GLC03170

1 August 1850

Phelps, Samuel Shethar (1793-1855)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. H. Barrett

Phelps, a Whig Senator from Vermont, writes to J. H. Barrett, possibly Joseph Hartwell Barrett. Relates that an article by E. D. Barber in the "Brandon Post" (a newspaper from Brandon, Vermont) provided misinformation regarding the Clayton Bill of 1848. Phelps argues that this bill prohibited the extension of slavery, and was an equivalent to the Wilmot Proviso. He vehemently defends his position on the bill against Barber's false reports, emphasizing his opposition to the spread of slavery.

GLC03678.01

22 August 1850

Phelps, Samuel Shethar (1793-1855)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Docketed with blue ink. Possibly to J. H. Barrett (refer to GLC03678.01). Discusses the Compromise of 1850 (the Pearce Act) in detail. Phelps offers his opinion on the act, which related to the extension of slavery in territories acquired by the Mexican American War: "... this country is and will remain a desert and neither slavery or population will ever exist there." Phelps voted for the Compromise of 1850 because, "there was danger that the govt. itself might be dissolved if these questions about slavery were not disposed of...

GLC03678.02

1 April 1851

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland) (1808-1873)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Chase writes to an unknown recipient, apparently the editor of a weekly Ohio newspaper, the "Democratic Standard." Chase remarks that the recipient excerpted his letters for publication in the paper, and suggests several edits, including reducing his name to "S. Chase," noting "I never liked Salmon as a name for a human." Compliments the recipient's recent article on the next Whig candidate for president. Argues that the next nomination for the presidency must be made by a compromise between William H.

GLC03629

7 November 1851

Buchanan, James (1791-1868)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ezra B. Chase

Buchanan states his position on slavery and the issue of fugitive slaves. Buchanan strongly supports the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act, and believes it will reduce sectional strife. He is "decidedly in favor of 'the finality' of the compromise measures" and finds that the Compromise favors the North, except for the Fugitive Slave Law. Also states that the Democrats of Pennsylvania have decided to repeal the law preventing fugitive slaves from being housed in jails. Has received many congratulations from the South for his work on this cause.

GLC00529.06

31 December 1851

Clay, Henry (1777-1852)

Letter signed

Title: to James Robb

Comments on the current perilous state of the Republic, and praises Senator Solomon W. Downs for his help in passing the Compromise of 1850. Asks Robb to help make sure that the Louisiana legislature re-elects Downs as a senator. Worries that the election of another man may lead to increasing sectionalism and instability in Congress. Written six months before Clay's death.

GLC00539

January 1929

Harmon, George (fl. 1929-)

Pamphlet

Title: Douglas and the Compromise of 1850

GLC08880.142

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